What Can I Do (The Corrs song)

"What Can I Do" is a song by Irish band the Corrs, from their second and breakthrough album, Talk on Corners (1997). The song was originally released in January 1998, but its moderate charting success was limited, due to the time of the shooting of the video. The song was later re-released in August the same year in remixed form by Tin Tin Out, which generated more attention, reaching number three in the United Kingdom. The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, though some felt it was not as strong as their previous songs. An accompanying music video was released, which was shot in New Zealand during their world tour.

"What Can I Do"
Artwork for the Tin Tin Out remix
Single by the Corrs
from the album Talk on Corners
B-side	"Little Wing" "No Good for Me"
Released	January 1998 (1998-01)
Genre	Folk-pop
Length	4:18 (album version) 4:12 (remix)
Label	143 Atlantic Lava
Songwriter(s)	The Corrs
Producer(s)	Jim Corr Tin Tin Out (remix)
The Corrs singles chronology
"I Never Loved You Anyway" (1997) "What Can I Do" (1998) "Dreams" (1998)
"Dreams" (1998) "What Can I Do (Tin Tin Out remix)" (1998) "So Young" (1998)
Alternative cover
US CD artwork
Music video
"What Can I Do" on YouTube

Background

The original version of the song, which appeared on the original release of Talk on Corners, is a slow doo-wop style song, which is much lighter. However, the Tin Tin Out remix, which later appeared on the album's special edition release, is more guitar riffed with the addition of orchestral strings in the latter half of the song performed by the Duke Quartet. The voice range is a chord of A major and spans from G♯3 to C♯5.^[1] The Corrs have regularly performed this song live in concert since the start of the Talk on Corners World Tour in November 1997, originally performing the album version, but later switching to the Tin Tin Out version on an on-off basis in May 1998, then permanently from September 1998 onwards.

Chart performance

Upon its release in January 1998, the original version of "What Can I Do" debuted at number 44 on the Swedish Singles Chart, later rising to number 27, its peak.^[2] The song was then re-released a few months later, remixed by Tin Tin Out. The remix was even more successful than "Dreams" and entered the top three of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number three. It remained on the charts for 13 weeks.^[3]

Critical reception

"What Can I Do" received generally favourable reviews from music critics, although the group did not initially favour the track. Becky Byrkit from AllMusic praised the remix version, noting its "trademark glass voices and barely discernible acoustic musical instruments."^[4] She also highlighted the song as an album standout.^[5] Dave Karger from Entertainment Weekly viewed it a "sluggishly sweet tune", saying that the guitar riff is "a bit too reminiscent" of Edie Brickell's "What I Am" (which Tin Tin Out covered the following year) and the lyrics "shamelessly swiped" from Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word".^[6]

A reviewer from Music Week felt the remix "lacks the warmth of the original, but Andrea Corr's vocals shine through the rather spartan sound and the chorus's hook remains as infectious as ever."^[7] Claudia Connell from News of the World remarked that "Corrs are one of the most played acts on Irish airwaves at the moment and this looks like being the hit single they desperately deserve. "What Can I Do" is more radio-friendly than anything else around and has to rocket the family band into the big league."^[8] Dave Fawbert from ShortList praised it as a "absolutely brilliant song" and "really lovely slice of folky pop".^[9] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror gave it nine out of ten, writing, "Familiar guitar riffs and beautiful Irish lilts should see this fly into the top ten."^[10]

Track listings

Original release

UK CD single[11] "What Can I Do" "Little Wing" "No Good for Me" (live in Copenhagen, October 1997)

UK cassette single and European CD single[12][13] "What Can I Do" – 4:18 "No Good for Me" (live in Copenhagen, October 1997) – 3:54

Remixes

UK CD1[14] "What Can I Do" (Tin Tin Out remix) – 4:12 "What Can I Do" (Stringappella) – 2:28 "Paddy McCarthy" – 4:59 UK CD2 (recorded live at the Albert Hall on 17 March 1998)[15] "What Can I Do" (live) – 4:29 "Runaway" (live) – 4:26 "Toss the Feathers" (live) – 3:53

Australian CD single[16] "What Can I Do" (Tin Tin Out remix) – 4:12 "What Can I Do" (LP version) – 4:12 "Dreams" (Tees radio) – 3:53 US CD, 7-inch, and cassette single[17][18][19] "What Can I Do" (Mangini remix) – 4:04 "What Can I Do" (original mix) – 4:21

Charts

Chart (1998–1999)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[20] Tin Tin Out remix	86
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[21]	23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[22]	12
Germany (GfK)[23]	62
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24]	17
Ireland (IRMA)[25]	30
Scotland (OCC)[26]	48
Scotland (OCC)[27] Tin Tin Out remix	3
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28] Tin Tin Out remix	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[2]	27
UK Singles (OCC)[29]	53
UK Singles (OCC)[3] Tin Tin Out remix	3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[30]	Gold	400,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Version	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Ireland	Original	January 1998	—	143 Atlantic Lava	[31]
United Kingdom		16 March 1998	CD cassette		[32]
	Remix	17 August 1998			[33]

References

1. "What Can I Do?". Musicnotes. 14 March 2011.
2. "The Corrs – What Can I Do". Singles Top 100.
3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
4. "Talk on Corners - the Corrs | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
5. "The Corrs Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
6. "What Can I Do". Entertainment Weekly. 2 April 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
7. "Reviews - For Records Out On 17 August 1998". Music Week. 8 August 1998.
8. Connell, Claudia (15 March 1998). "The Corrs; Single review". News of the World.
9. Fawbert, Dave (23 October 2018). "30 classic songs that are somehow 20 years old this year". ShortList. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
10. Hyland, Ian (16 August 1998). Sunday Mirror. p. 40.
11. What Can I Do (UK CD single liner notes). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1998. AT0029CD, 7567-84063-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. What Can I Do (UK cassette single sleeve). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1998. AT0029C, 7567-84095-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. What Can I Do (European CD single liner notes). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1998. 7567-84095-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. What Can I Do (UK CD1 liner notes). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1998. AT0044CD, 7567-84152-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. What Can I Do (UK CD2 liner notes). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1998. AT0044CD2, 7567-84175-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. What Can I Do (Australian CD single liner notes). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1998. 756784185-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. What Can I Do (US CD single liner notes). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1999. 2-84444.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. What Can I Do (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1999. 7-84444.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. What Can I Do (US cassette single sleeve). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 1999. 4-84444.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 27 Sep 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
21. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8123." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
22. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 36. 5 September 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
23. "The Corrs – What Can I Do" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
24. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 292 Vikuna 1.10. – 8.10. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 October 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Can I Do". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
28. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 8480486392.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
30. "British single certifications – Corrs – What Can I Do". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
31. Best of The Corrs (European album booklet). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 7567-93073-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
32. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 March 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
33. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 August 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 17 August 2021.