Top 10 Paula Cole Songs

Photo: Johan Broberg from Seattle, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Paula Cole songs list takes a look at an artist who broke onto the music scene in 1997 with a huge hit single that was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards. However, Peter Gabriel fans had already discovered the talents of Paula Cole as she had toured with Peter Gabriel on his 1993–94 Secret World tour. During that tour she shined magnificently in singing duets with Peter Gabriel and serving as an important part of his show. Paula Cole would release her first solo album in 1994 entitled Harbinger. However it was the release of her second album entitled This Fire in which Paula Cole would become a household name with the huge success of the single “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone.”

Paula Cole followed up the release of her second album This Fire with her third album entitled Amen in 1999. After the release of the album Amen, Paul Cole took a break from releasing albums but returned eight years later in 2007 with the jazz infused album titled Courage on Decca Records. She released one more album on the label three years later in 2010 called Ithaca.

The 2010s would see the release of four more Paula Cole studio albums making it her most affluent decade of her career. Paula Cole issued the albums Raven in 2013, 7 in 2015, Ballads in 2017 and Revolution in 2019. Our top 10 Paula Cole songs list looks back at a small sampling of some of our favorite Paula Cole songs.

# 10 – God Bless the Child

We open up our Top 10 Paula Cole songs list with her stunning cover of the classic standard “God Bless The Child.” There have been many great versions released of this classic song starting with the iconic Billie Holiday version, the jazz-infused Blood Sweat & Tears recording and the soulful Laura Nyro cut. Those are some big-league names to compete with. Paula Cole released the song on her 2017 album entitled Ballads. “God Bless The Child,” was released as the album’s first single. From the song’s opening acoustic guitar riff to the moment Paula Cole enters the room with that beautiful voice, the listener is frozen and unable to do anything but sit and listen and embrace the wonder of Paul Cole.

# 9 – Amen

Continuing with our top 10 Paul Cole songs list we turn to the great track “Amen.” The song served as the title track to the fantastic album Amen. An album that featured the legendary Tony Levin of King Crimson on bass. This is such a wonderfully produced song that features the incredible vocal harmonies of Paul Cole. It’s a little reminiscent of “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone,” in its rhythmic feel. This is quality music and musicianship. And yes she still sounds a little ticked off. Good for her!

# 8 – I Believe in Love

Paula Cole’s “I Believe In Love,” is the second song to appear on this top 10 Paul Cole songs list from the album Amen. The song “I Believe In Love,” was the first single released from the record.

# 7 – Music In Me

The beautiful song “Music In Me,” which was described as a song of acceptance to life’s norms by Paula Cole was released on the album Ithaca. The album was released in 2010. This was an album all about returning home. As we age our perspectives change and for some our rebellious hearts fade a little in search of a place of warmth. You can hear all of that in this great Paula Cole song “Music In Me.”

# 6 – I Am so Ordinary

Paula Cole’s song “I Am So Ordinary,” was the first single Paul Cole ever released. The song was issued on Paula Cole’s first album entitled Harbinger. The album was released in 1994. Paula Cole’s talent shines through in this amazing song presenting early on a preview of a brilliant artist that would do some very special things in the coming years.

# 5 – It’s My Life

As we enter part two of our top 10 Paula Cole songs list, we present the moody sounding song “It’s My Life.” This is not a cover of the famous Animals song but rather a beautiful new composition by Paula Cole. The song was released on the album entitled Courage.

# 4 – Throwing Stones

This great ballad sounds a bit like Tori Amos in its piano riff and anger. Its wonderful. The song was released on the great album This Life. Paula Cole sings the word “Liar,” better than Three Dog Night or Queen ever did, If you know what I mean.

# 3 – Feelin’ Love

I don’t even know where to start with this one. However, if you’re looking to set the mood right with your significant other, this song will definitely be a solid choice. This smoking sensual song was released on the soundtrack to the much-loved film City Of Angles which starred Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan. The song also appears on the album This Fire.

# 2 -I Don’t Want to Wait

As we get closer to the top spot on our top 10 Paul Cole songs list we turn to the great single “I Don’t Want To Wait.” The song was released as the follow-up to her career-breaking single “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” The song “I Don’t Want To Wait,” was included on the album This Fire in 1997.“I Don’t Want To Wait,” became Paula Cole’s first number-one single as it hit number one on the Billboard U.S. Adult Top 40. The song just missed breaking the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 10 peaking at number 11. However, the song would become quickly ingrained in culture as it became the theme of the popular television show Dawson’s Creek.

# 1 – Where Have All The Cowboys Gone

We close out our Top 10 Paula Cole songs list with the artist’s most famous song. The very original sounding song “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” was released in 1997. The song appeared on her sophomore album This Fire. “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” was released as the album’s first single and it simply exploded all over the charts. It was one of the most popular songs of the year. “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” broke the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 peaking at number 8. It was a top 10 hit in various countries around the world. The song was nominated for three Grammy Awards including Song of the Year, Record of the Year and also Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. While Paul Cole missed the trophy on all three she was rewarded with the Grammy for Best New Artist.