I Try

"I Try" is a song co-written and performed by American musician Macy Gray. Issued as the second single from her debut album, On How Life Is (1999), the song was first released in Japan as a double A-side with "Do Something" on July 23, 1999. Two months later, on September 27, "I Try" was released officially in the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Hip Hop/R&B Singles chart and peaked at No. 6 on the main UK Singles chart. Globally, the song would be Gray's most successful single, peaking at No. 5 in the United States and Norway, No. 4 in Scotland, No. 3 in Austria, No. 2 in Canada, and No. 1 in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. At the 2001 Grammy Awards, "I Try" won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

"I Try"
Single by Macy Gray
from the album On How Life Is
B-side	"Don't Come Around" "Rather Hazy"
Released	July 23, 1999 (1999-07-23)
Studio	Paramount, Sunset Sound, A&M (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Neo soul[1]
Length	3:59
Label	Epic Clean Slate
Composer(s)	Macy Gray Jeremy Ruzumna Jinsoo Lim David Wilder
Lyricist(s)	Macy Gray
Producer(s)	Andrew Slater
Macy Gray singles chronology
"Do Something" (1999) "I Try" (1999) "Still" (2000)
Music video
"I Try" on YouTube

Critical reception

Daily Record called the song "soulful", noting that Macy Gray "has one of the most distinctive singing voices around."^[2]

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by American filmmaker Mark Romanek (who had previously directed the video for Gray's "Do Something"),^[3] depicts Gray waking up in a hotel room, buying flowers, and traveling through New York City, traveled through by bus and train to meet a man in a park. At the end of the video, Gray is shown to still be in her hotel room. It is implied that she may have been dreaming the entire time and that none of the events in the video actually occurred.^{[4][original research?]}

At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won Best New Artist in a Video and was also nominated for Best Female Video. Gray presented the award for Best Pop Video alongside LL Cool J.^[5]

Track listings

UK CD1[6] "I Try" – 3:59 "I Try" (Full Crew mix) – 5:21 "Don't Come Around" – 4:20 UK CD2[7] "I Try" – 3:59 "I Try" (JayDee remix) – 5:55 "I Try" (Bob Power remix) – 3:51 UK cassette single[8] "I Try" – 3:59 "Don't Come Around" – 4:20 European CD1[9] "I Try" – 3:59 "Rather Hazy" – 3:10

European CD2[10] "I Try" – 3:59 "Rather Hazy" – 3:10 "I Try" (Full Crew Mix—extended II—no vocoder) – 5:27 Australian CD single[11] "I Try" – 3:59 "Rather Hazy" – 3:10 "Do Something" (Black Apple Mix edit) – 3:33 "I Try" (Full Crew Mix—extended II—no vocoder) – 5:27 Japanese CD single (with "Do Something")[12] "I Try" "Do Something" "Do Something" (remixed by Organized Noize) "Do Something" (remixed by King Britt)

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the On How Life Is album booklet.^[13]

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound, and A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)

Personnel

• Macy Gray – lyrics, music, back-up vocals
• Jeremy Ruzumna – music, organ
• Jinsoo Lim – music
• David Wilder – music, bass
• Jon Brion – guitars, piano, orchestra bells
• Bendrix Williams – guitars
• Patrick Warren – Chamberlin
• Matt Chamberlain – drums
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Andrew Slater – production
• Dave Way – recording, mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "I Try" Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[14] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 23 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[17] 17 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[19] 4 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[20] 19 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[21] 19 France (SNEP)[22] 29 Germany (GfK)[23] 16 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24] 28 Ireland (IRMA)[25] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)[26] 34 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 39 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 60 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[29] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[30] 5 Scotland (OCC)[31] 4 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 52 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 13 UK Singles (OCC)[34] 6 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[35] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[37] 21 US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[38] 35 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[39] 2 US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[40] 21 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[41] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[42] 39 US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[43] 1

