Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1996
I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
Buy I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying'" is a song written and recorded by English rock singer Sting, which featured on his 1996 album 'Mercury Falling'. The song was also released as a single, and reached No.94 in the US. Sting also recorded the song as a duet with country music artist Toby Keith for Keith's 1997 album 'Dream Walkin'; this version reached No.2 in the US Hot Country Songs charts and No.84 in the US 'Billboard' Hot 100 charts, giving Sting his only country hit.
Content
Sting began 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. The song begins in the key of E-flat major, before modulating a semitone upward to E major in the final verse. 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.
Track listing
'US Edition'
#"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
#"This Was Never Meant to Be"
#"Giacomo's Blues"
#"Beneath a Desert Moon"
'German edition'
#"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"
#"Moonlight"
#"La Belle Dame Sans Regrets"
Chart performance (Sting version)
Toby Keith version
In 1997, American country music singer Toby Keith recorded the song for his fourth studio album 'Dream Walkin'. His 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 No.84. It reached No.2 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, becoming Sting's only entry on that chart. Additionally, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals.
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. The two also performed the song at the 1997 Country Music Association awards.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."'Billboard', 11 October 1997Chart performance (Toby Keith version)
"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" debuted at number 53 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of 11October 1997.Year-end charts
References
Category:1996 singles
Category:1997 singles
Category:Sting (musician) songs
Category:Toby Keith songs
Category:Malemale vocal duets
Category:Songs written by Sting (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by James Stroud
Category:A&M Records singles
Category:Mercury Nashville singles
Category:1996 songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham
Buy I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1996