When You Say Nothing at All

Songwriters Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz came up with "When You Say Nothing at All" at the end of an otherwise unproductive day. Strumming a guitar, trying to write their next song, they were coming up empty. "As we tried to find another way to say nothing, we came up with the song", Overstreet later told author Ace Collins. They thought the song was OK, but nothing special.{{cite book |last=Collins |first=Ace |title=The Stories Behind Country Music's All-Time Greatest 100 Songs |publisher=Boulevard |year=1996 |location=New York |isbn=1-57297-072-3 |page=268}} When Keith Whitley heard it, he loved it, and was not going to let it get away. Earlier, he had recorded another Overstreet-Schlitz composition that became a No. 1 hit for another artist - Randy Travis' "On the Other Hand." Whitley did not plan to let "When You Say Nothing at All" meet the same fate.{{cite book |last=Roland |first=Tom |title=The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits |publisher=Billboard |year=1991 |location=New York |isbn=0-8230-7553-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/billboardbookofn0000rola/page/539 539] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/billboardbookofn0000rola/page/539 }}

RCA released "When You Say Nothing at All" as the follow-up single to the title song of Whitley's Don't Close Your Eyes album. The former song already had hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, his first chart-topper after three prior singles made the top 10.{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first= Joel |title=Top Country Songs 1944–2005 |publisher=Record Research |year=2005 |location=Menomonee Falls, Wis. |isbn=0-89820-165-9 |page=416}} "When You Say Nothing at All" entered the Hot Country Singles chart on September 17, 1988, at No. 61, and gradually rose to the top, where it stayed for two weeks at the end of the year. It was the second of five consecutive chart-topping singles for Whitley, who did not live to see the last two, as he died on May 9, 1989, of alcohol poisoning. "Keith did a great job singin' that song," co-composer Schlitz told author Tom Roland. "He truly sang it from the heart." In 2004, Whitley's original was ranked 12th among CMT's 100 Greatest Love Songs.{{cite web |last=CMT |author-link=Country Music Television |title=100 Greatest Love Songs |url=http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/81730/episode_countdown.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040621084818/http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/greatest_series/81730/episode_countdown.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 21, 2004 |access-date=May 22, 2007 }} It was sung by Sara Evans on the show. As of February 2015, the song has sold 599,000 digital copies in the US after it became available for download.{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2015/02/33005-country-musics-top-30-digital-singles-week-february-19-2015/ |title=Country Music's Top 30 Digital Singles: Week of February 19, 2015 |author= Matt Bjorke |date= February 19, 2015 |work=Roughstock }}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|certyear=2023|title=When You Say Nothing At All|artist=Keith Whitley|type=single|relyear=1988}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = When You Say Nothing at All

| cover = AlisonKraussWYSNAA.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Alison Krauss & Union Station

| album = Keith Whitley: A Tribute Album {{noitalic|and}} Now That I've Found You: A Collection

| B-side = "Charlotte's in North Carolina" (by Keith Whitley)

| released = January 1995

| recorded =

| studio = Scruggs Sound (Berry Hill, Tennessee){{cite web|last=Nicholson|first=Jessica|title=Johnny Reid To Relaunch Scruggs Sound Studios As Soultrain Sound Studios|url=https://musicrow.com/2020/04/johnny-reid-to-relaunch-scruggs-sound-studios-as-soultrain-sound-studios/|website=Music Row|date=April 6, 2020|access-date=November 19, 2024}}

| venue =

| genre = Country

| length = 4:20

| label = BNA

| writer =

• Paul Overstreet
• Don Schlitz

| producer = Randy Scruggs

| chronology = Alison Krauss

| prev_title = Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Baby Now That I've Found You

| next_year = 1995

}}

In 1994, bluegrass music group Alison Krauss & Union Station covered the song for a tribute album to Whitley titled Keith Whitley: A Tribute Album. After this cover began to receive unsolicited airplay, BNA Records, the label that had released the album, issued it to radio in January 1995.{{cite magazine |last=Horak |first=Terri |title=Rounder Goes All Out for Grammy-Nominated Krauss |magazine=Billboard |date=January 21, 1995}} Accessed via ProQuest. That version, also featured on Krauss' compilation Now That I've Found You: A Collection, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and a commercial single reached No. 2 on the same magazine's Hot Country Singles Sales chart. The B-side of the single was Keith Whitley's "Charlotte's in North Carolina", which was another previously unreleased track featured on the Tribute album.

