Imani Coppola - Legend of a Cowgirl (Video)

Music video by Imani Coppola performing Legend Of A Cowgirl. (C) 1997 Sony BMG Music Entertainment

[@mirandariley8646]

Finally found this. It would randomly pop into my head every now and then but as a kid I didn't know who sang it. I just loved the song!

[@jonathanwebb3024]

She's the shit.

[@tracyweisberg]

Same story here! I found it after almost twenty years! Heard it in a movie I was watching! Love this song!!!

[@Jim4815162342]

Saaaame. And for some reason, it feels like this isn't the "version" I remember. Like I recognize some of the visuals, but the song sounds off to me.

[@mirandariley8646]

@@Jim4815162342 really? It sounds right to me. I was singing every word and note even though it's been years since I've heard it.

[@Jim4815162342]

@@mirandariley8646 (Shrug) I'm not knocking it, I just feel weird with my memory drift.

[@6string42]

Core memory unlocked.

[@angelicsoulz]

Imani was just way too ahead of her time. America didn't know what to make of a beautiful mixed black woman with an African/Italian name who could sing, play a violin and blended classic rock with a little country western and hip-hop. Absolutely amazing, well rounded woman. Still wanna marry her 😍

[@antsy_pants]

Don't diminish her individual narrative with this vapid talk. Her story was her own and if you read up on it, then no, it wasn't the simplistic ideological clash you describe at all. It had more to do with business and personal reasons *because of course it did* Americans are so fucking exhausting.

[@RobouteGuilliman-M41]

Nah. I think you're hung up on racism and skin color, and so you're putting it on everything else. Most people don't see videos of songs, first; they hear them. You don't hear skin color on the radio, and I'm sure the DJs weren't blathering about her being of mixed ethnicity (there's no such thing as race; it's not a scientific concept, and only racist neanderthals cling to that social fiction). I first heard this on Daria. They didn't talk about her skin color, there, either. Furthermore, just because she's got a good song doesn't mean she's got more. Good is completely subjective, and not everyone likes the same crap. I'm Goth, and I know there's no Goth revolution coming on radio, outside XM Radio Darkwave. Wake up, grow up, and stop calling everybody that doesn't like her one hit some sort of racist, or bigot.

[@cantide8405]

​@@RobouteGuilliman-M41 I dunno, man: This was basically the prototype for Old Town Road, and you saw how dirty the charts did that song

[@RobouteGuilliman-M41]

@@cantide8405 nope. Never even heard of Old Town Road. Higher Ground was a Stevie Wonder song, but the Red Hot Chili Peppers covered it. I think their version was better. Is that racist? Sounds of Silence was Simon and Garfunkel. Disturbed covered it, and I liked that better. What does that make me? Imani Coppola is an unknown. Most people don't even know about her. I only found out about her from watching Daria. How many other songs do you know of, while not knowing they are covers of other people of other ethnicities? Actually, a lot of the music sounds like it was directly ripped off from Donovan's Sunshine Superman.

[@GroverJ83]

@@cantide8405 Radio and culture was way more rigid with genre's in 97 especially when it wasn't a dude at the helm. In the 2020's something sounding like this has no problem getting on both the alt rock,country and hip hop station,but in the late 90's this was only played on the top 40/pop station. Roubet is gaslighting saying the original commentor was hung up race,when they were just stating how socieity actually was.

[@andrewdouglass1427]

What's crazy is that this song was fresh 24 years ago and still is now. Tight arrangements on vocals and instrumentals, a fluid concept--it's just so stoopid good.

[@GITMachine]

This girl was (and is) SO ahead of her time.

[@bransta81]

This was so modern would be a hit if released today

[@BilboBaggins-q8k]

Bless us children of the 90s these were sublime times and miss Imani was one of many who made this possible

[@nycguy8177]

"Ain't no thing like a chicken wing." Imani an incredible talent. I've been following her career for 20 years. I can't figure out why she is not much more successful and famous. Her lyrics, music, voice, style, beauty, originality - it's all there.

[@victormarr1204]

Because she wouldn't conform to corporate ideology. She knows her talents and how to use them.

[@antsy_pants]

that's a contradiction in terms. making money and getting exposure is a fair use of talent; what's the point of making masterpieces nobody knows of in pursuit of an abstract principle? everyone would be poorer for it, not just the homogenous Corporations.

