Fly (Sugar Ray song)#Charts

{{Infobox song

| name = Fly

| cover = Single Sugar Ray Fly.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Sugar Ray

| album = Floored

| B-side = Tap, Twist, Snap

| released = {{start date|1997|5|16}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

4:04 (original)
4:52 (featuring Super Cat)

| label =

| writer = Sugar Ray

| producer = David Kahne

| prev_title = Mean Machine

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = RPM

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|zUtnwcv-quE|"Fly"}}}}

}}

"Fly" is a song by American rock band Sugar Ray. It appears on their 1997 album Floored twice: one version with reggae artist Super Cat (track four) and the other without (track 13). The song was serviced to US radio in May 1997.

"Fly" became the band's first hit, holding the {{abbr|No.|Number}} 1 spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart for four consecutive weeks and spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song also reached No. 1 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart and entered the top 40 in Australia and Iceland. The song was included on VH1's countdown of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s" at number 52.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2007 |title=VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s: Not Enough Pavement |url=http://www.stereogum.com/7468/vh1s_greatest_songs_of_the_90s_not_enough_pavement/franchises/list/ |access-date=December 11, 2015 |website=Stereogum}}

Composition and music

"Fly" is an alternative rock,{{Cite magazine |last=Richin |first=Leslie |date=January 12, 2017 |title=20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017 |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7640665/1997-alternative-rock-songs-turning-20-2017 |access-date=November 29, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Cosores |first=Philip |date=July 4, 2017 |title=Ranking: Every Alternative Rock No. 1 Hit from Worst to Best |url=https://consequence.net/2017/07/ranking-every-alternative-rock-hit-from-worst-to-best/4/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=Consequence of Sound}}{{cite web|last=Galluci|first=Michael|url=https://diffuser.fm/1997-alt-rock-videos/|title=Top 10 Alt-Rock Videos From 1997|website=Diffuser|date=February 16, 2013|access-date=April 12, 2022}} reggae,{{Cite news |last=BOEHM |first=MIKE |date=June 25, 1997 |title=Rip-Off Artist Hopes to 'Fly' : SUGAR RAY "Floored" Lava/Atlantic (**) |language=en-US |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-25-ca-6580-story.html |access-date=November 15, 2018 |issn=0458-3035}}{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2018 |title=Please Enjoy This Sugar Ray Cover of Brian Eno and John Cale's "Spinning Away" |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/02/please-enjoy-this-sugar-ray-cover-of-brian-eno-and-john-cales-spinning-away/?amp=1 |access-date=November 15, 2018 |website=Spin}} reggae fusion,{{Cite web |title=Did 1997 contain the worst two weeks in music history? |url=https://music.avclub.com/did-1997-contain-the-worst-two-weeks-in-music-history-1798265017/amp |access-date=November 15, 2018 |website=music.avclub.com}} and pop rock song,{{Cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=May 30, 2019 |title=Sugar Ray Announce First Studio Album in 10 Years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sugar-ray-new-album-2019-842291/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=December 29, 2021}} that incorporates elements of dancehall{{Cite web |title=CNN - Sugar Ray flying high with new hit - September 9, 1997 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9709/09/sugar.ray/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103052253/http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9709/09/sugar.ray/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |access-date=November 2, 2018 |website=CNN}} and ska.{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=July 29, 1997 |title=SUGAR RAY SCORES HIT WITH 'FLY' |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/782/sugar-ray-scores-hit-with-fly/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229202032/https://www.mtv.com/news/782/sugar-ray-scores-hit-with-fly/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=MTV}}

