Parmalee says everyone else has figured out what they already knew—cowgirls are hot.
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The band, who earned more radio success than any other group in country music last year, is capitalizing on that trend with their new song “Cowgirl.”
The band co-wrote “Cowgirl” with James Daniel Lewis, David Fanning, Peter Daniel Newman, Robbie Jay, and Thomas Frank Ridley Horsley.
“I think it’s definitely in the culture now,” said Parmalee singer Matt Thomas. “Every time you watch a lot of these shows, you’re like, ‘Man, these girls are badass. I’m in.’ And it’s just so much fun. The song just caught us. It was like, ‘Man, we got to do this.’”
And radio just had to play it. When Parmalee released “Cowgirl” earlier this month, 93 stations added the song in its first week—the most significant add date of their career. The stat is important because often, the number of radio stations that immediately add the song indicates its future success. And 93 is a high number.
“Cowgirl” Follows Parmalee’s Fifth No. 1 Song “Gonna Love You”
“Cowgirl” is the lead single from Parmalee’s new album Fell In Love With a Cowgirl, which will be available on April 4. It’s the follow-up to their fifth No. 1 song, “Gonna Love You.”
Thomas said the band wanted to follow up the slower and more serious “Gonna Love You” with something fun and lighthearted that would get fans dancing at their shows. When they heard “Cowgirl” start coming together, they knew it fit the bill.
“We were like, ‘Ah, you don’t want to overthink it, but it was just laid out,’” Thomas said. “It just felt right, and I knew that’s a song we could do. I’m not sure how many other artists could pull it off, but I knew that was right up our alley.”
The band even has a fun surprise planned during “Cowgirl” at their shows. They discovered that one of their favorite out-of-genre hits slides into “Cowgirl” like a foot into a glass slipper—or a cowboy boot.
Parmalee Taps Outkast
“Don’t give the secret out in the article, but right after the bridge, we’re doing a snippet of ‘Hey Ya’ by Outkast,” Thomas said. “It goes into it with the beat. It was crazy when we were listening to it. It’s actually the same tempo, and I think it’s on the same key. It was easy.”
The song just reiterates what Parmalee fans have always known –their favorite North Carolina boys are always ready for a party. Thomas even came second in MTV’s spring break King of the Beach competition.
“They paraded us across the stage, and we were half naked,” he laughed.
He wouldn’t mind setting a similar vibe at Parmalee’s concerts with “Cowgirl.”
The singer isn’t encouraging people to get naked – just have carefree fun.
(OK, maybe he is.)
“You could say that we love the song so much because we’re just ready to have some panties on the stage,” Thomas laughed, meaning that fans might sling their underwear on stage during the song. “Click here, certify your age,” he joked.
(Photo by Adam Budd)
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