[@maxgallagher2535]

I think she came too early, if she came today she would be very famous !! but here is the real reason according to wikipedia : "Columbia Records dropped her in 2000, subsequently shelving her second studio album, (Come and Get Me... What?! )...Coppola had been frustrated that the label wanted her to sample other artists when she wanted to compose her music entirely by herself. Then 22 years old Coppola felt she needed to learn considerably more about music and art. Never having performed beyond high school musical theater, Coppola felt she had achieved success too easily, without truly working for it."

[@andreamahoney2235]

Is anyone listening in May 2024?

[@libertinerevolt1865]

Me and I just discovered it for the first time. Now I'm hooked on her music

[@chavaliernsharps159]

I'm here in June!

[@jenniferleblanc-dear8050]

July!

[@mzhollywood8312]

September!

[@chrishuston1992]

GEN Z ATTENTION SEEKING SPAMMED COMMENT IN EVERY KZbin VIDEO 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@Gary80264]

What a song. The way they sampled Donavan's Sunshine Superman

[@magicslave3066]

Tell me about it

[@Mosesblah]

Was just thinking this might be the greatest sample ever done

[@thesausage351]

The hook reminds me of Madonna’s beautiful stranger.

[@jonpoetical]

@@Mosesblah same artist, better sample....kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKiqlZVoesqkiLc

[@TaraTara-ld2xb]

Immediately noticed that!

[@colonelblimp1021]

Imani is one of the greatest "should-have-beens" of all time. Still can't figure why she didn't own the late 90's.

[@Anidominus]

I just discovered today and I'm only two songs in and so far so good. But I think Lenny Kravitz explained that he had a hard time "getting in" because "black record labels" said he was too white for they wanted and the "white lables" said he was too black. I am paraphrasing him so he didn't say those exact words. But I think this lady and Kravitz had similar backgrounds in that their moms were black and their fathers white. Kravitz had the avantage though because he family had some coin.

[@susanavery5348]

I have noticed that some singers are sooo underrated while some that arent so great just take off..i dont get it

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

@@Anidominus Lenny's mother was actress Roxie Roker, who played Helen Willis on The Jeffersons, so that's one part of his advantage over Imani.

[@pgfnj0279]

@@ClassicTVMan1981X and he was also married to Lisa Bonet

[@brandonm5165]

She’s Brilliant

[@meganschultz8150]

I used to order clothing from Delia's magazine back in the late '90s and they sent a CD with one of my orders. It had a bunch of awesome female artists on it and that was the first time I heard this song. I was OBSESSED!

[@Odditylove]

Omg I remember that

[@holly3074]

She was way ahead of her time. Love this!

[@marab4391]

This whole album is blows my friggin mind. Has been since I was 12 years old. This shit is timeless. Sounds just as current now, as when in came out in the 90's. Now this song is hick hop, in a good way. A whole album of with the country twang, beats and rapping over top would make my life. Such a good combination for some reason.

[@BrotherApexx]

You Gen X-ers know...this is part of our soundtrack from our twenties

[@marilync6]

I like the ZZ Top backup dancers doing the Carleton.

[@HanasDad]

Thank you! The ZZ Top dancers make me LMAO but I couldn't place the dance. It's the Carlton!!! Wow you are perceptive.

[@kimberlymccool141]

Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and those fake beards!)

[@lisatolliver2866]

They look like my hubs, lol

[@FaithFashionFinances]

Revisiting this 90’s gem as I embark on my own cowgirl adventure….. riding into the next town where no one knows me and I have no shame. ❤🥰❤

[@everybodylovesd.sunshine2386]

I was ecstatic when this would play on "The Box".

[@CEDL4072]

Those were the days lol

[@liverpuddin22]

Omg yes!!!

[@buffordang6384]

Love this song, she’s a visionary and encompasses several musical genres: pop, country, rap, hip hop and rock. It should have gone to #1, and imani deserves more hits, not a one hit wonder

[@juliereynolds3488]

How is it 2024 and I just heard this song for the first time tonight? I heard a clip on a Facebook reel and had to track it down. Discovered a new favorite!

[@thetruth6872]

I haven't heard this song in 20 years. What a great song.

[@jasonbentley5045]

OG TEXAS HOLD 'EM

[@lesliejarrell1979]

Still here in 2021. I was like 12 in 1998 and I was jamin this song! Just played it for my 6 year old daughter although it took me about an hour of Google searches to remember her name and the song name/lyrics! i could only remember "i don't need no man" and "im gonna pack my bag" but then i would start sining the lyrics to 'the old town road' song lmao but it was WORTH THE INTENSE GOOGLING!!!

