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The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy

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"The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy"
Image
Promotional single by Chris Stapleton
from the album Toy Story 4
ReleasedJune 5, 2019
StudioBlackbird Studio
GenreCountry
Length1:51
LabelWalt Disney
SongwriterRandy Newman

"The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" is a song written and composed by Randy Newman, and performed by Chris Stapleton, for the soundtrack to the Disney/Pixar feature film Toy Story 4. The song was released on June 5, 2019, and was met with a positive reception from critics.

Background and composition

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Randy Newman, known for his work as composer and songwriter on the Toy Story films, was confirmed to be returning for Toy Story 4 (2019).[1] The song "The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy" from the soundtrack, written by Newman and performed by Chris Stapleton, was released on June 5, 2019.[2] Newman also performed a version for the credits and soundtrack of Toy Story 4.[3] The song is written from the perspective of Sheriff Woody, the film's main character, because, according to Newman, "[Woody] feels like he was a lonesome cowboy until someone comes along and changes his world."[3]

Reception

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Rania Aniftos of Billboard praised the song's melody as "catchy".[2] Nick Evans of CinemaBlend positively compared the song to Newman's previous songs from the Toy Story films, describing it as "equal parts tear-jerking and heartwarming", "in keeping with the tradition of Toy Story songs".[4] Similarly, Ming Lee Newcomb of Consequence of Sound compared the song to Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me" from the first film, adding that "the charming Western ballad is similarly feel-good and kid-friendly".[5] Angela Stefano of The Boot wrote that "[n]ot only is Pixar making childhood dreams come true with the release of a new Toy Story movie, they're making country music dreams come true, too" praising Newman's lyrics as "heartfelt yet childlike" and Stapleton's singing as "instantly recognizable".[6]

Personnel

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References

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  1. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (August 14, 2015). "D23: Pixar Previews Finding Dory and Toy Story 4". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Aniftos, Rania (June 5, 2019). "Chris Stapleton's 'The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy' Off the Toy Story 4 Soundtrack Is Here: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Press Kit" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  4. ↑ Evans, Nick (June 5, 2019). "The Toys Come To Life In Video For Toy Story 4's Tear-Jerking Song". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  5. ↑ Newcomb, Ming Lee (June 5, 2019). "Hear Chris Stapleton's heartwarming addition to the Toy Story 4 soundtrack: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  6. ↑ Stefano, Angela (June 5, 2019). "Listen: Chris Stapleton Has a Song in Toy Story 4". The Boot. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
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