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Why (Carly Simon song)

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"Why"
Single by Carly Simon
from the album Soup for One (soundtrack)
ReleasedAugust 1982
Recorded1981
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Chic
Carly Simon singles chronology
"Jesse"
(1980)
"Why"
(1982)
"You Know What to Do"
(1983)

"Why" is a song written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards and performed by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon. Recorded for the film Soup for One in 1982, the film was a commercial flop but the soundtrack album was a success. One of many film-inspired singles by Simon, the song became a top 10 hit in the UK, and was successful throughout Europe.[4]

Background

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The song, like the rest of the soundtrack, was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic.[5] This was a move away from the usual guitar-based hits of Simon's past. The bittersweet reggae-tinged ballad became a hit in Europe, hitting No. 10 in the UK, and staying on the British charts for 18 weeks.[4] The song peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 6 weeks.[6]

The song has been included on several of Simon's compilation albums, including the three-disc Clouds in My Coffee (1995), the single-disc The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better (1999), the two-disc Anthology (2002), and the import version of Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits (2004).[7]

Music video

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Simon released a music video for the song, which was filmed on the streets of New York City in 1982. Simon's daughter, Sally Taylor, also appears in the video, seen pouring a bottle of wine over a man's head.[5]

Reception

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Cash Box said that "Simon's vocal and Chic's polyrhythm street groove proves just the right formula."[8]

In 2015, Pitchfork ranked "Why" at No. 188 on their list of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980s.[1]

Later significance

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Wham! notably covered the song during their last concert The Final in 1986.[9] In 1989, "Why" re-surfaced on the Ibiza "Hacienda" scene, and cemented its status as a Balearic classic.[2] Known for its bass-line and funky drums, it was then that the growing hip-hop scene in the US began to pick it up seven years after its original release. The song re-entered the UK charts the same year, reaching No. 56. In 1990, A Tribe Called Quest would heavily sample the song for a remix of their hit single, "Bonita Applebum". In 1999, British dancehall musician Glamma Kid heavily interpolated the song in "Why", which was also a top 10 UK hit.

Track listings and formats

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7" single[10]
  • "Why" – 3:33
  • "Why" (performed by Chic) – 3:33
12" single[10]
  • "Why" (extended version) – 8:11
  • "Why" (instrumental) – 7:06

Charts

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Chart (1982) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 21
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 35
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 74

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s". Pitchfork. August 24, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2022. But in 1982, Rodgers and his partner Bernard Edwards used it to develop a post-disco pop song performed by Carly Simon, 'Why'.
  2. ^ a b "Forgotten Treasure: Carly Simon "Why" (1981)". Musicismysanctuary.com. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
  3. ^ Molanphy, Chris (January 19, 2021). "These Are the Good Times Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "UK Charts > Carly Simon". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Soup For One (Soundtrack)". Carlysimon.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  6. ^ a b "Carly Simon - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  7. ^ "Carly Simon Official Website - Why lyrics". April 14, 2005. Archived from the original on April 14, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 19, 1982. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  9. ^ Number One Magazine (5 July 1986; P.24)
  10. ^ a b Why at Discogs (list of releases)
  11. ^ "Carly Simon – Why" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Carly Simon". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Carly Simon – Why" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Carly Simon: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
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