Its success, as well as that of the album, caught Krauss by surprise. "It's a freak thing," she told a Los Angeles Times reporter in March 1995. "It's kinda ticklin' us all. We haven't had anything really chart before. At all. Isn't it funny though? We don't know what's goin' on....The office said, 'Hey, it's charting,' and we're like, 'Huh?'"{{cite news |last=Cromelin |first=Richard |title=A Hit from Country's Kinfolk / Bluegrass's most prominent figure makes her way into country music's Top 10. Even Alison Krauss can't explain it. |page=F1 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 25, 1995}} Accessed via ProQuest.

Mike Cromwell, then the production director at WMIL-FM in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, concocted a duet merging elements of the Alison Krauss & Union Station version with Whitley's original hit version. The "duet" garnered national attention, and it spread from at least Philadelphia to Albuquerque.{{cite news |last=Cave |first=Kathy |title=Whitley, Krauss blend grabs national attention |page=B8 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=May 5, 1995}} Accessed via ProQuest. This "duet" was however never officially serviced to radio and has never been available commercially.

The Alison Krauss & Union Station recording won the 1995 CMA award for "Single of the Year". It has sold 468,000 digital downloads as of May 2017.{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2017/05/41767-top-30-digital-singles-sales-report-may-3-2017 |title=Top 30 Digital Singles Sales Report: May 3, 2017 |first= Matt |last=Bjorke |date= May 3, 2017 |work=Roughstock }}

1. "When You Say Nothing at All"
2. "Charlotte's In North Carolina"

{{col-begin|width=74%}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "When You Say Nothing at All"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Alison Krauss|title=When You Say Nothing at All|award=Gold|relyear=1995|certyear=2019|access-date=August 12, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = When You Say Nothing at All

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Frances Black

| album = The Smile on Your Face

| B-side = Send Him a Letter

| released = August 1996

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 5:07

| label = Dara

| writer =

• Paul Overstreet
• Don Schlitz

| producer =

• Arty McGlynn
• Ciarán Byrnes

| prev_title = The Sky Road

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Stranger on the Shore

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|sLqZwNEf2K0|"When You Say Nothing at All"}}}}

}}

"When You Say Nothing At All" is the opening track on Frances Black's third solo album, The Smile on Your Face (1996), the title of the album being a lyric from this song. Released in August 1996 as the album's first single, this single became her third to reach the Irish top 10, peaking at number eight during an 11-week run in the top 30.

1. "When You Say Nothing at All"
2. "Send Him a Letter"

{{div col}}

• Paul Overstreet – writing
• Don Schilitz – writing
• Frances Black – vocals
• Mary Black – backing vocals
• Arty McGlynn – guitar, production
• Ciarán Byrnes – engineering, production
• Rod McVey – keyboards, piano
• Noel Bridgeman – drums
• James Blennerhasset – bass

{{div col end}}

{{Infobox song

| name = When You Say Nothing at All

| cover = RonanKeatingWYSNaA.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Ronan Keating

| album = Ronan, Notting Hill {{noitalic|and}} By Request

| released = {{start date|1999|7|26}}

| recorded =

| studio = Metropolis, the Aquarium (London, England)

| genre =

| length = 4:18

| label = Polydor

| writer =

• Paul Overstreet
• Don Schlitz

| producer = Stephen Lipson

| next_title = These Days

| next_year = 1999

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Paulina Rubio

| type = single

| prev_title = Casanova

| prev_year = 2002

| title = When You Say Nothing at All (Cuando no Dices Nada)

| year = 2003

| next_title = Te Quise Tanto

| next_year = 2004

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|IobNcpiwpSc|"When You Say Nothing at All"}}}}

}}

"When You Say Nothing at All" was released as the debut solo single by Irish singer-songwriter Ronan Keating. The song was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Notting Hill and also appeared on Keating's debut solo album, Ronan. This cover was released on July 26, 1999, in the United Kingdom.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1999/Music-Week-1999-07-24.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting 26 July, 1999: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=23|date=July 24, 1999|access-date=July 22, 2021}} It peaked at number one in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. The single is certified double platinum in the UK and platinum in Australia, Denmark, and Sweden.