[@fanstastic83]

This was playing constantly on MTV, naturally I thought it was a massive mainstream hit. Turns out it wasn't, but now, nearly 3 decades later I still enjoy listening to it. Brilliant song and video! ❤ I aso liked the follow up I'm a tree 😂

[@michaellane3017]

"Daria" brought me here! Season 2 features this awesome song!

[@jimmbobb]

Daria has a great soundtrack!!

[@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves]

I’m surprised this wasn’t a huge hit back in ‘97, considering alternative & country were among the staples to some of the best hits of the mid/late 90s.

[@1LibMrDucks]

3:46 She's like , "DA FUCK?! hateful ass." :)

[@krogdog]

If this song were released today it would still be a huge hit.

[@Magestrix]

Something about Old Town Road reminded me of this song and I felt compelled to come and look at this video again!

[@BallparkHunter]

I had just started school at Indiana State in the fall of 1997 when this song came out. It was played on the radio for a little while, but then quickly disappeared. Sometimes, this happens to a song from a new artist. Here today, gone tomorrow!

[@NorisKadum79]

90s music is very enjoyable. Magic Memories

[@marybethmorrison]

This was my personal anthem for the all-too-short time it played on the radio. Seriously, this song was one of the best songs to come out of the 1990s, alongside Madonna’s Vogue. This song was way ahead of its time. 😍😍😍

[@Art_Travel_and_Hobbys]

This was that song back in the day... Imani Coppola was that cool cutie

[@dallasheltzell]

I'm 67 and Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" was one of my favorites from my teen years. But 30 years later I was blown away by what Imani Coppola did with this great sample. Why was she just a one-hit wonder? As somebody else wrote here, she should have owned the late '90s. I especially love her sweet, longing, wistful aside in the middle of this song: "I"d give my life to be her. I'd give my life just to be her. "I'd give my sight to see her. I'd give my sight just to see her." I also love her quote in Wikipedia about this video: "It was very uncomfortable 'cause we had no room and their penises and their bums are just flopping around. It was like, 'Whoops, sorry. Didn't mean to touch you!' But they were all gay, so it didn't really matter. They were cute though. It was a shame."

[@auberjean6873]

Dallas Heltzell , always liked Sunshine Superman and this song is great! Has such an energy about it! Just saw Imani's video for the first time today and LOVE IT! Her video comment was hilarious! Thank you for posting it. Do you like Harry Styles song Golden? Only song I like by him, he's got America's You Can Do Magic as a back up. Whoever arranged it is talented. Be well. Greetings from Chicago 🍕

[@JC-yy8iv]

I always think that about the bridge too. It brings a certain depth and dimension to the song, just that little dose of vulnerability in the middle of such a confident, assertive song. Really turns it into something even more remarkable.

[@dallasheltzell]

@@JC-yy8iv Well said about the bridge -- vulnerability beneath the confident façade. It really makes the song something special.

[@CaapriceTube1]

I LOVED THIS SONG...AND THE VIDEO EVEN MORE WHEN I WAS A KID. Lol. 1997 WAS JUST A GOOD YEAR FOR MUSIC, IN EVERY GENRE!!!! R&B, Pop, all that boyband Backstreet stuff, Rap/Hip Hop, Rock, etc. Man, wish I could be 8-years old again! :(

[@thewall283]

It was a cool year for music and it seemed like the strongest during that period. They even used a portion of her song in the comedy Bowfinger, when Heather Graham's character gets off the bus after arriving in L.A. One of the best songs of the 90s and she Imani should have had a bigger career after making such an awesome song.

[@cenortheast799]

The years 1994-1997 were AMAZING for so many kinds of music. We will probably never see the likes again.

[@BasqueNYC]

I was lucky enough to see her live in NYC and she was great live more rock sounding added more sound I loved it and once you heard that looped sample "Sunshine Superman" by Donovan start up u knew "Legend Of A Cowgirl" was coming on but with added guitars and live drummer,and she is a riot on stage too!!!

[@jessicagold83]

Thats what I told my mom in the car that i can hear Sunshine Superman and im 11

[@alexandriagold7990]

Jessica Gold I was on ur account so I said that lol love u mom!

[@DitLapalme]

Always loved this song! Beatlesish Tomorrow never knows wanna be song?

[@asterix7842]

I photographed several Lilith Fair shows that year. She played on one of them. Amazing.

[@ASMRPanda]

omg it's finally available on streaming

[@victoriainnes587]

2022 and this STILL SLAPS. She should have been huge. I still listen to this on the regular. What a legend!

