When discussing the 20 best songs of Jess Moskaluke, we’re diving into the catalog of one of Canadian country music’s most versatile and authentic voices. The Saskatchewan-born singer-songwriter has built an impressive discography that balances original hits with memorable covers, showcasing her ability to reinterpret contemporary pop and country classics through a distinctly heartland lens. Her vocal range, emotional delivery, and production choices have earned her multiple CCMA awards and a devoted fanbase across North America.
What makes Moskaluke’s work particularly compelling is her willingness to experiment across genres while maintaining the core country sensibility that defines her sound. From the honky-tonk energy of her original material to the stripped-down intimacy of her cover series, she demonstrates a rare understanding of song interpretation. Whether you’re exploring her catalog through premium headphones to catch every vocal nuance or discovering these tracks through curated playlists, Moskaluke’s greatest hits represent a masterclass in modern country artistry.
Cheap Wine & Cigarettes
This breakout single from her 2014 album Light Up the Night captures the raw, unapologetic energy that launched Moskaluke into the Canadian country mainstream. The production features gritty electric guitar riffs layered over a driving drumbeat, creating a sonic landscape that perfectly complements the rebellious lyrical themes. Moskaluke’s vocal performance here is particularly noteworthy—she delivers each line with a knowing smirk, balancing vulnerability with defiance in a way that feels genuinely lived-in rather than manufactured. The song’s success on Canadian country radio proved that audiences were hungry for female artists who could embrace both traditional country instrumentation and contemporary attitudes, and the mix holds up remarkably well when played through quality earbuds that can handle the track’s dynamic range.
Elevator
Released as a single from Kiss Me Quiet in 2015, this track showcases Moskaluke’s ability to craft infectious hooks within a country-pop framework. The metaphor of emotional ups and downs represented through elevator imagery runs throughout the song, supported by production that cleverly incorporates rising and falling synth lines beneath the traditional country instrumentation. Her vocal runs during the chorus demonstrate impressive control, hitting the higher register notes with clarity while maintaining the emotional authenticity that defines her best work. The mastering on this track is particularly well-executed, creating space for each instrument to breathe while maintaining the commercial polish necessary for crossover appeal.
Night We Won’t Forget
Another standout from Light Up the Night, this anthem captures the spontaneous magic of a perfect evening with production that gradually builds from intimate verses to an explosive, stadium-ready chorus. The songwriting here is deceptively simple, using specific sensory details to create universal moments of connection that resonate across listener experiences. Moskaluke’s delivery transitions seamlessly between reflective storytelling and full-throated celebration, showcasing her range as a vocalist and interpreter. The track’s arrangement incorporates subtle pedal steel touches that ground it firmly in country tradition while the overall energy speaks to contemporary pop sensibilities.
Call Me Maybe
Moskaluke’s 2012 cover of Carly Rae Jepsen’s pop smash demonstrates her interpretive genius—she strips away the bubblegum production of the original and rebuilds the song around acoustic guitar and subtle banjo flourishes. What could have been a gimmicky country-fication instead reveals the inherent melodic strength of Jepsen’s composition while adding new emotional depth through Moskaluke’s more mature vocal approach. The arrangement choices here are particularly smart, using space and restraint where the original relied on layered synths, creating a version that feels like genuine country songcraft rather than simple genre translation. This interpretation became a viral success, introducing Moskaluke to audiences who might not typically explore country music.
Crash My Party
This Luke Bryan cover from Cover Up, Vol. 4 finds Moskaluke tackling one of contemporary country’s smoothest male-perspective tracks and making it entirely her own through subtle lyrical adjustments and a warmer vocal delivery. The production maintains the laid-back groove of the original while incorporating slightly more organic instrumentation, trading some of Bryan’s pop sheen for a more lived-in, honest feel. Her phrasing throughout demonstrates careful attention to the song’s narrative arc, emphasizing different moments than the original version to highlight emotional vulnerability rather than confident swagger. It’s a masterclass in how changing perspective and delivery can reveal new dimensions in familiar material.
Counting Down Christmas
From her 2018 holiday album A Small Town Christmas, this original composition captures the anticipation and nostalgia of the season without falling into seasonal music clichés. The production incorporates sleigh bells and warming string arrangements, but grounds everything in contemporary country production values that prevent it from feeling overly saccharine. Moskaluke’s vocal performance here is notably tender, using her lower register to create an intimate, fireside conversation feel that suits the reflective lyrical content. The song has become a seasonal staple on Canadian country radio, demonstrating her ability to craft original material that connects with audiences beyond just cover interpretations.
The Middle
Moskaluke’s 2018 take on Zedd’s electronic pop hit transforms the anxious energy of the original into something more grounded and reassuring through clever arrangement choices. By replacing the EDM production with acoustic guitars, subtle percussion, and pedal steel accents, she reveals the song’s core message about relationship patience and understanding in a new light. Her vocal delivery emphasizes the comforting aspects of the lyrics rather than the frenetic energy, creating a version that works better for reflective listening than club play. This interpretation showcases her ear for recognizing strong melodies and lyrical content that transcends genre boundaries.
