More Than Words
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| "More than Words" | |||||
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| Single by Extreme | |||||
| from the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti | |||||
| Released | 1991 | ||||
| Format | CD maxi, 7" | ||||
| Recorded | 1990 | ||||
| Genre | Folk rock | ||||
| Length | 5:33 (More Than Words) 12:53 (CD maxi single) 6:59 (7" single) |
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| Label | A&M Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | Nuno Bettencourt Gary Cherone |
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| Producer | Michael Wagener | ||||
| Extreme singles chronology | |||||
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"More Than Words" is a ballad written by and originally performed by rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone (with harmony vocals from Bettencourt), it was released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti. The song was a departure from the funk metal that had permeated the band's style previous to its release.
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[edit] Song meaning
The song itself asks the person to whom it is addressed to show love through "more than words."
The video for "More Than Words" was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his original song, "You Don't Love Me Anymore." Also Amateur Transplants wrote a comedic song to the same tune as "More Than Words" entitled "Northern Birds" which may be found on their 2006 album "We Are So Bad".
[edit] Chart performances
On March 23, 1991, "More Than Words" entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number 81 and soon after reached number one. It also reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, where the group had had success before its American breakthrough. Though they had made a few European charts before, this brought the band to their first mainstream success in the United States. Extreme followed "More Than Words" with another power ballad, "Hole Hearted," which was slightly faster paced than "More Than Words", but nevertheless topped at number 4 in the United States and number 3 in Canada.
[edit] Cover versions
Even years after its release, "More Than Words" has retained popularity as a romantic ballad. Cover versions include:
- Flip Da Scrip in 1997, heavily sampling the song in their single I Never Told You.[1][2]
- BBMak in 1999-2000, on their first debut album, released in Asia in 1999, and as a b-side in 1999 for the UK "Back Here" single.
- Westlife in 1999, on their first album, Westlife.
- David Cassidy in 2003 for the album A Touch of Blue.
- Naturally 7 in 2003 a cappella for the album What is It?.
- Owen in 2004, as a Japanese bonus track on his album I Do Perceive.
- Frankie J in 2005, as a single.
- Aloha Sex Juice performed in Hawaiian in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
- Rob McElhenney"Mac", Kaitlin Olsen"Sweet Dee", Charlie Day"Charlie, and Glenn Howerton"Dennis", aka "The Gang" from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia sang the last verse in a capella while taking shots in their South Philly bar in a season one episode.
- Ruben Studdard covered the song on his 2009 album, Love Is.
[edit] Live cover performances
- Tony Lucca and JC Chasez in 1991, performed the song on the Mickey Mouse Club.
- Walters & Kazha performed it in 2005 as a live performance.
- Serbian singer and participant of reality/talent show Operacija trijumf, Vukašin Brajić, has sung this song twice at the show's gala evenings. The performances are considered to be some of his best.
[edit] Appearances in other media
- Wavegroup is a company that did a cover of the song for the game Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol.
- Mike Myers in 2008, performed that song in his film, The Love Guru.
- The song was played to set up a romantic interlude in the episode of "Reaper" which first aired April 14, 2009. Sam, Ben and Sock delay sending a soul (Billy) back to hell so that he can enjoy his first intimate encounter.
- The song was sung a capella in an episode of FX's TV series "It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia" by the main cast members.
- The song is performed in Forgetting Sarah Marshall in the background of a bar scene (performed in Hawaiian).
- Mike Kinsella of Owen has performed covers of the song live, with versions appearing on the Japanese import of I do perceive and, more notably, on The Seaside EP in 2009.
[edit] Track listings
- CD maxi
- "More Than Words" (remix) — 5:33
- "Kid Ego" — 4:04
- "Nice Place to Visit" — 3:16
- 7" single
- "More Than Words" — 3:43
- "Nice Place to Visit" — 3:16
[edit] Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada[3] | Platinum | December 19, 1991 | 100,000 |
| Sweden[4] | Gold | November 21, 1991 | 10,000 |
| UK[5] | Silver | August 1, 1991 | 200,000 |
| U.S.[6] | Gold | May 17, 1991 | 500,000 |
[edit] Charts
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| Preceded by "I Don't Wanna Cry" by Mariah Carey |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single June 8, 1991 |
Succeeded by "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul |
| ARC Weekly Top 40 number-one single June 8, 1991 |
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| Preceded by "Rhythm of My Heart" by Rod Stewart |
Canadian Singles Chart number-one single June 8, 1991 – June 29, 1991 |
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| Preceded by "Are You Ready" by AC/DC |
New Zealand RIANZ number-one single July 5, 1991 |
Succeeded by "I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd |
[edit] References
- ^ Lyrics to "I Never Told You".
- ^ I Never Told You (1997).
- ^ Canada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved August 29, 2008)
- ^ Swedish certifications Ifpi.se (Retrieved September 11, 2008)
- ^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved August 29, 2008)
- ^ U.S. certifications riaa.com (Retrieved August 29, 2008)
- ^ a b c d e f "More Than Words", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 7, 2008)
- ^ Canadian Singles Chart [1] (Retrieved September 28, 2008
- ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 7, 2008)
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 7, 2008)
- ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 7, 2008)
- ^ a b c Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 29, 2008)
- ^ 1991 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved August 29, 2008)
- ^ 1991 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved August 29, 2008)
[edit] External links
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