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Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
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Wikipedia article
"'Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough'" a 1992 rock ballad performed as a duet by American singers Patty Smyth and Don Henley. The song was written by Smyth and Glen Burtnik. It was released as a single in August 1992 and reached 1 in Canada, where it was the most successful single of 1992, and peaked at No. 2 in Ireland and on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100.
History
Smyth is the lead singer for the band Scandal, whose hits included "The Warrior" and "Goodbye to You"; Henley is a longtime member of the band Eagles (singing lead vocals on "Desperado" and "Hotel California", among many others) as well as a successful solo artist ("The Boys of Summer", "Dirty Laundry"). Smyth had previously provided backing vocals on Henley's solo albums 'Building the Perfect Beast' (1984) and 'The End of the Innocence' (1989). "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" was written by Smyth and Glen Burtnik and would appear on her self-titled 1992 album.
Meaning
The lyrics refer to a past relationship between two people as narrated by the two singers, and their efforts to move on with their respective lives and make sense of the aftermath: 'There's a reason why people don't stay where they are / Baby sometimes love just ain't enough'. In the final chorus, there is a slight lyrical change to this line ("stay 'where' they are" becomes "stay 'who' they are"). Also, the line 'It's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust' is changed to 'It's sad when you know it's your heart they can't touch.'
Reception
The single was very successful, being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and spending six weeks at No. 2 on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart in late 1992 during the 13-week reign at No. 1 of Boyz II Men's song, "End of the Road". It remained in the top 40 for 20 weeks.Whitburn, Joel (2004). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 555. The duet also topped the 'Billboard' Adult Contemporary for four weeks.Hyatt, Wesley (1999). 'The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits' (Billboard Publications), page 380. In Canada, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the 'RPM' Top Singles chart, becoming the best-performing single of 1992, while in the United Kingdom, the song reached No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart. In Ireland, the song reached number two. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award in the category Best Pop Vocal, Duo or Group.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Cover versions
* Filipino diva-actress Jennylyn Mercado revived it as a carrier single of her third album 'Love Is' (2010). Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun also covered the song for her fourth album 'Start' (2002).
* In 2013, country singer Travis Tritt and his daughter Tyler Reese recorded a version for the re-release of Tritt's album 'The Storm' (2007). The re-released album was titled 'The Calm After...' and released on Tritt's own Post Oak Records on July 9, 2013. Tritt's version was released as a single in June 2013.
References
Category:1990s ballads
Category:1992 singles
Category:1992 songs
Category:2013 singles
Category:Black-and-white music videos
Category:Don Henley songs
Category:Malefemale vocal duets
Category:MCA Records singles
Category:Patty Smyth songs
Category:Rock ballads
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Glen Burtnik
Category:Travis Tritt songs
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