Wide Open Spaces (song)
"Wide Open Spaces" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Dixie Chicks | ||||
from the album Wide Open Spaces | ||||
B-side | "I Can Love You Better" | |||
Released | August 17, 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Monument | |||
Songwriter(s) | Susan Gibson | |||
Producer(s) | Blake Chancey, Paul Worley | |||
Dixie Chicks singles chronology | ||||
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"Wide Open Spaces" is a song written by
In 2001, the
History
By the late 1990s, Gibson was lead singer of the
Lloyd Maines identified with the tale of a daughter leaving home, and thought it would match Natalie's vocal character well; he brought the song to the group,[6] who tested it in concert a few times to a strong response.[3] Both the Chicks and Sony Music agreed with Lloyd Maines' assessment, not only recording it but making it the title tune of the Maines-era group's first album as well.[5][6]
The youthful, romantic, adventurous sense of independence featured in "Wide Open Spaces" helped key much of the group's new image; it thus became one of their
- She needs wide open spaces,
- Room to make her big mistakes
- She needs new faces —
- She knows the high stakes
The lyric has been considered an exemplar of the songwriting strategy in which lines are not repeated in either the verses or chorus. and fiddle respectively. The main fiddle riff then brings the recording to a close.
Emily Strayer was proud that the group's hits such as this were still able to incorporate the banjo, an instrument the Nashville establishment often frowned upon as being too hillbilly.[8] Susan Gibson and "Wide Open Spaces" has been considered an example of the influence of the West Texas influence in country music songwriting;[9] Gibson herself considers Amarillo to be "where the wide open spaces are. Amarillo has the most beautiful sunsets."[3] Gibson's childhood family drives from Amarillo to Missoula, Montana, also trace the song's lyric and settings.[4]
The song gained Nashville respect, as it was named the
Music video
The
This effort was directed by Thom Oliphant,
Chart positions
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[14] | 1 |
US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 41 |
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[16] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1998) | Position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[17] | 16 |
US Country Songs (Billboard)[18] | 61 |
Chart (1999) | Position |
---|---|
US Country Songs (Billboard)[19] | 70 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[20] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[21] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Legacy
The commercial success of the single and album gave songwriter Gibson something of a windfall, which she celebrated by going to San Marcos, Texas and buying gifts for everyone she knew.[6] She would later say the song was both innocent and personal for her, in the latter detailed so much that she was surprised another artist would relate to it.[22] She would say of the song's recording by the Chicks that it was "beautiful [with] stunning musicianship and very professional production ... [a] gorgeous recording."[4] And of the song's popularity, Gibson would say, "So much of the success of that song belongs to [the Chicks] ... but pairing that song with that group is what made 'Wide Open Spaces' what it is. It really was just a magical combination of right place, right time, right group. I'm glad it happened to me."[22]
"Wide Open Spaces" has been a constant on the Chicks' concert tours, and indeed was the only song from Wide Open Spaces still in the
The song appears on the game
The song was used in the fifth episode of the second series of the British sitcom
References
- ^ a b c d "Chicks Complete Discography: Wide Open Spaces". The All-Inclusive Dixie Chicks Page. 2000-04-12. Archived from the original on 2008-05-31. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ "Historical Chicks". Chicks. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ a b c d e Nelson, Rachel (2006-10-19). "Susan Gibson returns to 'Wide Open Spaces'". The Ranger. Archived from the original on 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ a b c d Stephens, Patia (Spring 2008). "Montana On Her Mind". The Montanan. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ ISBN 1-55022-418-2. p. 66
- ^ ISBN 978-0-292-71734-3. p. 22.
- ISBN 1-58297-466-7. p. 94.
- ^ Tracy, Photo Biography, p. 69.
- ISBN 0-8032-4787-7. p. 551.
- ^ CMT. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ "41st annual Grammy nominees and winners". CNN. 1999-02-24. Archived from the original on 2008-06-13. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ ISBN 0-87833-189-1. pp. 108–109.
- CMT. 2004. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6983." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 23, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ "Dixie Chicks Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Dixie Chicks Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1998". RPM. December 14, 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 1998: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1998. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 1999: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1999. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – The Chicks – Wide Open Spaces". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Boyd, John (2005-08-26). "More than 'Wide Open Spaces'". San Angelo Standard-Times.
- ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (2006-08-03). "Strong, Independent and Taking Their Own Advice". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ "Soccer Mommy Covers Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces": Listen". Pitchfork. 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Reflective ...", NPR, October 11, 2018, L. McKenna