Space Cowboy (Kacey Musgraves song)

"Space Cowboy" is a song by American country singer and songwriter Kacey Musgraves, released as a single from her fourth studio album Golden Hour on February 23, 2018.

"Space Cowboy"
Spotify Exclusive Golden Hour 7 (Vinyl, 7", Single, Limited Edition, White) - Side 1
Single by Kacey Musgraves
from the album Golden Hour
ReleasedFebruary 23, 2018
Recorded2018
GenreCountry pop
Length3:36
LabelMCA Nashville
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kacey Musgraves singles chronology
"Dime Store Cowgirl"
(2015)		 "Space Cowboy" / "Butterflies"
(2018)		 "High Horse"
(2018)
Music video
"Space Cowboy" on YouTube

Background

In February 2018, Musgraves posted a photo with the caption: "One day I was out at the barn watching this stallion charging powerfully from one end of the arena to the other, bucking and galloping at full speed all alone. Though I was 'safe' on the other side of the arena wall, it kinda scared me when he came flying toward me..barely stopping in time. My riding teacher saw him coming at me and yelled at me to move away. I said 'I'm fine! The gate is closed!' to which she said, 'Girl – when they wanna go they will go…there ain't no point in even shuttin' the gate.' It really made a mark on me when she said that and I wrote it down. Space Cowboy came a couple days after with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird ✨Make peace with what doesn't belong. You'll find something better."[1]

Critical reception

The song received universal acclaim. Chris DeVille from Stereogum wrote, "The melody is so gorgeously wistful, the wordplay so subtly pristine, the heartache so profound. Also, given that it actually sounds like a country song floating through outer space, we all ought to stand up and applaud the levels of compositional genius."[2]

Commercial performance

On March 10, 2018, "Space Cowboy" peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song has spent eight weeks on the chart.

On August 3, 2020, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and streaming data of over 500,000 units in the United States.[3]

Composition

"Space Cowboy" is originally in the key of D-flat major, with a tempo of 117 beats per minute.[4] Written in common time, Musgraves vocal range spans from A3 to C♯5 during the song.[5] Musgraves is saying that she is "okay" with her significant other leaving for some time. She recognizes the fact that they had their good times together, but it is time to move on because it is the best for the both of them. He is claiming he needs space, and she is willing to give it to him because their love has "faded".

Live performances

Musgraves performed the song for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[6] She also performed the single on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[7]

Music video

A music video for the single "Space Cowboy" was released on April 30, 2018.[8] Rolling Stone described it as: "Filmed in Mexico City by director Courtney Phillips, the cinematic video tells its story through color and shadow while Musgraves' wounded ballad slowly transforms into an empowering anthem. Her post-romance world is hazy and clouded at first, confined to empty rooms with broken windows while her ex gallops through a tropical village. But the power dynamic soon shifts, with golden rays of morning sun shining down on Musgraves and black clouds gathering over her now-disillusioned cowboy."[9] The video has over six million views on YouTube.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Genius.[10]

  • Songwriting – Kacey Musgraves, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally
  • Mixing – Shawn Everett
  • Acoustic guitar – Todd Lombardo and Daniel Tashian
  • Bass – Daniel Tashian
  • Keyboards – Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk
  • Piano – Ian Fitchuk
  • Drums and percussion – Ian Fitchuk

Cover versions

Chevel Shepherd covered the song on The Voice's Top 11 Performances in 2018.[11]

Accolades
Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2019 Grammy Awards Best Country Song Won [12]
ACM Awards Song of the Year Nominated [13]
CMT Music Awards Female Video of the Year Nominated [14]

Charts
Chart performance for "Space Cowboy"
Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] 30
US Country Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] 11

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Kacey Musgraves - Space Cowboy". Instagram. February 24, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  2. DeVille, Chris (February 27, 2018). "Kacey Musgraves' "Space Cowboy" May Be 2018's Best Song So Far And Here She Is Singing It On Fallon". Stereogum. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  3. "RIAA Certifications - Kacey Musgraves". Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. Musgraves, Kacey (July 18, 2019). "Space Cowboy by Kacey Musgraves". Tunebat.com. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  5. Musgraves, Kacey (July 18, 2019). "Space Cowboy by Kacey Musgraves". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  6. "Kacey Musgraves - Space Cowboy (Live From The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon)". Retrieved July 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  7. "Kacey Musgraves - Space Cowboy (Live From The Ellen DeGeneres Show)". Retrieved July 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  8. "Kacey Musgraves - Space Cowboy". Retrieved July 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  9. Parton, Chris (April 30, 2018). "See Kacey Musgraves' Dreamlike 'Space Cowboy' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  10. "Kacey-Musgraves-Space-Cowboy-Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  11. "Chevel Shepherd Flawlessly Sings "Space Cowboy" During The Voice Top 11 Performances". www.onecountry.com. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  12. "Grammys 2019: Kacey Musgraves and Childish Gambino win big – as it happened". Guardian. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  13. "2019 ACM Awards: The Winners List". The Boot. April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  14. Stefano, Angela (May 7, 2019). "2019 CMT Music Awards Nominees List". cnn.com. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  15. "Kacey Musgraves Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  16. "Kacey Musgraves Chart History (Country Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  17. "American album certifications – Kacey Musgraves – Space Cowboy". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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