Sugar Ray's lead singer Mark McGrath explained that this song had a bouncy beat, yet it was about death; 'Fly' too seemed like a bright, up-tempo song but "there is this stark imagery in there. There's loss in it. There is loss of a mother, obviously. I thought it was a good way to juxtapose the lyrics with the melody on that, similar to what Gilbert O'Sullivan did on 'Alone Again (Naturally)'."{{Cite web|title=Sugar Ray: Living the Dream.|url=http://www.popentertainment.com/mcgrath.htm|access-date=2023-01-15|first= Jay S.|last=Jacobs|date=August 14, 2009|website=www.popentertainment.com}} The other members wrote it without him as McGrath left during a rehearsal, and McGrath originally did not want to record the song and was downright wanting to quit the band, as he was preferring heavier music, "just wanted to scream and yell because I was scared to be onstage in the first place", and afraid his voice would not work with a mellower tune. His friend McG, who would eventually direct the video for 'Fly', convinced him otherwise, telling about the song's merits and asking "Where else you gonna go—work at Del Taco?"[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-mar-19-ca-18988-story.html Behind the McMusic : McG, Director of Hip Videos for MTV and VH1, Started Rolling Credits as a Kid Back in Newport ], Los Angeles Times

Track listings

Australian, European, and UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Fly|author=Sugar Ray|year=1997|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=7567-85419-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Fly|author=Sugar Ray|year=1997|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=7567-85419-9}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Fly|author=Sugar Ray|year=1998|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=A5419CD, 7567-85419-2}}

"Fly" (edit featuring Super Cat) – 3:58
"Tap, Twist, Snap" – 3:12
"Fly" (rock edit) – 3:58

UK 7-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Fly|author=Sugar Ray|year=1998|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Atlantic Records, Lava Records|id=AT0008, 7567-87006-7}}

:A. "Fly" (edit featuring Super Cat) – 3:58

:B. "Fly" (rock edit) – 3:58

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news\|url=https://timarit.is/page/2961673#page/n7/mode/2up\|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.11. – 20.11. '97)\|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir\|language=is\|page=22\|date=November 13, 1997\|access-date=June 4, 2022}} \| 21
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"\| Chart (1997–1998) !scope="col"\| Peak position
{{Single chart\|Australia\|31\|artist=Sugar Ray feat. Super Cat\|song=Fly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
{{Single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|1\|chartid=3355\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
{{Single chart\|Canadaadultcontemporary\|21\|chartid=3404\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
{{Single chart\|Canadarock\|1\|chartid=3315\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
scope="row"\| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web \|url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/1997/week-45\|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 45, 1997\|lang=dutch\| publisher=Dutch Top 40\|access-date=March 20, 2023}} \| 3
{{Single chart\|Dutch100\|64\|artist=Sugar Ray feat. Super Cat\|song=Fly\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|57\|date=19980131\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
{{single chart\|UK\|58\|date=19980131\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 21, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Billboardradiosongs\|1\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultalternativesongs\|18\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultpopsongs\|2\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|1\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|29\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|1\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=December 15, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|8\|artist=Sugar Ray\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 29, 2020}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1997) !Position
scope="row"\|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{Cite magazine \|title=RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks \|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3416&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3416.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3416 \|magazine=RPM \|via=Library and Archives Canada \|access-date=March 23, 2019}} \|6
scope="row"\|US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 27, 1997 \|title=The Year in Music: Hot 100 Airplay \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=109 \|issue=52 \|page=YE-36}} \|17
scope="row"\|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 28, 1997 \|title=Best of '97: Adult Top 40 Singles \|magazine=Airplay Monitor \|volume=5 \|issue=52 \|page=45}} \|30
scope="row"\|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 27, 1997 \|title=The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=109 \|issue=52 \|page=YE-73}} \|2
scope="row"\|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 28, 1997 \|title=Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles \|magazine=Airplay Monitor \|volume=5 \|issue=52 \|page=42}} \|74
scope="row"\|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 28, 1997 \|title=Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles \|magazine=Airplay Monitor \|volume=5 \|issue=52 \|page=38}} \|25

