SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4:26 Min.
Paula Cole performs and wrote this soft rock radio hit for her 1996 album, This Fire. This song propelled Cole to three 1998 Grammy nominations: for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. This song’s music video also scored a MTV Video Music Award nod for Best Female Video.
REVIEW:
Paula Cole’s signature tune re: a breakdown in a country housewife’s domestic bliss merits re-discovery. Beyond its breezy melody, the narrative of a neglected spouse coping with the loss of her shining cowboy romance is a glimpse into lonely martial servitude. In particular, the lyric re: this homemaker wearing a new dress that her farmer-husband doesn’t even notice is resonating.
Reminiscent of performers like Sheryl Crow, Chely Wright, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, Cole strikes the right balance between a catchy melody and poignant country-western storytelling. Her appealing vocals offer another asset. For any ‘90s soft rock playlists, “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” is a gem.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
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