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Why (Annie Lennox song)

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"Why"
Single by Annie Lennox
from the album Diva
B-side"Primitive"
Released16 March 1992 (1992-03-16)[1]
Genre
Length4:53
Label
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox
Producer(s)Stephen Lipson
Annie Lennox singles chronology
"Put a Little Love in Your Heart"
(1988) 		"Why"
(1992) 		"Precious"
(1992)
Music video
"Why?" on YouTube

"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 on their list of "The 10 Best Annie Lennox Songs" in 2015.[2]

Critical reception

[edit]

Jennifer Bowles from Associated Press described the song as an "emotional" and "hypnotizing ballad".[3] 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."[4] Clark and DeVancy from Cashbox viewed it as a "soulful ballad", that "is stirring attention, which is, of course, Annie's forte."[5] 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."[6] Stephanie Zacharek from Entertainment Weekly noted how "languorously [Lennox] stretches that word across several measures as if she were unfurling a length of satin."[7] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report stated that the "haunting" song is "a testament to her singing and writing prowess."[8] Another editor, Kent Zimmerman, called it "spiritually ultrasonic, breathtakingly sophisticated, lyrically telling and congruently adult in texture and tempo."[9]

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."[10] 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."[11] 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."[12] Harry Dean from Smash Hits complimented the song as a "glistening beauty".

Chart performance

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"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 100 Hit Tracks chart in Canada, number 15 in New Zealand, number 17 in Australia, and number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100. On the Billboard Adult Contemporary, it peaked at number six.

Retrospective response

[edit]

In a 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])."[13]

Stereogum ranked "Why" number one in their list of the 10 best Annie Lennox songs in 2015.[14] 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."[15]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for the song was directed by British director Sophie Muller and was filmed in Venice, Italy[16] 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 applying 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 Lennox posing for the cameras alternating with shots of her singing the song. The video won Lennox an award for Best Female Video at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards.[17][18] It was later published on YouTube in October 2009 and by May 2023, the video had received more than 74.8 million views.[19]

Track listings

[edit]

7-inch single

No.TitleLength
1."Why" (Single Version)4:53
2."Primitive"4:17

CD maxi

No.TitleLength
1."Why" (Single Version)4:53
2."Primitive"4:20
3."Why" (Instrumental)4:54

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

DJ Sammy version

[edit]
"Why"
Single by DJ Sammy featuring Britta Medeiros
from the album The Rise
ReleasedJune 2005
Length4:00
Label
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox
Producer(s)
  • Martin Eyerer
  • Oliver 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.

Formats and track listings

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US CD single

  1. "Why" (Radio Edit) – 4:00
  2. "Why" (Candlelight Mix) – 4:25
  3. "Why" (Extended Mix) – 6:44
  4. "Why" (Phunk Investigation Remix) – 5:55
  5. "Why" (Breeze & Styles Remix) – 6:17
  6. "Why" (DJ Sammy's Extended Mix) – 7:10
  7. "Why" (Parker & Hanson Remix) – 7:58
  8. "Why" (Andrew McCensit Remix) – 7:58
  9. "Why" (Phunk Investigation Dub) – 9:21

Germany CD single

  1. "Why" (Radio Edit)
  2. "Why" (Sammy Extended)
  3. "Why" (Parker & Hanson Remix)
  4. "Cheba"

Australia CD single

  1. "Why" (Radio Edit)
  2. "Why" (Club Mix)
  3. "Why" (Sammy's Extended Mix)
  4. "Why" (Parker & Hanson Mix)

UK CD single

  1. "Why" (Radio Edit) – 3:28
  2. "Why" (Club Mix) – 6:43
  3. "Why" (Breeze & Styles Remix) – 6:19
  4. "Why" (Phunk Investigation Remix) – 5:55
  5. "Why" (Parker & Hanson Mix) – 8:46
  6. "Why" music video

Charts

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 March 1992. p. 21. Retrieved 19 June 2021. Misprinted as 15 March; the album releases section (p. 12) uses the correct date.
  2. ^ "The 10 Best Annie Lennox Songs". Stereogum. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  3. ^ Bowles, Jennifer (4 October 1992). "Post-Eurythmics Lennox solos as 'Diva'". Portsmouth Daily Times. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (25 April 1992). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 74. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ^ Clark, Randy; DeVancy, Bryan (2 May 1992). "Music Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ Wallace, Keith (27 May 1992). "Don't feel rejected Dave, she needs you". Columbia Daily Spectator. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  7. ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (15 May 1992). "Diva". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. ^ Sholin, Dave (17 April 1992). "Personal Picks: Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 56. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. ^ Zimmerman, Kent (1 May 1992). "Jazz New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 36. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  10. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 14 March 1992. p. 10. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  11. ^ Griffiths, Nick (1 April 1992). "Reviews: New Singles". Select. p. 87. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Annie Lennox - Diva". Slant. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  13. ^ Ragogna, Mike (27 March 2009). "HuffPost Reviews : The Annie Lennox Collection". HuffPost. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  14. ^ "The 10 Best Annie Lennox Songs". Stereogum. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  15. ^ "The 10 Best Annie Lennox Songs". Stereogum. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  16. ^ Tilli, Robbert (4 April 1992). "Who's That Diva? RCA/BMG Gear Up For Lennox Debut" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 6. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Site Maintenance".
  18. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Annie Lennox - Why (Official Music Video)". YouTube.
  19. ^ "Annie Lennox - Why (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  22. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2006." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1964." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  25. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 16. 18 April 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 18. Prometheus Global Media. 2 May 1992. p. 55. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  27. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  28. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Annie Lennox". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  29. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 16. 18 April 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  30. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  32. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  33. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why". VG-lista. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  34. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  36. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  37. ^ "Annie Lennox: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  39. ^ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  40. ^ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Annie Lennox – Why". Tracklisten. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  43. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  44. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  45. ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Singles - Jahrescharts 1992" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  47. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1992". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  48. ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1992" (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  49. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992". Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  50. ^ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
  51. ^ "1992 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. 26 December 1992. p. YE-38. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  52. ^ "British single certifications – Annie Lennox – Why". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  53. ^ "DJ Sammy – Why". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  54. ^ "DJ Sammy – Why" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  55. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  56. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – DJ Sammy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  57. ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 16 June 2005". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 20 June 2019.[dead link‍]
  58. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  59. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  60. ^ "Dance/Mix Show Airplay". Billboard. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  61. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 8 October 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  62. ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Dance Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. 16 December 2005. p. 60.
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