Year-end charts 1999 year-end chart performance for "I Try" Chart (1999) Position UK Singles (OCC)[44] 20 UK Airplay (Music Week)[45] 15 2000 year-end chart performance for "I Try" Chart (2000) Position Australia (ARIA)[46] 18 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[47] 37 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[48] 58 Germany (Official German Charts)[49] 80 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[50] 19 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 60 US Billboard Hot 100[52] 26 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[53] 32 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[54] 6 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[55] 6 US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)[54] 7

Certifications

Certifications for "I Try"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56]	Platinum	70,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[57]	Gold	45,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[58]	Gold	30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[59]	2× Platinum	1,200,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "I Try"

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Japan	"I Try" / "Do Something"	July 23, 1999	CD	Epic	[60]
United Kingdom	"I Try"	September 27, 1999		Epic Clean Slate	[61]
United States		October 5, 1999	Rhythmic contemporary contemporary hit radio		[62]
		October 18, 1999	Hot adult contemporary radio		[63]
		October 19, 1999	Urban urban AC radio		[63]

References

1. Parker, Eloise (2015). "Macy Gray - "I Try". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 784.
2. "Chartslot". Daily Record. October 29, 1999. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
3. "Macy Gray - I Try (1999)". IMVDb. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
4. "Official Music Video". YouTube. March 18, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
5. 2000 MTV Video Music Awards Award Ceremony
6. I Try (UK CD1 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 668183 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. I Try (UK CD2 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 668183 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. I Try (UK cassette single sleeve). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 668183 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. I Try (European CD1 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EPC 667770 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. I Try (European CD2 liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EPC 667770 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. I Try (Australian CD single liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. 667911 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. I Try (Japanese CD single liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records. 1999. ESCA-8025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. On How Life Is (US CD album booklet). Macy Gray. Epic Records, Clean Slate. 1999. EK 69490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. "Macy Gray – I Try". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
15. "Macy Gray – I Try" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
16. "Macy Gray – I Try" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
17. "Macy Gray – I Try" (in French). Ultratip.
18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9908." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
19. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7237." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
20. "Macy Gray Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
21. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 10. March 4, 2000. p. 11. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History. See Last week position.
22. "Macy Gray – I Try" (in French). Les classement single.
23. "Macy Gray – I Try" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
24. "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.11 – 11.11 1999)". DV (in Icelandic). November 5, 1999. p. 10. ISSN 1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Try". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
26. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 1, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Macy Gray".
27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Macy Gray" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
28. "Macy Gray – I Try" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
29. "Macy Gray – I Try". Top 40 Singles.
30. "Macy Gray – I Try". VG-lista.
31. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
32. "Macy Gray – I Try". Singles Top 100.
33. "Macy Gray – I Try". Swiss Singles Chart.
34. "Macy Gray: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
35. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
36. "Macy Gray Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
37. "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
38. "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
39. "Macy Gray Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
40. "Macy Gray Chart History (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
41. "Macy Gray Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
42. "Macy Gray Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
43. "Top 40 Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 13, 2000. p. 142.
44. "Yearly Best Selling Singles – 1999" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
45. "Most Broadcast of 1999 – Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 31. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
46. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
47. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2000". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved September 11, 2019.
48. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. December 23, 2000. p. 9. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
49. "Top 100 Singles-Jahrescharts – 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
50. "Top Selling Singles of 2000". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
51. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2000". swisscharts.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
52. "The Year in Music 2000 – Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-46. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
53. "The Best of 2000: Most Played Adult Contemporary Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 50.
54. "The Year in Music 2000". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-99. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
55. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54.
56. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
57. "Danish single certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
58. "Spanish single certifications – Macy Gray – I Try". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
59. "British single certifications – Macy Gray – I Try". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
60. "メイシー・グレイ" [Macy Gray]. Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
61. "New Releases – Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 25, 1999. p. 25. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
62. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1319. October 1, 1999. pp. 54, 61. ISSN 0277-4860 – via World Radio History.
63. "Going for Adds" / "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1321. October 15, 1999. pp. 146, 155, 179. ISSN 0277-4860 – via World Radio History.