[@ShyGuy83]

I love 90s pop tunes that sample 60s pop tunes.

[@andrewparodi1920]

The 90s star that should’ve been 😢

[@chantaleaudet9123]

this is a good song!

[@kathykilduff6714]

This takes me back to the 90s. Such a good time. I LOVVVED this song and thought she was so fun performing it. This song makes me happy. 😁

[@ashley35211x]

Brilliant song and video. Wish that she had been bigger. One of my favorite parts in the video are the biker dancers doing the Carlton dance. 😂

[@MsBerryVeryMuch]

omg why im just now noticing that 😂😂😂😂 they are!! lmaoo

[@meganconnell-cox6425]

For the longest time this past year, I have been looking for this song.......couldn't remember the title, I thought it was an All Saints song.....I remembered it from highschool....and I FOUND IT!!! lol yAAASSSSS!!!!!!

[@milotherussianblue3691]

I thought this song would have been a bigger hit. I loved it.

[@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves]

1:30 - 1:46 looks like a Missy Elliott video. This era was very unique, meshing any form of creativity that came to mind and squeezing into one video. There’s not enough words to describe how earth-shattering the late 90s were regarding music videos + catchy hits.

[@falloutfr3ak]

She deserved a larger career than this...this song should have been the start of her career, not the start and end

[@GITMachine]

Umm, check out Little Jackie. She's doing fine.

[@falloutfr3ak]

well then I have been proven wrong...I meant more mainstream success but yes good to see she is still doing music

[@GITMachine]

Yeah I know what you mean :) I think she is the type of person that is going to do things entirely her way. As for me, I am grateful for this, but that likely means that by not catering to some 'corporatized' notion of what she should be doing, she will be kept out of the mainstream.

[@sarahcoletti6946]

Winter-has-come She was way ahead of her time!

[@eleanorsendeavors29]

She's half white - she's got no one race to be "loyal" to...

[@gayairconditioner8977]

Dad, I blame you for this song being stuck in my head. told myself I wasn't obsessed with it but, well, it's literally all I can think about right now lol

[@MsBerryVeryMuch]

😂 lol props to dad!! 🎉

[@donttalktomeyoureannoying8736]

Crazy how all these visuals are ‘aesthetic’ for Gen Z now

[@caseywortham1825]

I love this song, first heard it in the 90’s. It’s a great fusion of R & B, alternative and a little country western imagery. Great song!

[@thechief00]

this song is ridiculously ahead of its time

[@douglaschappa4330]

proof the 90's were awesome!

[@aaroncreagh4402]

This is the pop song, that remains in my personal top 20 list.

[@stoneartisen4216]

Anything is better than this shitty era

[@lilliangriffin9013]

I saw this once on Mtv when I was a teen. Ahh memories.

[@jelenaradivojevic3587]

bgdz

[@jeannesimmons9155]

Before MTV turned into soap opera crap. Those were the good old days for sure!

[@selmuntatataya8468]

Uhhh I remember those endless 90's nights when I was a teen seeing this on the cable music channels. Bittersweet times indeed.

[@jimmygillard]

Forget the Spice Girls, this was real 90s girl power.

[@tyrannosaurusburke]

Imani Coppola is one of the few one-hit-wonders who deserved better (i.e. more hits). Her whole debut album is cool, and she wasn't (isn't) like any other musical artist out there.

[@shamelesshussy]

Similar vintage, Nikka Costa. Sigh.

[@ToWhiskeyclone]

BECK

[@taunton613]

She's incredible.

[@cassiechildress4009]

Omg I finally found this song! Bits of it have been in my head and keep knowing it but couldn’t place my finger on it! Oh high school when music was good.

[@ajrichards1190]

The Box music video channel has this video playing all the time. The 90's were something.

[@domedou7127]

1997 I blasted the hell outta this song

[@prettibwneyez29]

I loved this song. I forgot about it until I went to Applebee’s and they were playing it.

[@2x._jaydontplay234]

This song changed my life! I got courage to pack my bags and mount my camaro(horse) and ride on into the next town (Texas)

[@Jimbrew]

That violin is so funky

[@LeftIsBest001]

This song should of become a classic for the dancing bikers alone. 🙌😎✊

[@MisBHaven]

BLACK ALT-GIRL MAGIC

[@XxLIVRAxX]

I was mostly on the alternative rock, industrial rock and grunge ticket, but this song was one my musical happy places, for my rock loving early teenager self, it was a guilty pleasure. You rock Imani!!

