I Wanna Be a Cowboy

"I Wanna Be a Cowboy" is a single by British pop/rock group Boys Don't Cry. The song was written by four of the band members—Brian Chatton, Nick Richards, Nico Ramsden and Jeff Seopardi—and was released in 1986 as the first new single from their self-titled debut album (an album consisting of part new material and part compilation of several of the band's earlier singles).

This article is about the Boys Don't Cry song. It is not to be confused with I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart.
"I Wanna Be a Cowboy"
Single by Boys Don't Cry
from the album Boys Don't Cry
B-side"Josephine"
Released1986
GenreNew wave[1]
Length
  • 6:06 (album version)
  • 3:54 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Boys Don't Cry singles chronology
"Lipstick"
(1985)		 "I Wanna Be a Cowboy"
(1986)		 "Cities on Fire"
(1986)
Audio
"I Wanna Be a Cowboy" on YouTube

The single became the band's only major hit, reaching number one in New Zealand, number four in Australia, number 11 in South Africa and number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was a comparative flop in the group’s native United Kingdom, peaking at number 77 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video for the song features Lemmy Kilmister of English rock band Motörhead.

Music video

Background

A Spaghetti-Western-style music video was made for the song, featuring Lemmy Kilmister of English rock band Motörhead. Boys Don't Cry frontman Nick Richards initially came up with the idea to recruit Kilmister for the video after watching Clint Eastwood films one evening. He said, "When I came up with the concept of the 'I Wanna Be a Cowboy' video I wanted a Lee Van Cleef bad boy in the video. Lemmy came to mind immediately!"[2] Kilmister agreed to play the part as long as there was a bottle of Smirnoff vodka on set. The vodka was provided, and filming began at six a.m. at Hampstead Heath in London.[2]

Reception

Video jockey Martha Quinn of MTV told Nick Richards that the channel "hated" the video as it "wasn't rock and roll",[2] but since it had become a top-forty hit by that point, they had to air the video. It subsequently received more than 200,000 requests.[2]

Charts and certifications
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References
  1. André, Lisa. "'Lost 80s Live' to showcase new wave hits at Chumash Casino Resort". Santa Ynez Valley News.
  2. "When Lemmy Starred in Boys Don't Cry's 'I Wanna Be a Cowboy' Video". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 44. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Boys Don't Cry – I Wanna Be a Cowboy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0676." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  6. "Charts.nz – Boys Don't Cry – I Wanna Be a Cowboy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  7. "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs H–I". South African Rock Lists. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  9. "Boys Dont Cry Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  10. "Boys Dont Cry Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  11. "Boys Don't Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Boys Don't Cry – I Wanna Be a Cowboy". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  13. "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  14. "End Of Year Charts 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  15. "Canadian single certifications – Boys Don't Cry – I Wanna Be a Cowboy". Music Canada. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
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