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1997)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{Cite magazine |title=RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3416&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3416.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3416 |magazine=RPM |via=Library and Archives Canada |access-date=March 23, 2019}}

scope="row"|US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 27, 1997 |title=The Year in Music: Hot 100 Airplay |magazine=Billboard |volume=109 |issue=52 |page=YE-36}}

|17

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 28, 1997 |title=Best of '97: Adult Top 40 Singles |magazine=Airplay Monitor |volume=5 |issue=52 |page=45}}

|30

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 27, 1997 |title=The Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks |magazine=Billboard |volume=109 |issue=52 |page=YE-73}}

scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 28, 1997 |title=Best of '97: Rhythmic Top 40 Singles |magazine=Airplay Monitor |volume=5 |issue=52 |page=42}}

|74

scope="row"|US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 28, 1997 |title=Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles |magazine=Airplay Monitor |volume=5 |issue=52 |page=38}}

|25

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1998) !Position
scope="row"\|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{Cite magazine \|date=December 14, 1998 \|title=RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98 \|url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+68-No.+12-December+14%2C+1998.pdf \|magazine=RPM \|volume=63 \|issue=12 \|page=20 \|access-date=March 23, 2019}} \|39
scope="row"\|US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 26, 1998 \|title=The Year in Music 1998: Hot 100 Singles Airplay \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=110 \|issue=52 \|page=YE-46}} \|16
scope="row"\|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 26, 1998 \|title=The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=110 \|issue=52 \|page=YE-96}} \|22
scope="row"\|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 25, 1998 \|title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998\|magazine=Airplay Monitor \|volume=6 \|issue=52 \|page=45}} \|31
scope="row"\|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 25, 1998 \|title=Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1998 \|magazine=Airplay Monitor \|volume=6 \|issue=52 \|page=36}} \|99
scope="row"\|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=December 25, 1998 \|title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1998\|magazine=Airplay Monitor \|volume=6 \|issue=52 \|page=46}} \|61

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1998)

!Position

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{Cite magazine |date=December 14, 1998 |title=RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98 |url=http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+68-No.+12-December+14%2C+1998.pdf |magazine=RPM |volume=63 |issue=12 |page=20 |access-date=March 23, 2019}}

|39

scope="row"|US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 26, 1998 |title=The Year in Music 1998: Hot 100 Singles Airplay |magazine=Billboard |volume=110 |issue=52 |page=YE-46}}

|16

scope="row"|US Adult Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 26, 1998 |title=The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks |magazine=Billboard |volume=110 |issue=52 |page=YE-96}}

|22

scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 25, 1998 |title=Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998|magazine=Airplay Monitor |volume=6 |issue=52 |page=45}}

|31

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 25, 1998 |title=Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 1998 |magazine=Airplay Monitor |volume=6 |issue=52 |page=36}}

|99

scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{Cite magazine |date=December 25, 1998 |title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1998|magazine=Airplay Monitor |volume=6 |issue=52 |page=46}}

|61

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\|United States \|May 16, 1997 \|{{hlist\|Mainstream rock\|modern rock\|AC radio}} \|rowspan="3"\|{{hlist\|Atlantic\|Lava}} \|{{Cite magazine \|last=Reece \|first=Doug \|date=September 20, 1997 \|title=Lava/Atlantic's Sugar Ray Flying High with 'Floored' \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=109 \|issue=38 \|page=11 \|quote=The label followed quickly with 'Fly,' servicing mainstream rock [...] modern rock, and AC May 16.}}
August 5, 1997 \|Contemporary hit radio \|{{Cite magazine \|date=August 1, 1997 \|title=New Releases \|magazine=Radio & Records \|issue=1208 \|page=38}}
scope="row"\|United Kingdom \|January 19, 1998 \|{{hlist\|7-inch vinyl\|CD\|cassette}} \|{{Cite magazine \|date=January 17, 1998 \|title=New Releases \|magazine=Music Week \|page=35}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"|United States

|May 16, 1997

|{{hlist|Mainstream rock|modern rock|AC radio}}

|rowspan="3"|{{hlist|Atlantic|Lava}}

|{{Cite magazine |last=Reece |first=Doug |date=September 20, 1997 |title=Lava/Atlantic's Sugar Ray Flying High with 'Floored' |magazine=Billboard |volume=109 |issue=38 |page=11 |quote=The label followed quickly with 'Fly,' servicing mainstream rock [...] modern rock, and AC May 16.}}

August 5, 1997

|Contemporary hit radio

|{{Cite magazine |date=August 1, 1997 |title=New Releases |magazine=Radio & Records |issue=1208 |page=38}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|January 19, 1998

|{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{Cite magazine |date=January 17, 1998 |title=New Releases |magazine=Music Week |page=35}}