Try
Her 2012 cover of Pink’s empowerment anthem from Cover up, Vol. 3 demonstrates how effectively Moskaluke can channel raw emotion through her distinctive vocal timbre. The stripped-down arrangement places her voice front and center, supported primarily by acoustic guitar and minimal percussion, which intensifies the vulnerability at the song’s core. Where Pink’s original leans into rock theatricality, Moskaluke finds a quieter strength in the material, making the emotional plea feel more conversational and immediate. The production choices create an intimate listening experience that rewards close attention, particularly when heard through quality audio equipment that can capture the subtle breath control and dynamic range she employs.
Blown Away
Moskaluke’s interpretation of Carrie Underwood’s tornado-fueled drama might seem audacious given the vocal powerhouse quality of the original, but she approaches the material from a different angle entirely. Rather than attempting to match Underwood’s belt-heavy delivery, she emphasizes the narrative tension and uses more restrained dynamics to build suspense throughout the verses before unleashing controlled power in the choruses. The arrangement from Cover up, Vol. 3 maintains the song’s dramatic sweep while incorporating slightly more organic instrumentation that aligns with Moskaluke’s overall aesthetic. It’s a smart reinterpretation that respects the source material while carving out distinct artistic territory.
Good Girl
This Carrie Underwood cover from Cover Up showcases Moskaluke’s ability to navigate complex vocal melodies with precision and attitude. The production maintains much of the original’s sassy energy while incorporating her signature warmer tones and slightly less polished edges that create a more relatable, less perfectionist feel. Her delivery of the warning-laden lyrics comes across as knowing and experienced rather than judgmental, which shifts the song’s overall emotional impact in interesting ways. The mix allows her vocal personality to shine through while respecting the strong melodic framework that made the original a country-pop crossover success.
You Belong With Me
Taking on one of Taylor Swift’s most beloved early hits was a bold choice, but Moskaluke’s 2012 version from Cover up, Vol. 3 justifies itself through smart arrangement decisions and genuine emotional investment. She ages up the perspective slightly through her vocal maturity, making the unrequited longing feel less like teenage angst and more like genuine adult heartache. The production strips away some of Swift’s pop polish in favor of more traditional country instrumentation, though it maintains the infectious energy that made the song a cultural phenomenon. Her interpretation proves the song’s melodic strength and emotional resonance transcend any single performance or production style.
Mapdot
This 2021 release from The Demos represents a return to original material with a mature, reflective quality that showcases Moskaluke’s growth as a songwriter and interpreter. The track explores themes of small-town identity and the pull of rural roots with specificity and nuance, avoiding the clichés that often plague country songs about hometowns. The production is intentionally sparse, allowing the storytelling to take center stage while subtle instrumental touches—particularly in the bridge—provide emotional emphasis without overwhelming the lyrical content. Moskaluke’s vocal delivery here is confident and lived-in, demonstrating the artistic evolution that comes from years of refining her craft across various musical contexts.
How to Save a Life
Moskaluke’s country reinterpretation of The Fray’s alternative rock ballad from Cover up, Vol. 4 demonstrates her ability to find the narrative heart in songs from outside traditional country frameworks. By slowing the tempo slightly and incorporating pedal steel and acoustic guitar in place of the original’s piano-driven arrangement, she creates space for the song’s detailed storytelling about intervention and helplessness to breathe. Her vocal approach emphasizes the conversational quality of the lyrics, making the medical/emotional crisis described feel more immediate and personal. The arrangement choices throughout demonstrate sophisticated understanding of how instrumentation shapes emotional reception.
Hard to Love
This Maroon 5/Lee Brice cover from Cover up, Vol. 3 finds Moskaluke navigating the complex emotional territory of self-awareness about relationship challenges. Her interpretation leans into the vulnerability at the song’s core, using dynamics and phrasing to emphasize the confession rather than the defiance. The production maintains a country framework while incorporating some of the atmospheric qualities that made the original so effective, creating a sonic middle ground that serves the material well. Her vocal performance demonstrates particular strength in the lower register, where she finds warmth and honesty that makes the self-critical lyrics feel genuine rather than performative.
Sure Be Cool If You Did
Moskaluke’s take on Blake Shelton’s flirtatious hit from Cover up, Vol. 4 showcases her ability to flip gender perspectives while maintaining the song’s playful charm. The production stays true to contemporary country radio sensibilities with punchy drums and electric guitar riffs, but her vocal delivery adds layers of knowing humor that give the material fresh life. She navigates the conversational phrasing with natural ease, making the hypothetical scenarios described feel spontaneous rather than scripted. The mix is radio-ready and polished, demonstrating her team’s understanding of commercial country production standards while leaving room for her personality to shine through.
Cruise
Her 2013 collaboration featuring Runaground on the Florida Georgia Line megahit demonstrates Moskaluke’s ability to participate in country’s pop crossover moment while maintaining artistic credibility. The arrangement incorporates subtle hip-hop influenced production elements that were dominating country radio at the time, but keeps things slightly more organic than the original’s heavy electronic treatment. Moskaluke’s vocal contribution brings a different energy to the familiar material, adding female perspective to what was originally a male-dominated party anthem. The track works particularly well in live settings, where the infectious rhythm and sing-along chorus create instant audience connection.
