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Don't Know Why
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Don't Know Why
| cover = Don't Know Why (Norah Jones single - cover art).jpg
| type = single
| artist = Norah Jones
| album = Come Away with Me
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Jazz-pop
| length = 3:06
| label = Blue Note
| writer = Jesse Harris
| producer =
| next_title = Feelin' the Same Way
| next_year = 2002
| misc =
}}
"'Don't Know Why'" is a song written and composed by Jesse Harris that originally appeared on his 1999 album, 'Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos.' A cover of the song was the debut single of American singer Norah Jones from her debut studio album, 'Come Away with Me' (2002).
Jones' version of "Don't Know Why" was released on January 28, 2002, peaked at number 30 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 and was a critical success. The single went on to win three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It remains Jones's biggest hit single in the United States to date, and her only one to reach the top 40 of the 'Billboard' Hot 100. "Don't Know Why" was also a modest hit abroad, reaching number five in Australia, number 24 in New Zealand, and number 59 in the United Kingdom. The song was ranked number 459 in 'Blender' magazine's "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".
Jones' piano-playing has been compared to that of Floyd Cramer, having a "style and grace, a musical maturity not found in many keyboard players today."
Music video
A music video directed by Anastasia Simone and Ian Spencer was released in 2002. It features Jones performing the song on a gray beach at sunrise, on a rocky hill, and at a beach rental stand accompanied by a wooden piano while undersea images are projected onto the walls.
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the 'Come Away with Me' album booklet.
'Personnel'
* Jesse Harris writing, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Norah Jones vocals, piano, production
* Lee Alexander bass guitar
* Dan Rieser drums
* Arif Mardin production, mixing
* Jay Newland production, engineering, mixing
* Mark Birkey assistant engineering
* Ted Jensen mastering
'Technical credits'
* Recorded at Sorcerer Sound (New York City) and Allaire Studios (Shokan, New York)
* Mixed at Sear Sound (New York City)
* Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
Parodies
* The children's television show 'Sesame Street' parodied the song with Jones playing the song "I Don't Know Why Y Didn't Come" on the piano, about the letter Y not showing up. Elmo watches her play and briefly sings along, as the Y arrives late, during the song.
* The sketch comedy show 'MADtv' parodied the song in a commercial for the fictitious album 'Monotonous'. The joke of the sketch is that the song sets the mood for wild parties despite its slow pace.
Covers
* Michelle Williams performed the song on the second US series of 'The Masked Singer'.
References
Buy Don't Know Why now from Amazon
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