In February 2003, Keating re-recorded the song as a duet with Mexican singer Paulina Rubio in Spanglish, which was released in Spain, Mexico, and Latin America (excluding Brazil) to promote Keating's second studio album, Destination.{{cite web|url=https://los40.com/los40/2003/05/07/actualidad/1052258400_271562.html|title=Paulina Rubio ayuda a Ronan Keating a entrar al mercado latino|date=May 7, 2003 |publisher=Los 40 Principales|language=es|access-date=July 13, 2021}} In Brazil, Ronan chose the Brazilian singer Deborah Blando to re-record the song in English and English-Portuguese for the 10 Years Of Hits album exclusive for that country. A music video was recorded for this version with Blando.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-ICG2rxSU|title=Ronan Keating & Deborah Blando - When You Say Nothing At All (O Amor Fala Por Nós) (Official Video)|website=YouTube |date=April 19, 2013 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8M-ICG2rxSU|archive-date=December 21, 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Daily Record wrote that Keating "sounds like Marti Pellow on this drippy ballad.""Chartslot Wowpop". Daily Record. August 20, 1999. Retrieved December 3, 2020. The Spanish website Jenesaispop described the Spanglish version as one of the most "squeaky" bilingual collaboration,{{cite web|url=https://jenesaispop.com/2009/08/22/21483/amaia-montero-a-la-caza-de-italia/|title=Amaia Montero a la caza de Italia|date=August 22, 2009 |work=Jenesaispop|access-date=January 18, 2019}} while Victor González of GQ Spain praised the collaboration as "great" in an article of "unusual collaborations".{{cite web |last1=González |first1=Victor |title=Abraham Mateo feat. 50 Cent y otras colaboraciones musicales que te volarán la cabeza |url=https://www.revistagq.com/noticias/cultura/articulos/abraham-mateo-feat-50-cent-colaboraciones-musicales-locas/27313 |website=revistagq.com |date=November 14, 2017 |publisher=GQ |access-date=September 24, 2019}}

{{col-begin|width=74%}}

{{col-2}}

• UK CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=When You Say Nothing at All|others=Ronan Keating|year=1999|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=Polydor Records|id=561290-2}}

1. "When You Say Nothing at All"
2. "When You Say Nothing at All" (acoustic version)
3. "This Is Your Song"
4. "When You Say Nothing at All" (video CD ROM)

• UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=When You Say Nothing at All|others=Ronan Keating|year=1999|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Polydor Records|id=561291-2}}

1. "When You Say Nothing At All"
2. "At the End of a Perfect Day"
3. "I Will Miss You"

{{col-2}}

• UK cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=When You Say Nothing at All|others=Ronan Keating|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Polydor Records|id=561253-4}}

1. "When You Say Nothing at All"
2. "This Is Your Song"

• Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=When You Say Nothing at All|others=Ronan Keating|year=2003|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Polydor Records|id=561 253-2}}

1. "When You Say Nothing at All"
2. "This Is Your Song"
3. "When You Say Nothing at All" (acoustic version)

{{col-end}}

Credits are taken from the UK CD1 liner notes.

Studios

• Recorded at Metropolis and the Aquarium (London, England)
• Mixed at the Aquarium (London, England)
• Mastered at 777 Productions (London, England)

Personnel

{{col-begin|width=74%}}

{{col-2}}

• Paul Overstreet – writing
• Don Schilitz – writing
• Ronan Keating – vocals
• Miriam Stockley – backing vocals
• Tessa Niles – backing vocals
• Dominic Miller – guitar

{{col-2}}

• Stephen Lipson – bass, production, programming
• Peter-John Vettese – keyboards
• James McNally – whistle, accordion
• Andy Duncan – drums
• Heff Moraes – engineering, mixing
• Arun Chakraverty – mastering

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=November 14, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=November 14, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|award=Platinum|id=11082|relyear=1999|certyear=2022|access-date=March 2, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Ronan Keating|title=When You Say Nothing at All|award=Gold|relyear=1999|id=1999-09-03|source=newchart|access-date=November 20, 2024|certyear=1999}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Ronan Keating|title=When You Say Nothing At All|relyear=1999|certyear=2021|accessdate=March 8, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|nosales=true|access-date=November 14, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=Ronan Keating|title=When You Say Nothing at All|access-date=July 1, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1999|certyear=1999|access-date=June 28, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Ronan Keating|title=When You Say Nothing at All|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=8197-2060-1|access-date=January 13, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Keith Whitley}}

{{Alison Krauss}}

{{Ronan Keating}}

{{Paulina Rubio singles}}

{{CMA Single of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1980s ballads

Category:1988 singles

Category:1988 songs

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1995 singles

Category:1999 debut singles

Category:Alison Krauss & Union Station songs

Category:BNA Records singles

Category:Country ballads

Category:Keith Whitley songs

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Music videos directed by Xavier Gens

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:Paulina Rubio songs

Category:Polydor Records singles

Category:Pop ballads

Category:RCA Records Nashville singles

Category:Ronan Keating songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Garth Fundis

Category:Song recordings produced by Stephen Lipson

Category:Songs written by Don Schlitz

Category:Songs written by Paul Overstreet

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles