Wide Open Spaces (song)

Amarillo, Texas-based Susan Gibson wrote the song's first lyrics in 1993, on her first visit back home after leaving for forestry school at the University of Montana. She left the notebook containing the lyrics at home by mistake when she returned to school; her mother found it and included it in a care package, inspiring Gibson to complete a song along the themes of leaving home. They recorded an album, Wayside, that included "Wide Open Spaces" The Texas, bluegrass-flavored arrangement Susan Gibson and "Wide Open Spaces" has been considered an example of the influence of the West Texas influence in country music songwriting; Gibson herself considers Amarillo to be "where the wide open spaces are. Amarillo has the most beautiful sunsets." as well as a BMI award the previous year. it was included on the various artists 1999 Grammy Nominees compilation album. ==Music video==

The music video for "Wide Open Spaces" portrayed the Chicks in a Rocky Mountains setting, cavorting through wide open fields of wildflowers and the like. Interspersed were scenes of the then-all blonde Chicks on tour: in performance, backstage, and on their tour bus (the last showing the slogan "Ain't Skeerd" on the outside). The performance was filmed at West Fest, an annual event in Winter Park, Colorado where the Chicks appeared four years running. ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==

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. 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. 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." It remained on the playlist during the DCX MMXVI World Tour. Gibson also continues to perform it at her live performance outings. The song appears on the game Karaoke Revolution edition CMT presents Karaoke Revolution Country. An introspective interpretation by the artist Soccer Mommy has gained some media attention. That singer said in 2018, "I'm a huge Dixie Chicks fan. I think 'Wide Open Spaces' is one of those perfect '90s alt-country songs. Plus it's relatable to any girl who's moved away from home and had to start a new life somewhere." The song was used in the fifth episode of the second series of the British sitcom Gavin and Stacey in a scene where Bryn West, played by Rob Brydon gives his sister-in-law Gwen West, played by Melanie Walters a surprise barn dance birthday party ==References==