"No Place That Far" is a song co-written and recorded by American

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

singer

Sara Evans Sara Lynn Evans (; born February 5, 1971) is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is also credited as a record producer, actress, and author. She had five songs reach the number one spot on the '' Billboard'' country songs ch ...

. It was released in September 1998 as the second single and title track from her album of the same name. It was her first Top 40 single on the

Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...

chart, as well as her first number one hit. An acoustic version of "No Place That Far" without backing vocals was included on Evans' compilation album ''Feels Like Home''. Evans wrote this song with

Tom Shapiro Tom Curtis Shapiro (born in Kansas City, Missouri) is an American songwriter and occasional record producer, known primarily for his work in country music. To date, he holds four Country Songwriter of the Year awards from Broadcast Music Incorpor ...

and Tony Martin.

Content

"No Place That Far" begins in the

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and ...

, and modulates upward to

D major D major (or the key of D) is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature has two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor. The D major scale is: : Ch ...

on the last chorus. Evans' vocals range from G to B.

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...

provides backing vocals. In it, the female narrator states that she will do anything to keep her lover near her.

Critical reception

Deborah Evans Price, of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it an "evocative ballad that should help her win long-overdue acceptance at country radio." She goes on to say that Evans voice has a "richness and vibrancy that soar powerfully above the fiddle and piano on the lustrous chorus." Price calls the lyric "memorable, poignant - emotional but not mushy."''

'', November 7, 1998

Music video

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

was released for the song directed by Thom Oliphant. The video takes place in a forest with Evans dressed in a black and red dress with Vince Gill behind her as they perform the song.

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 69 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of October 3, 1998. "No Place That Far" spent thirty weeks on the ''

Hot Country Singles & Tracks Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...

charts, peaking at number one on the chart dated for the week ending March 6, 1999. The song was Evans' first Top 40 country hit on both the country and ''Billboard'' Hot 100 charts, peaking at 37 on the latter.

Year-end charts

Other cover versions

*In 2000, the song was recorded by

Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporarily di ...

on their album '' Coast to Coast.''

References

{{authority control 1998 singles 2000 songs Sara Evans songs Vince Gill songs Westlife songs Songs written by Tom Shapiro Songs written by Tony Martin (songwriter) Songs written by Sara Evans Country ballads Song recordings produced by Buddy Cannon Song recordings produced by Norro Wilson RCA Records Nashville singles