I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
{{short description|1996 single by Sting}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
| cover = Imsohappy.jpg
| alt = A photo of Sting with his hands intertwined and covering his face
| type = single
| artist = Sting
| album = Mercury Falling
| released = {{startdate|1996|10|1|df=yes}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock, country rock
| length = 4:00
| label = A&M
| writer = Sting
| producer = Hugh Padgham, Sting
| prev_title = I Was Brought to My Senses
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = On Silent Wings
| next_year = 1997
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|LI8khooPyJk|"Sting - I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying"}}}}
}}
"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" is a song written and recorded by English rock singer Sting, which featured on his fifth album, Mercury Falling (1996). The song was also released as a single, and reached No.{{nbsp}}84 in the US. Sting also recorded the song as a duet with American country music artist Toby Keith for Keith's 1997 album Dream Walkin'; this version reached No.{{nbsp}}2 in the US Hot Country Songs charts and No.{{nbsp}}84 in the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, giving Sting his only country hit.
Background and release
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.{{Cite journal
| last = Garbarini
| first = Vic
| title = Interview with Sting
| journal = Guitar World
|date=July 1996
}} The song begins in the key of E-flat major, before modulating a semitone upward to E major in the final verse.{{cite book|title=Contemporary Country|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|year=1999|edition=1|pages=130–138|isbn=0-634-01594-X }} 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.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a country-flavored ballad that shows the artist at his most tender and engaging." He added, "It's kind of odd at first to hear Sting's reedy tenor amid the twang of a slide guitar, but it ultimately works."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-08-17.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=17 August 1996|page=77|accessdate=1 December 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}}
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"
- "Giacomo's Blues"
- "Moonlight"
- "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets"
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for Sting recording ! Chart (1996) ! Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/ecnEFRK.jpg|title=Response from ARIA re: Sting ARIA singles chart history, received 9 April 2018|publisher=Imgur.com|access-date=9 April 2018}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the single's peak on the national chart.
|align="center"|133 |
|---|
| {{Single chart|Canadatopsingles|27|chartid=9720|rowheader=true|access-date=28 November 2019}} |
| {{Single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|16|chartid=9811|rowheader=true|access-date=28 November 2019}} |
| {{singlechart|Germany|74|songid=33965|rowheader=true|song=I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying|artist=Sting}} |
| {{singlechart|Scotland|47|date=19961124|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|UK|54|date=19961124|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|84|artist=Sting|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|28|artist=Sting|rowheader=true}} |
Toby Keith version
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
| cover = Toby Keith - I'm So Happy.JPG
| alt = Keith seated on a chair with an acoustic guitar in his lap
| type = single
| artist = Toby Keith and Sting
| album = Dream Walkin'
| B-side = Jacky Don Tucker (Play by the Rules Miss All the Fun)
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|1997|10|6}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country, country rock
| length = 4:03
| label = Mercury Nashville 568114
| writer = Sting
| producer = James Stroud
Toby Keith
| chronology = Toby Keith
| prev_title = We Were in Love
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Dream Walkin'
| next_year = 1998
| misc = {{extra chronology
| artist = Sting
| type = single
| title = I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying
| year = 1997
| prev_title = On Silent Wings
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = Roxanne '97
| next_year = 1997
}}
}}
In 1997, American country music singer Toby Keith recorded the song for his fourth studio album, Dream Walkin' (1997).{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r277858|pure_url=yes}}|title=Dream Walkin
=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.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA35EBA81992C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title= Keith, Sting duet gives tune second wind|date=1997-11-07|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|pages=P3|access-date=2009-07-03}} The two also performed the song at the 1997 Country Music Association awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1473203/31st-annual-cma-awards-show.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116005230/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1473203/31st-annual-cma-awards-show.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 January 2009|title=31st Annual CMA Awards Show|last=Wix|first=Kimmy|date=1997-09-24|work=CMT|access-date=2009-07-03}} In 2001, Keith told Country Music that he regretted making the record, describing it as a compromise:
"He was on the same label on the pop side," Keith recalls. "Everybody was talkin' about that tune, how great it was and how country it sounded. So they brought it over and said, 'Do this and we'll get Sting to come and sing on it, too.' The personalities conflicted. He's a
real introvert. I was a real outgoing guy. He didn't like my abrasive and brash manner. It wasn't fun at all. It was a horrible experience."{{cite journal |journal=Country Music |date=October–November 2001|title=Walking Tall|volume=2001-10-11 |page=33 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Country-Music/00s/Country-Music-2001-10-11.pdf}}
=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 1997
=Charts=
"I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" debuted at number 53 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for the week of 11{{nbsp}}October 1997.
{{col-begin|width=75%}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for duet re-recording ! Chart (1997–1998) ! Peak |
| {{singlechart|Canadacountry|4|chartid=3441|publishdate=26 January 1998|access-date=14 July 2013|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|84|artist=Toby Keith|rowheader=true}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=Toby Keith|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Annual chart performance for duet re-recording |
| scope="col"|Chart (1998)
!scope="col"|Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Country Songs (Billboard){{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1998/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 1998: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=1998| access-date=14 July 2013}}
| align="center" | 74 |
{{col-end}}
{{-}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sting}}
{{Toby Keith 1990s singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Sting (musician) songs
Category:Songs written by Sting (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by James Stroud
Category:Mercury Nashville singles