[@XxLIVRAxX]

Also, it was one of the fist videos I ever watched on MTV

[@LoneWolf-oz2mq]

Man I miss the 90s and the 90s music along with that.

[@KevyMikes]

Before there was Kelis, there was IMANI!!

[@nigelbecker8623]

And I bet that the diner in this video served Milkshakes, too...

[@503ashkatchem4]

Totally forgot about this song so glad I found it!

[@jameshdugan]

I have to join the other commenters who just can't praise her work enough. I've liked Legend for years, just didn't know the name of the song or who did it until last week. I'm ashamed to admit, but for years I thought this was my favorite Sheryl Crow song. I found the video by searching for lines from the lyric. Suddenly KZbin's algorithm is showing one great Imani Coppola song after another. So my mind is getting blown by all the great work she's done the last 20 years. There's a quote by Eddie Cantor, "It takes 20 years to make an overnight success." Imani, if you read this, I sincerely wish you get all that you've worked so hard to attain.

[@booradley0x0]

Love this song! Sounds like country hip hop..

[@dallasheltzell]

It's everything: Hip hop, country, rock, pop, classic rock, R&B, alternative - and with an appeal that spans nearly 60 years, from Donovan in 1966 through 1997 to today in 2023. That's a big part of what makes this so special. I bought "Sunshine Superman" on a vinyl 45 when I was 14, bought Imani Coppola's CD when I was 45, and today at age 71 I've been known to crank up both songs back to back on my Bose bluetooth speakers and annoy the neighbors!

[@mkracing6186]

Same!!! Damn I miss 90’s music!!

[@rodrig0miguel]

For a long time I thought I was crazy because I've heard this song at Brazil's MTV in the 90s a couple of times and I used to love so much but suddenly they stopped playing and I completely forgot to write the artist name down, you know we didn't have internet then it was very important to write stuff down just in case the radio doesn't play anymore or MTV never broadcast the video again. So I was doubting myself if this song real... haha. I love this video and this song. Saved my quarantine. Imani you're the best!

[@masonandrus5788]

thank goodness for itunes or I would never have hooked up with Imani

[@goldbergje]

I hope this never leaves KZbin :)

[@earth7551]

This song came out in 1997 boy time does fly Lol

[@351528]

Like a lot of other people in this comment section I am baffled as to why she didn't blow up after this song, as far as I'm concerned it's just as fresh as it was in '97. One a related note I saw a short video about her on KZbin and I learned that she never stopped working in music. From what I remember she composes music for commercials, film, and tv so she's doing well.🙂

[@tranquility321]

Found it.

[@deinellpugs]

Okay. I remember this song now and I remember. This was so 90s.

[@stephenwyatt88]

It's nice to hear this song, again.

[@MusicRules33]

Just watched two KZbin videos of her performing "Mojo" live with Mike Patton, & had no idea it was her.

[@augiepires]

Will never tire of this timeless.t4ack

[@startervisions]

pretty interesting how a platinum single from the 90's is just chilling here at 500k views

[@Mosesblah]

This keeps showing up in my suggested videos, so I have to keep watching it :)

[@pet11052]

Imani is so beautiful. way before her time and indecently overlooked. her influence however,, remains strong!!!

[@MrBoswel1]

Always on mtv I remember this song lol

[@andreaseverino3326]

Ah, what good memories.😎🎶🌞🎧💿🍹

[@daniellozano8057]

This whole album is bangin'!

[@themysticmuse1111]

This song was, is, and will always be, da shit!! 🔥😁🤭🥰😘

[@vintage1223]

I love this fab memories ❤

[@Josoytupapa]

Old town road is what it is because of this song.

[@crystalcapricorn3177]

Bowfinger soundtrack!!😍🔥🤣😍🔥

[@danfarrelly113]

This song is so wonderfully 1997: very New Labour.

[@CDA129]

I wanted to hear Little Jackie Mrs. Claus this morning, so stopped by here afterwards. I enjoyed first time I heard this late one night in the late 90's. Still enjoying all that you do Imani Coppola.

[@atvena]

I just want to live in the 1997 pop charts

[@penelopeluna6289]

She was the singer in Little Jackie who did the song "The World Should Revolve Around Me"

[@kthippie6004]

Love this song!! Fun music video too!! 😀🥰

[@averydaymond1560]

2:13 wow the short order cook is really feeling it so in to it, admire his passion.

[@chrissystewart6268]

Imani I still love this song

[@KICKBOXER27]

I was 17 when this song came out.