I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
| "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" | ||||
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| Single by Sting | ||||
| from the album Mercury Falling | ||||
| Released | October 8, 1996 | |||
| Format | CD single | |||
| Genre | Rock Country rock |
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| Length | 4:00 | |||
| Label | A&M | |||
| Writer(s) | Sting | |||
| Producer | Hugh Padgham, Sting | |||
| Sting singles chronology | ||||
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"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" is a song written and recorded by English rock singer Sting. It was released from his 1996 album Mercury Falling. The song was also released as a single, and reached #94 and #54 on the U.S. and UK singles charts, respectively. Sting also recorded the song as a duet with country music artist Toby Keith on Keith's 1997 Dream Walkin' album. This version reached #2 on the US Hot Country Songs charts and #84 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts, and gave Sting his only country hit.
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[edit] Content
Sting started composing the song as a rock song, but the lyrical content pushed the song in a country direction, and it evolved into a country-rock shuffle.[1] The song begins in the key of E-flat major, before modulating a semitone upward to E major in the final verse.[2] Its lyrics concern a father whose wife has left him for another man and taken their two children. After a cynical beginning, he has a revelation about the connectedness of life and the universe, and finishes the song truly "so happy he can't stop crying." The music video for the song was directed by Lol Creme. During the Mercury Falling tour, Sting would often invite audience members up onto stage to sing the song along with him.
[edit] B sides
US Edition
- This Was Never Ment to Be
- Giacomo's Blues
- Beneath a Desert Moon
German edition
- Moonlight
- La Belle Dame Sans Regrets
[edit] Chart performance (Sting version)
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 94 |
| UK Singles Chart | 54 |
| German Singles Chart | 74 |
[edit] Toby Keith version
| "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" | ||||
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| Single by Toby Keith with Sting | ||||
| from the album Dream Walkin' | ||||
| B-side | "Jacky Don Tucker (Play by the Rules Miss All the Fun)" | |||
| Released | October 6, 1997 | |||
| Format | CD single, 7" | |||
| Genre | Country, country rock | |||
| Length | 4:03 | |||
| Label | Mercury Nashville 568114 | |||
| Producer | James Stroud Toby Keith |
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| Toby Keith chronology | ||||
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In 1997, country music singer Toby Keith recorded a cover version for his fourth studio album, 1997's Dream Walkin'.[3] This version, a duet with Sting, was released in late 1997 as the album's second single. It out-peaked the original version on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #84. In addition, it reached number two on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, becoming Sting's only entry on that chart.
[edit] Background
According to Keith, Sting agreed to let Keith record the song to give it a second chance at radio, as long as Sting could play bass guitar and sing duet vocals on it.[4] The two also performed the song at the 1997 Country Music Association awards.[5]
[edit] Critical reception
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that Sting and Keith's voices "complement each other extremely well." She goes on to say that a great songwriter can write words and music that transcend any genre and Sting's "poignant lyrics and strong melody on this song are perfect evidence."[6]
[edit] Chart performance (Toby Keith version)
"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" debuted at #53 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of October 11, 1997.
| Chart (1997–1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 84 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 4 |
[edit] References
- ^ Garbarini, Vic (July 1996). "Interview with Sting". Guitar World Magazine
- ^ Contemporary Country (1 ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 1999. pp. 130–138. ISBN 0-634-91594-x.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dream Walkin' review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r277858. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "Keith, Sting duet gives tune second wind". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: pp. P3. 1997-11-07. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA35EBA81992C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Wix, Kimmy (1997-09-24). "31st Annual CMA Awards Show". CMT. http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1473203/31st-annual-cma-awards-show.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ Billboard, October 11, 1997
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