| "I Try" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Macy Gray | ||||
| from the album On How Life Is | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | July 23, 1999 | |||
| Studio | Paramount, Sunset Sound, A&M (Hollywood, California) | |||
| Genre | Neo soul[1] | |||
| Length | 3:59 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Composers |
| |||
| Lyricist | Macy Gray | |||
| Producer | Andrew Slater | |||
| Macy Gray singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "I Try" on YouTube | ||||
"I Try" is a song co-written and performed by American musician Macy Gray. Issued as the second single from her debut album, On How Life Is (1999), the song was first released in Japan as a double A-side with "Do Something" on July 23, 1999. Later that year, on September 27, it received its first solo release in the United Kingdom. "I Try" peaked at number six in the United Kingdom, number five in the United States, number two in Canada, and number one in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. At the 2001 Grammy Awards, "I Try" won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Critical reception
Daily Record called the song "soulful", noting that Macy Gray "has one of the most distinctive singing voices around."[2]
Music video
The music video for the song, directed by American filmmaker Mark Romanek (who had previously directed the video for Gray's "Do Something"),[3] depicts Gray waking up in a hotel room, buying flowers, and traveling through New York City, traveled through by bus and train to meet a man in a park. At the end of the video, Gray is shown to still be in her hotel room.[4]
At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won Best New Artist in a Video and was also nominated for Best Female Video. Gray presented the award for Best Pop Video alongside LL Cool J.[5]
Track listings
|
|
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the On How Life Is album booklet.[13]
Studios
- Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound, and A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)
Personnel
- Macy Gray – lyrics, music, back-up vocals
- Jeremy Ruzumna – music, organ
- Jinsoo Lim – music
- David Wilder – music, bass
- Jon Brion – guitars, piano, orchestra bells
- Bendrix Williams – guitars
- Patrick Warren – Chamberlin
- Matt Chamberlain – drums
- Lenny Castro – percussion
- Andrew Slater – production
- Dave Way – recording, mixing
- Krystof Zizka - engineer, producer
Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[59] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[60] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[61] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[62] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | "I Try" / "Do Something" | July 23, 1999 | CD | Epic | [63] |
| United Kingdom | "I Try" | September 27, 1999 |
|
[64] | |
| United States | October 5, 1999 | [65] | |||
| October 18, 1999 | Hot adult contemporary radio | [66] | |||
| October 19, 1999 | [66] |
References
- ^ Parker, Eloise (2015). "Macy Gray - "I Try". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 784.
- ^ "Chartslot". Daily Record. October 29, 1999. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- ^ "Macy Gray - I Try (1999)". IMVDb. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ^ "Official Music Video". YouTube. March 18, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ^ 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Award Ceremony
- ^ I Try (UK CD1 liner notes). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 668183 2.
- ^ I Try (UK CD2 liner notes). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 668183 5.
- ^ I Try (UK cassette single sleeve). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 668183 4.
- ^ I Try (European CD1 liner notes). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EPC 667770 1.
- ^ I Try (European CD2 liner notes). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EPC 667770 2.
- ^ I Try (Australian CD single liner notes). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 667911 2.
- ^ I Try (Japanese CD single liner notes). Epic Records. 1999. ESCA-8025.
- ^ On How Life Is (US CD album booklet). Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EK 69490.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try" (in French). Ultratip.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 9908". RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 7237". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 10. March 4, 2000. p. 11. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History. See Last week position.
- ^ "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 9. p. 27. Retrieved January 17, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try" (in French). Le classement de singles.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.11 – 11.11 1999)". DV (in Icelandic). November 5, 1999. p. 10. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Try". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 1, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Macy Gray".
- ^ "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 50. December 11, 1999. p. 19.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Macy Gray" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try". VG-lista.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 41. October 9, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved January 17, 2026 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 27/11/1999 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Macy Gray – I Try". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Macy Gray Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 3/10/1999 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 13, 2000. p. 142.
- ^ "Yearly Best Selling Singles – 1999" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Most Broadcast of 1999 – Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2000". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. December 23, 2000. p. 9. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles-Jahrescharts – 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2000". swisscharts.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "The Year in Music 2000 – Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-46. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Best of 2000: Most Played Adult Contemporary Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 50.
- ^ a b "The Year in Music 2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-99. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – Macy Gray – I Try". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Macy Gray – I Try". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2024. Select singles in the Formats field. Type I Try Macy Gray in the "Search:" field.
- ^ "メイシー・グレイ" [Macy Gray]. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ "New Releases – Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 25, 1999. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1319. October 1, 1999. pp. 54, 61. ISSN 0277-4860 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b "Going for Adds" / "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1321. October 15, 1999. pp. 146, 155, 179. ISSN 0277-4860 – via World Radio History.
Categories:
- 1999 singles
- 1999 songs
- Macy Gray songs
- Music videos directed by Mark Romanek
- Number-one singles in Australia
- Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Songs written by Jeremy Ruzumna
- Songs written by Macy Gray
- Epic Records singles
- Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
