Constant Craving

"Constant Craving" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang and Ben Mink, performed by lang and included on her second solo album, ''Ingénue'' (1992). The song was released in the United Kingdom in April 1992 and won lang a Grammy Award in the category for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1993, as well as an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video.

"Constant Craving" peaked at number eight on Canada's ''RPM'' Top Singles chart and number 38 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, giving lang her only US top-40 hit to date. It also reached number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom, the song was a modest hit when released in 1992, but following a reissue in 1993 in the wake of its American success, it reached a new peak of number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

Song information

English rock band the Rolling Stones used a refrain very similar to that of "Constant Craving" in their 1997 single " Anybody Seen My Baby?." They later gave writing credits on that song to k.d. lang and Mink, shared with the original authors Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Critical reception

Mark Deming from AllMusic felt that "the emotional core" of songs like "Constant Craving", "was obvious even when their surfaces were evasive." Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' stated that "there is no denying the rootsy, down-home quality of this wonderfully produced tune. Lang's distinctive voice is woven into spiraling multitracked harmonies, wafting over a base of acoustic guitar strumming and subtle and xylophone interludes." Randy Clark and Bryan DeVaney from '' Cash Box'' picked it as a "standout" cut from the ''Ingénue'' album. A reviewer from ''Daily Mirror'' described it as "haunting". The Daily Vault's Jason Warburg viewed it as a "dynamite single", that "manages to meld the spiritual with the physical while conveying a feverish desire for both kinds of fulfillment." He also noted it as "upbeat", "expansive and full of simmering appeal".

Diane Rufer and Ron Fell from the ''Gavin Report'' commented, "k.d.'s foresaken country for a straight pop format that will finally win her the mass audience she's deserved. This track showcases her wonderful voice in solo and multi-part harmonies." Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' described it as "a Brecht/ Weil on the prairie type of song—is likely to be lang's first hit in the UK and in Ireland". On the album review, a reviewer from the magazine wrote, "Tales from the new west. La lang has changed her position on horseback for a more comfortable seat on the coach. In mind, she's singing in some Paris café in the decadent '20s."

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was filmed in black-and-white. It presents a fanciful recreation of the premiere of Samuel Beckett's play '' Waiting for Godot'' in Paris, 1953. Here, she is depicted singing backstage while the actors perform. The director, Mark Romanek, says the song's lyrics of desperation and waiting fit well with the themes of Beckett's play. VH1 added the video to its playlist in mid-April 1992. The clip won Best Female Video at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.

Track listings

1992 release

* US 7-inch and cassette single
:A. "Constant Craving" (album version) – 4:38
:B. "Season of Hollow Soul" (album version) – 4:56

* UK 12-inch and CD single
# "Constant Craving" (edit)
# "Barefoot" (rhythmic version)
# "Season of Hollow Soul"

* UK 7-inch and cassette single
# "Constant Craving" (edit)
# "Barefoot" (rhythmic version)

* European CD single
# "Constant Craving" (radio edit) – 3:45
# "Constant Craving" (album version) – 4:38
# "Tears of Love's Recall" – 3:48

1993 release

* UK 7-inch and cassette single
# "Constant Craving" (edit) – 3:45
# " Miss Chatelaine" (live) – 4:28

* UK CD1 and Australian CD single
# "Constant Craving" (edit) – 3:45
# "Wash Me Clean" (live) – 3:28
# "The Mind of Love" (live) – 3:17

* UK CD2
# "Constant Craving" (live) – 4:18
# "Miss Chatelaine" (live) – 4:28
# "Big Boned Gal" (live) – 3:47
# "Outside Myself" (live) – 5:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

Cover versions

* Abigail covered the song on her 1994 album, '' Feel Good''.
* Montreal based electropunk band Lesbians on Ecstasy reworked the song as "Kündstant Krøving" on their 2004 album '' Lesbians on Ecstasy''.
* Charlotte Martin has also recorded a cover of the song on her album ''Reproductions''.
* In 2011, the song was featured in the ''Glee'' episode "I Kissed a Girl" with vocals by Naya Rivera, Idina Menzel and Chris Colfer.

Track listings (Abigail version)

* 12-inch vinyl single (Klone Records – 1993)
# "Constant Craving" (Vocal Version)
# "Constant Craving" (Instrumental)
# "Don't Tell Me Why" (Vocal Version)
# "Don't Tell Me Why" (Instrumental)

* CD maxi-single (Klone Records – 1993)
# "Constant Craving" (Radio Version) – 4:06
# "Constant Craving" (Original Mix) – 6:24
# "Constant Craving" (Trade Mix) – 9:34
# "Don't Tell Me Why" – 4:50

* 12-inch vinyl single (ZYX Music – 1995)
(title was changed to Constant Craving '95)
# "Constant Craving '95" (Illusive Mix) – 8:01
# "Constant Craving '95" (Gailforce Mix) – 8:01
# "Constant Craving '95" (Original Mix)
# "What Goes Around Comes Around" (Ace Mix) – 6:03

* CD maxi-single (ZYX Music – 1995)
# "Constant Craving '95" (Radio Edit) – 4:04
# "Constant Craving '95" (Illusive Mix) – 8:01
# "Constant Craving '95" (Gailforce Mix) – 8:01
# "What Goes Around Comes Around" (Ace Mix) – 6:03

References

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1992 singles
1992 songs
1993 singles
1995 singles
Abigail (singer) songs
Black-and-white music videos
Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
K.d. lang songs
MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
Music videos directed by Mark Romanek
Sire Records singles
Songs written by Ben Mink
Songs written by k.d. lang
Warner Records singles
ZYX Music singles