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A wonderful lyric, wonderful melody and the perfect vocals–these are what makes a truly great feel-good song. This is also a track that will instantly catch your attention. The moment you listen to it, the music will play on and on in your mind. A perfect example of this is Rascal Flatts’ cover of a 1994 classic Bless the Broken Road.

I didn’t know the song before. I didn’t even know of a country group called Rascal Flatts. That all changed four years ago when I saw Carrie Underwood sang the song with the trio on the finale of American Idol 2005. Everything about the song: the way they sang it, the guitar accompaniment and the message touched something deep inside me. Soon, I was scouring the Internet for a downloadable version.

I am a Carrie Underwood fan so I got hold of a copy of their studio performance. Though the band was still stranger to me, I was beginning to love the song, which I knew the moment I heard it, was a Rascal Flatt hit. I soon was playing it daily on my iPod and laptop. Since then, I’ve heard about three versions of the song. Though all had different interpretations, they all had the same effect: infectious.

The song was originally written for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1994. After that, three more singers have recorded it but it was Rascal Flatts that made it a huge hit.

Rascal Flatts released the song as part of their 2005 Feels Like Today album. Even though it has been previously recorded several times, the trio’s version became a huge hit. It landed at the top spot of the Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts and stayed there for five weeks. It also gave the group a Grammy award for Best Country Song.

This song, clearly, is a very nice lyrical song. One does not need to hear it twice to see the beautiful message it conveys. It gives hope and assures everyone that there is something better at the end of a rough, tough, and broken road. I’ve heard an acoustic version of the song, a more serious and slower version (Idol performance), and the original Rascal Flatts version.

Though I think the lyrics are wonderful, the song, which was originally recorded as a mid-tempo song, was more suited to be sung in a slower pace. Carrie Underwood’s version with Rascal Flatts had a more emotional aspect to it that pierces directly through the heart. It will leave you emotional. It will leave you inspired and wonderful.

Rascal Flatts was able to successfully make an almost decade-old song to a smash hit. The piano accompaniment was very beautiful, as well as the mandolin played during the second verse. The vocals were great. Gary was able to convey the message clearly without having to try too hard to reach every note. His diction, key and phrasing was perfect for the song. You can’t help but feel taken away by the melody. You will get to hear more great music if you start listening to Rascal Flatts now.