Cowboy (Kid Rock song)

"Cowboy" is a song by Kid Rock from his album Devil Without a Cause. The song, noted for its country rap style, reflects a cross-section of Kid Rock's country, Southern rock and hip hop influences,[1][2] having been described by the artist as a cross between Run DMC and Lynyrd Skynyrd.[6]

"Cowboy"
Single by Kid Rock
from the album Devil Without a Cause
ReleasedAugust 17, 1999
Recorded1998
StudioWhite Room Studios, Detroit, Michigan, US
Genre
Length4:17
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kid Rock singles chronology
"Bawitdaba"
(1999)		 "Cowboy"
(1999)		 "Only God Knows Why"
(1999)

"Cowboy" was Kid Rock's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 82, while reaching number 10 on the Mainstream Rock charts. With its lyrics about pimping and traveling to California, the song is considered to be one of Kid Rock's best works, and has been claimed as greatly influencing modern country music[1][2][6][7] and as the first country rap song.[2]

Artistry

Musically, "Cowboy" is a fusion of hip hop, country, southern rock and heavy metal.[2] Billboard, as well as Kid Rock himself, described the song as a cross between Run DMC and Lynyrd Skynyrd.[7][6] The song's music style has been described as "country rap",[1][2] "cowboy rap"[6] and "rap rock".[3][4] AXS called it "the first country rap song".[2]

The instrumentation includes Jew's harp, blues harmonica and a piano solo which quotes the Doors song "L.A. Woman".[8][6]

The lyrics feature Kid Rock rapping about moving to California to become a pimp, and start an escort service "for all the right reasons", located at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel, as well as getting thrown out of bars and buying a yacht.[6][9]

Lawsuit

In 2002, the music group Boys Don't Cry filed suit against Kid Rock, claiming the song "Cowboy" was derivative of their 1986 synth-pop track "I Wanna Be a Cowboy", and alleged that Kid Rock, while DJing in Detroit, had played the song; the suit claimed that Kid Rock had taken the bassline and adapted his chorus from the 1986 song.[10]

Reception

"Cowboy" was named one of the "ten worst songs about cowboys" by the Houston Press,[11] while numerous other critics and journalists have called it one of Kid Rock's best songs, including writers for AXS and Billboard.[2][6][7]

The Village Voice writer Chaz Kangas called "Cowboy" a classic song, writing, "in the Clinton era when your most viable pop stars were pristine teen-pop sensations, raucous nu-metal antagonists or alternative-to-alternative-to-alternative rock weirdos, Rock stood alone. It’s been a surprising 15 years since, but 'Cowboy' remains one track from this era that’s timeless without even trying to be."[12]

Legacy

"Cowboy" is considered to be the first country rap song, and was influential on the music styles described as "hick-hop" and "bro country".[2][7] Cowboys & Indians claims that "Cowboy" had a major impact on the country music scene; the magazine alleges that artists Jason Aldean and Big & Rich, among others, were influenced by the song's country rap style.[1]

Kid Rock performed the song at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show.

Country singer Kenny Chesney has covered the song in concert in 2009 and 2016, the latter with Kid Rock on Chesney's Spread the Love Tour.[13][14][15][16][17]

In 2017, Kid Rock joined country singer Chris Janson on stage for mashup of Janson's song "Buy Me A Boat" and "Cowboy".[18]

Personnel
  • Kid Rock – vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar, piano, harp
  • Bobby East – slide guitar, electric guitar
  • Matt O'Brien – bass guitar
  • Stefanie Eulinberg – drums
  • Misty Love – background vocals
  • Shirley Hayden – background vocals

Charts
Chart performance for "Cowboy"
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 52
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[20] 9
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 97
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 32
Scotland (OCC)[23] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[24] 36
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 82
US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[26] 10
US Hot Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[27] 5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 34

References
  1. "Kid Rock - C&I Magazine". Cowboysindians.com. July 1, 2015.
  2. "The 10 best Kid Rock songs". Axs.com.
  3. "The History of Rock". Entertainment Weekly.
  4. "Kid Rock Says "Rap-Rock" "Turned Out To Be Pretty Gay"". Hiphopdx.com.
  5. "The 69 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1999". Spin.com. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. "15 Best Kid Rock singles, from 'Bawitdaba' to 'First Kiss'". Amp.azcentral.com.
  7. "Kid Rock's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard.com.
  8. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 450. ISBN 9780743201698.
  9. "Straight out the Trailer". Villagevoice.com. 9 February 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  10. "Kid Rock Accused Of Biting '80s Synth Tune For 'Cowboy'". MTV.
  11. Hlavaty, Craig (23 September 2010). "The Ten Worst Songs About Cowboys". Houstonpress.com.
  12. "In Defense of Kid Rock: Try Hating These Classics". Villagevoice.com. 27 June 2013.
  13. "Stagecoach '09 Sunday: Kenny Chesney cleans up Kid Rock's mess". Entertainment Weekly.
  14. "Radio.com". Radio.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  15. "Kid Rock Surprises Kenny Chesney Audience in Detroit [Watch]". Taste of Country. 15 August 2016.
  16. Leahey, Andrew (15 August 2016). "See Kid Rock's Surprise 'Cowboy' Medley With Kenny Chesney". Rolling Stone.
  17. "Kenny Chesney and Kid Rock Light Up Ford Field". Cmt.com.
  18. "Kid Rock Joined Chris Janson on Stage for Mashup of "Buy Me a Boat" and "Cowboy" (And We Didn't Hate It)". Archived from the original on 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  19. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 154.
  20. "Tipparade-lijst van week 47, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  21. "Kid Rock – Cowboy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  22. "Kid Rock – Cowboy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  24. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  25. "Kid Rock Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  26. "Kid Rock Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  27. "Kid Rock Chart History: Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  28. "Kid Rock Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
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