Two Black Cadillacs
Moskaluke’s interpretation of Carrie Underwood’s revenge narrative from Cover up, Vol. 4 showcases her storytelling abilities and dramatic vocal control. She approaches the song’s dark humor and moral ambiguity with subtle vocal inflections that emphasize the plotting and planning described in the lyrics. The production maintains the original’s sinister undertones while incorporating slightly warmer instrumentation that makes the tale feel more like a cautionary campfire story than a pure revenge fantasy. Her phrasing throughout demonstrates careful attention to the song’s narrative structure, building tension effectively toward the reveal.
22
This Taylor Swift cover from Cover up, Vol. 4 captures the carefree energy of youth while adding the perspective of someone reflecting back on that period with fondness and slight distance. Moskaluke’s vocal delivery maintains the infectious joy of the original while her slightly more mature tone adds layers of nostalgia that weren’t necessarily present in Swift’s version. The production incorporates country instrumentation that grounds the pop melody in a more traditional framework, though it maintains enough contemporary energy to work for current listeners. It’s a smart interpretation that respects the source while finding new emotional territory.
Stronger
Moskaluke’s take on Kelly Clarkson’s empowerment anthem from Cover Up demonstrates her ability to channel strength and resilience through her distinctive vocal approach. By stripping away much of the original’s pop-rock production in favor of acoustic country instrumentation, she reveals a different kind of strength—quieter but no less powerful. Her phrasing emphasizes the growth narrative at the song’s core rather than just the defiant hooks, creating a version that works for introspective listening rather than purely as a pump-up track. The arrangement choices throughout show sophisticated understanding of how genre shift affects emotional reception.
Set Fire to the Rain
This Adele cover from Cover Up represents one of Moskaluke’s most ambitious vocal performances, tackling material originally performed by one of contemporary music’s most powerful voices. Rather than attempting to match Adele’s soul-belting approach, she finds a country-rock middle ground that emphasizes the song’s dramatic narrative while staying within her natural vocal strengths. The production incorporates stormy sonic elements—reverb-heavy guitars and atmospheric touches—that complement the weather imagery without overwhelming the vocal performance. Her interpretation demonstrates confidence in her own artistic identity rather than trying to mimic the original’s approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jess Moskaluke’s biggest hit song?
“Cheap Wine & Cigarettes” stands as Jess Moskaluke’s breakthrough commercial success and arguably her signature song. Released in 2014 from the album Light Up the Night, the track dominated Canadian country radio and earned her significant industry recognition including CCMA awards. The song’s combination of traditional country instrumentation with contemporary attitude resonated strongly with audiences and established her as a major voice in Canadian country music. While she’s had other successful singles, this track remains her most culturally impactful original composition.
Does Jess Moskaluke write her own songs?
Jess Moskaluke writes and co-writes many of her original songs, including tracks like “Cheap Wine & Cigarettes,” “Mapdot,” and “Counting Down Christmas.” However, she’s also gained recognition for her interpretive abilities through her extensive cover work, which includes reimagining hits from Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and pop artists from outside the country genre. Her songwriting demonstrates strong narrative skills and specific detail work that creates vivid imagery, while her cover selections showcase excellent taste in recognizing strong melodic and lyrical material across genre boundaries.
What genre of music does Jess Moskaluke perform?
Jess Moskaluke primarily works within contemporary country music, though her sound incorporates significant pop influences and occasionally ventures into country-rock territory. Her original material typically features traditional country instrumentation—pedal steel, acoustic guitar, fiddle—paired with modern production techniques and pop song structures. Her cover work demonstrates versatility across genres, as she successfully reinterprets pop hits, alternative rock ballads, and R&B-influenced material through a country lens. This genre fluidity has helped her build a diverse fanbase while maintaining her core identity as a country artist.
Where is Jess Moskaluke from?
Jess Moskaluke hails from Langenburg, Saskatchewan, Canada—a small prairie town that significantly influences her musical perspective and lyrical content. Her Saskatchewan roots appear throughout her work, particularly in songs that explore small-town identity, rural values, and the tension between hometown connections and broader ambitions. This geographic identity has been central to her branding as an authentic Canadian country artist, distinguishing her in a market often dominated by American country acts. Her success has made her one of Saskatchewan’s most prominent musical exports and a point of pride for Canadian country music fans.
Has Jess Moskaluke won any major music awards?
Yes, Jess Moskaluke has earned multiple Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) awards throughout her career, including Female Artist of the Year honors. Her breakthrough single “Cheap Wine & Cigarettes” earned particular recognition within Canadian country music circles, solidifying her commercial and critical success. She’s been nominated in various CCMA categories multiple times, reflecting both her commercial radio success and industry respect. While her award recognition has primarily come from Canadian institutions, her influence and fanbase extend throughout North America, particularly in markets with strong country music traditions.