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I Can See Clearly Now (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “I Can See Clearly Now” | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by Johnny Nash | |
| from the album I Can See Clearly Now | |
| B-side | “How Good It Is” |
| Released | June 23, 1972 |
| Genre | Reggae, soul, R&B |
| Length | 2:45 |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriter(s) | Johnny Nash |
| Producer(s) | Johnny Nash |
| Johnny Nash singles chronology | |
| “Stir It Up“ (1972)”I Can See Clearly Now“ (1972)”There Are More Questions Than Answers” (1972) | |
“I Can See Clearly Now” is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Nash. It was a single from the album of the same name and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdom when it was released in 1972, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It also reached number one in Canada and South Africa. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including a hit version by Lee Towers where it reached the Dutch Top 40 in 1982 charting at No. 19 and another hit version in 1993 by Jimmy Cliff, who recorded the song for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings, where it also reached No. 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Writing and recording
After Nash wrote and composed the original version, he recorded it in London with members of the Fabulous Five Inc., and produced it himself. Composed in the key of D major with a I-IV-V chord progression, the song’s arrangements and style are both heavily laced with reggae influences. Nash had collaborated with Bob Marley earlier, and his approach drew strongly from Marley’s reggae style.
Chart performance
After making modest chart advances for a month, the RIAA-certified gold single unexpectedly took only two weeks to vault from No. 20 to No. 5 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 4, 1972, remaining atop this chart for four weeks, and also spent the same four weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.
Jimmy Cliff version
| “I Can See Clearly Now” | |
|---|---|
| |
| Single by Jimmy Cliff | |
| from the album Cool Runnings soundtrack | |
| B-side | “Sweet Jamaica” by Tony Rebel |
| Released | October 1993 |
| Genre | Pop-reggae |
| Length | 3:16 |
| Label | Chaos |
| Songwriter(s) | Johnny Nash |
| Producer(s) | Paul Henton |
| Jimmy Cliff singles chronology | |
| “Samba Reggae” (1993)”I Can See Clearly Now“ (1993)”(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher“ (1994) | |
Jamaican reggae singer Jimmy Cliff recorded a cover of the song for the 1993 movie Cool Runnings. It was released as a single in 1993, reaching No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Cliff’s first single to make the Hot 100 in 25 years and is his highest-charting single in the United States. The song reached No. 1 in France, Iceland, and New Zealand. The music video for this version was directed by Academy Award nominated film director, Scott Hamilton Kennedy.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, “Cliff manages to breathe freshness into this oft-covered pop nugget. His laid-back vocal is matched by a relatively faithful arrangement (except for the delicate reggae flavors). Already amassing praise at adult formats, track is a good bet for eventual top 40 success.”
Other covers
The song has been covered by many artists. Among the most notable versions are:
- Ray Charles (highest charting R&B version #35 in 1978) Edited for single release by Keith Gooden.
- A version by Lee Towers reached the Dutch Top 40, charting at No. 19, and was recorded on his 1982 album New York.
- Hothouse Flowers in 1990 on Home (this version was a #23 hit in the UK Singles Chart in August 1990). In November 2016, this cover was featured in the premiere episode of British Motoring show, The Grand Tour, causing the song to reach the number 1 position on the iTunes’s Top 40 UK Rock Song chart in late 2016.
- Josh Groban covered the song in the deluxe edition his 2020 album “Harmony.”
- Gladys Knight covered the song on her 11th studio album Imagination
Anne Murray
Bobby McFerrin & crowd
Neil Finn
- Nicki Parrot – I Can See Clearly Now
Other notable covers
- A version by Ray Charles was included on his 1977 album True to Life and in 2021 on the compilation box set True Genius.
- Irish band Hothouse Flowers released their version as the second single from their album Home in 1990. It reached No. 5 in Ireland, No. 22 in Australia and No. 23 in the UK.
- Buffalo Rose and R&B singer INEZ released their cover version as a single in 2021, later named one of the best songs of the year by WYEP-FM.
- A version by Lee Towers reached the top Dutch top 40, charting at No. 19, and was recorded on his 1982 album New York.
- Viola Wills recorded a dance/hi-NRG version, released as a single-only in 1993.
- The Holly Cole Trio covered the song in their 1993 album Don’t Smoke in Bed.
- The French singer Claude François also recorded a version of this song called “Toi et le soleil”. Singers of the musical Belles belles belles covered the song.
- Willie Nelson also made a version, included on the album Stardust (1999 version)
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