The 10 Best Suzy Bogguss Songs of All-Time
Suzy Bogguss burst onto the country music scene in early 1989 and quickly became one of the genre’s most respected vocalists. After a rather successful run with Liberty Records, she decided to go indie and set up her record label: Loyal Dutchess. Bogguss has gone on to release several records through the years, and still regularly performs headlining concerts across the United States. In honor of her return to Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, here is a list of her 10 best songs:
10. Letting Go
It was tough to pick just one song from Bogguss’ first two Liberty albums, Letting Go and Sweet Danger. However, “Letting Go” is one of the best songs from both records. A touching song about moving on after a breakup, “Letting Go” features Bogguss’ sweet, yet potent vocals. This song was released in 1992 and is one of the most underrated songs in Bogguss’ catalog. It made her win different awards each year it was out (Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Grammy Award) even though it was her only song to make the Top 40 in the Billboard Country chart.
9. Cross my broken heart
Though it didn’t make the Top 40 like some of her early singles, “Cross my Broken Heart” was without a doubt one of Suzy Bogguss’ finest moments on record. This hard-edged country number is simple and direct, and Bogguss sells it perfectly. The lyrics are also very clever, especially considering the song was written by Bogguss’ husband/manager Doug Crider. This Song facts interview with Bogguss provides insight into the story behind the song.
8. Outbound Plane
This 1990 track from Suzy Bogguss’ first album, Somewhere Between, became one of the singer’s biggest hits and remains a favorite among Bogguss aficionados. The song made it to #5 on the “Billboard” Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and also hit #1 on the Canadian RPM singles chart. The ‘Outbound Plane’ song made her win the American Music Award’s best new artist of 1990. The song explains an experience where the protagonist’s lover leaves unexpectedly on an “outbound plane” with no forwarding address.
7. Drive South
Suzy Bogguss’ fourth studio album, Aces, is full of wonderful songs — including “Letting Go” and “Outbound Plane” — but for some reason or another, her lead single off the project was the rather lackluster “Drive South.” It’s a good song with great lyrics, but it didn’t do much to promote the album. Fortunately, Bogguss’ loyal fans bought it anyway and found that the rest of Aces was just as good, if not better.
6. Hey Cinderella
“Hey Cinderella” is one of those “lost classic” songs that die-hard country music fans often discuss. Though it was never released as a single, the song is one of the most requested tracks at Bogguss concerts and remains a beloved fan favorite. It was the top pick in a 1998 online poll conducted by country music webzine “Country Standard Time,” and the #3 pick in a 2005 Country Music Television/Music City News online poll asking fans to vote for the “Top 10 Undiscovered Hits.” She won different awards from this song which made her win the Academy of Country Music Awards for Top New Female Vocalist, and ACM awards for single “Hey Cinderella” as well.
5. Aces
As this song opens, the guitars are crankin’, Bogguss is in full-throated cry, and you know you’re in for something special. Bogguss kicks off Aces with the first of many uptempo numbers, and she keeps things moving all the way through. This is the kind of Big Statement Song that heads an album and announces to the world that Suzy Bogguss means business. The lyrics are clever, too. She’s hot, lonely, and ready to play the field with some new “aces.”
4. Hopelessly Yours
Hopelessly Yours is probably the most widely recognized of all Bogguss’ songs. It was her biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 7 in 1991, and it won her two Grammy Awards — Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, and Best Country Song.
3. Somebody to love
It’s finally here! This song is so amazing that it was worth the wait. I’ve heard this song about one hundred times in my life, and each time is better than the previous. Suzy Bogguss’ vocal performance is impeccable on this track, and though she is known for her country-pop tunes, here she shows off her talents as a traditional country singer.
2. Someday soon
Someday soon is probably the most traditional country song on Aces, but it certainly isn’t the only one. The album is full of honky tonk-inspired tunes, and Bogguss nails each one of them flawlessly, with “Someday Soon” being her finest achievement. It’s a tender love song that everyone who has ever been in love will appreciate.
1. I want to be A cowboy’s Sweetheart
I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart is the second single from Bogguss’ first studio album, Somewhere Between, and it would become not only her signature song but also one of the greatest country songs of all time. Bogguss had to fight the record label head for this song to make it onto Somewhere Between. According to her, he didn’t think it was “urban” enough but later admitted that he was wrong and agreed with her fans when they began asking why she wasn’t releasing it as a single. So, she did just that and it became a number one hit in no time at all. This is the song that made Suzy Bogguss a household name in the country music industry, and for good reason. Every single word is absolute magic!
Conclusion
Suzy Bogguss is an amazing songwriter, singer, and musician. She has won countless awards for her accomplishments in country music, but none of that would have been possible without her first album, Somewhere Between. The entire album is filled with some of the best songs in country music history, and all of them showcase her abilities as a performer. Some people often refer to Bogguss’ work as “Ameri-pop,” but it can’t be denied that she’s one of the best to ever do it.
