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Why (Annie Lennox song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Why” | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by Annie Lennox | |
| from the album Diva | |
| B-side | “Primitive” |
| Released | 16 March 1992 |
| Genre | Soul pop |
| Length | 4:53 |
| Label | RCA Arista |
| Songwriter(s) | Annie Lennox |
| Producer(s) | Stephen Lipson |
| Annie Lennox singles chronology | |
| “Put a Little Love in Your Heart“ (1988)”Why“ (1992)”Precious“ (1992) | |
“Why” is the debut solo single of Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox, released on 16 March 1992. It was taken from her debut solo album, Diva (1992), and reached number five in the United Kingdom. In the United States, “Why” peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was also a big hit internationally, reaching number one in Italy and peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, Canada, Ireland and five other countries. Its music video was directed by Sophie Muller. Stereogum ranked “Why” number one in their list of the 10 best Annie Lennox songs in 2015.
Chart performance
“Why” was successful on the charts in several countries, peaking at number one in Italy. In Europe, it reached the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it peaked at number three. In the UK, the single reached number five in its third week at the UK Singles Chart, on 5 April 1992. Additionally, it was a top-20 hit in Austria, Germany and Spain.
Outside Europe, “Why” reached number seven on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada, number 15 in New Zealand, number 17 in Australia, and number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. But on the Billboard Adult Contemporary, it was an even bigger hit, peaking at number six.
Critical reception
Jennifer Bowles from Associated Press described the song as an “emotional” and “hypnotizing ballad“. Larry Flick from Billboard called it a “soft-yet-vivid ballad that beautifully showcases the rich and distinctive tone of her voice”. He noted the “sophisticated nature of track [that] will strain at (and should ultimately knock down) the tight boundaries of top 40 radio.” Clark and DeVancy from Cashbox viewed it as a “soulful ballad”, that “is stirring attention, which is, of course, Annie’s forte.” Keith Wallace from Columbia Daily Spectator said that “Why” “wants to be a soulful ballad, but it’s so drippy and goofy that it doesn’t come anywhere close.” Stephanie Zacharek from Entertainment Weekly noted how “languorously [Lennox] stretches that word across several measures as if she were unfurling a length of satin.” Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report stated that the “haunting” song is “a testament to her singing and writing prowess.” Another editor, Kent Zimmerman, called it “spiritually ultrasonic, breathtakingly sophisticated, lyrically telling and congruently adult in texture and tempo.”
A reviewer from Music & Media commented that the singer “confidently goes AC on her first solo effort” and it is “gently moving and highly polished. She could hardly move farther away from the stirring rock of Eurythmics.” Nick Griffiths from Select said that it is “the sort of tasteful soulful ballady thing you ‘d probably expect of her by now, and when the tide of tasteful soulful balladiness swamps her halfway through it’s no surprise either.” Slant Magazines Eric Henderson wrote that “Why” is “hardly the sort of melodramatic setting we’d imagine from an album whose very name evokes histrionic pretense. But Annie Lennox isn’t and has never been a representative pop diva. Her body is lanky and angular instead of curvaceously plush. Her exaggerated facial features (capped off with a most spectacular set of cheekbones that she wisely never allowed her hair to grow long enough to cover) are matched in androgen-fabulousness only by her tremulously guttural alto.” Harry Dean from Smash Hits complimented the song as a “glistening beauty”.
Retrospective response
In an 2009 retrospective review, Mike Ragogna from HuffPost wrote that Lennox’ vocal approach “evokes” Sting and Paul Simon and added “she declares, “This is the book I never read, these are the words I never said, this is the path I’ll never tread”, then went on to say, “These are the dreams I’ll dream instead”, making this her sideways stab at creating her own “My Way” (as the artist points out in the notes [of her 2009 collection]).”
Stereogum ranked “Why” number one in their list of the 10 best Annie Lennox songs in 2015. They wrote, “And while the album maybe didn’t live up to those hopes, Diva‘s first single remains an enduring classic. A bold enough move to have your first single be a torch ballad of regret, but this one is a weeper for the ages. It’s a musical version of the Kübler-Ross model with Lennox hitting the grief stage as she welcomes her ex-lover “down to the water’s edge” to “cast away those doubts”, spilling out “the contents of her head” during the depression stage, and then crumpling to the floor repeating the phrase, “You don’t know how I feel” as acceptance sets in. This was the song that you put on repeat to cope with that awful breakup because in every syllable she sings, you can hear that Lennox has been there too and feels just as bad as you do.”
Music video
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by British director Sophie Muller and was filmed in Venice, Italy during the shoot for the Diva album cover. The video shows Lennox sitting in front of a vanity mirror staring and marveling at herself before slowly putting on makeup. By the middle of the video, Lennox is fully made up and in the outfit she wears on the Diva album cover. The rest of the video consists of shots of Lennox posing for the cameras along with in-between shots of her singing the song. The video won Lennox an award for Best Female Video at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. It was later published on YouTube in October 2009 and by March 2022 the video had received more than 61.7 million views.
Track listings
7-inch single
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Why” (Single Version) | 4:53 |
| 2. | “Primitive” | 4:17 |
CD maxi
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Why” (Single Version) | 4:53 |
| 2. | “Primitive” | 4:20 |
| 3. | “Why” (Instrumental) | 4:54 |
Charts
| Weekly charts Chart (1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 17 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 4 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 7 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 3 Denmark (IFPI) 9 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) 3 Germany (Official German Charts) 12 Ireland (IRMA) 5 Italy (Musica e dischi) 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 15 Norway (VG-lista) 6 Spain (PROMUSICAE) 11 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 6 UK Singles (OCC) 5 US Billboard Hot 100 34 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 6 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) 12 Chart (2008) Peak position Denmark (Tracklisten) 6 | Year-end charts Chart (1992) Position Belgium (Ultratop) 52 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 41 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 18 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) 33 Germany (Official German Charts) 70 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 50 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 97 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 21 UK Singles (OCC) 79 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 40 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000 |
| Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
DJ Sammy version
| “Why” | |
|---|---|
| Single by DJ Sammy featuring Britta Medeiros | |
| from the album The Rise | |
| Released | June 2005 |
| Recorded | 2003 |
| Genre | Trancedance |
| Length | 4:00 |
| Label | Ministry of SoundData |
| Songwriter(s) | Annie Lennox |
| Producer(s) | Martin EyererOliver Laib |
| DJ Sammy singles chronology | |
| “Rise Again“ (2004)”Why“ (2005)”L’bby Haba“ (2006) | |
In 2005 Spanish producer DJ Sammy covered “Why” with vocals from German singer Britta Medeiros. “Why” is the second single from the album The Rise. The music video features DJ Sammy in a room with a mixboard that he uses to create three holographic women that sing the song.
Why Covers
- Callum Beattie – Why
- Why – Kelly Clarkson
- Keith Caputo – Why
- Lara Fabian – Why
- Why – KSANA
Charts
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 29 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 64 |
| Hungary (Dance Top 40) | 38 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 16 |
| Ireland Dance (IRMA) | 5 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 7 |
“Why” is a song from Annie Lennox’s 1992 solo album, Diva. The song is a powerful ballad about the pain of heartbreak and loss. The lyrics are full of emotion, and Lennox’s vocals are both haunting and beautiful.
The song begins with a simple piano melody, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. Lennox’s vocals are soft and understated at first, but they build in intensity as the song progresses. The lyrics are about a love that has been lost, and the pain that comes with that loss.
The song reaches a crescendo in the chorus, where Lennox sings, “Why did you leave me? Why did you go? Why did you have to break my heart?” The lyrics are full of raw emotion, and Lennox’s vocals convey the pain of heartbreak perfectly.
The song then winds down, with Lennox’s vocals becoming softer and more reflective. The song ends with a simple piano melody, which leaves the listener with a sense of sadness and loss.
“Why” is a powerful and moving ballad about heartbreak. Lennox’s vocals are both haunting and beautiful, and the lyrics are full of emotion. The song is sure to touch the hearts of listeners who have ever experienced the pain of loss.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the song “Why”:
Pros:
- Powerful and moving ballad
- Haunting and beautiful vocals by Annie Lennox
- Raw and honest lyrics
- Simple but effective piano melody
Cons:
- The song may be too sad for some people
- The lyrics may be too personal for some people
Overall, “Why” is a powerful and moving ballad that is sure to touch the hearts of listeners. The song is well-written and well-performed, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Here are some additional thoughts on the song:
- The song’s title is a question, but it is also a statement of fact. The singer is asking why her lover left her, but she already knows the answer. He left her because he didn’t love her anymore.
- The song’s lyrics are full of emotion, but they are also very personal. The singer is sharing her own pain and heartbreak with the listener, and that can be a difficult thing to do.
- The song’s melody is simple but effective. The piano melody is understated, but it helps to create a sense of sadness and loss.
Recommended to anyone who enjoys powerful and moving ballads. The song is sure to touch the hearts of listeners who have ever experienced the pain of heartbreak.
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