 | If It Makes You HappySheryl Crow |
Writer(s): Sheryl Crow, Jeff Trott (see lyrics here) Released: September 3, 1996 First Charted: August 31, 1996 Peak: 10 BB, 10 CB, 3 RR, 5 A40, 11 AA, 37 AR, 6 MR, 9 UK, 11 CN, 20 AU, 7 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.2 UK, 1.27 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.4 radio, 63.7 video, 140.06 streaming |
Awards:Click on award for more details. 
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About the Song:After Sheryl Crow’s first aborted attempt at an album in 1992, she roared back with Tuesday Night Music Club. The album thrust Crow into the spotlight with “All I Wanna Do” and “Strong Enough,” both top-5 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She was also a Grammy darling taking home Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (the latter two for “All I Wanna Do”). Her fame also brought with it a certain amount of controversy. The collective of Los Angeles-based musicians with whom she crafted her blockbuster album felt overlooked and Crow stumbled into her second outing having to prove herself all over again without the aid of most of the group that helped her gain her fame. She produced her self-titled sophomore effort herself, but did turn to Jeff Trott for some songwriting assistance. He co-wrote seven songs on the album, including the lead single, “If It Makes You Happy.” The song featured lyrics inspired by Trott’s break-up with his girlfriend Quinn in 1994. The lines “We went searching through thrift-store jungles / Found Geronimo’s rifle / Marilyn’s shampoo / And Benny Goodman’s corset and pen” referenced what he called his “treasure hunts with Quinn.” MM Crow said “If It Makes You Happy” was the first song they worked on for the new album. She contributed to the second verse and wrote the third with Trott. She played some Wurlitzer electric piano and played two electric guitars. Crow said, “Jeff was my alter ego” MM and says the song is “empowering and tells me to be as great as I can be.” MM For Jeff, the song had huge significance as well. He reached out to Quinn to tell her she was the inspiration for the song and they got back together and married in 2005. MM The song won Crow another Grammy – this time for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Billboard’s Larry Flick said the song was a “straight-ahead rocker that has far more bit than anything on her Grammy-lavished debut.” WK Slant magazine said the song “was a pointed departure from the gin-soaked roots-pop of Tuesday Night Music Club.” WK Resources:
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First posted 2/8/2024. |
