I'll Be (Edwin McCain Song)
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"I'll Be" is a song written and performed by American singer
Edwin McCain Edwin Cole McCain (born January 20, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His songs " I'll Be" (1998) and " I Could Not Ask for More" (1999) were radio top-40 hits in the U.S., and five of his albums have reached the ''Billboard ...
. The song was serviced to US radio in October 1997 and was commercially released on September 8, 1998, as the first single from his second album, '' Misguided Roses'' (1997). McCain recorded an acoustic version of the song for his follow-up album, ''
Messenger Messenger, Messengers, The Messenger or The Messengers may refer to: People * Courier, a person or company that delivers messages, packages, or mail * Messenger (surname) * Bicycle messenger, a bicyclist who transports packages through cities * M ...
''. The radio version of "I'll Be", which was released on a CD single with "Grind Me in the Gears" as the
B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...
, differs from the album version. Its opening melody is played with electric guitar (as opposed to acoustic on the album) and the vocal and saxophone lines differ. Upon its release, the song reached number five in the United States and number 52 in Canada. On December 22, 1999, McCain recorded a version with
Warren Haynes Warren Haynes (born April 6, 1960) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work as longtime guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was ...
on the live concert album from the 11th Annual Christmas Jam, a benefit concert for
Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a U.S. non-governmental, and tax-exempt 501(C)(3) Christian nonprofit organization which seeks to build affordable housing. The international ...
in Asheville, North Carolina. The album is titled ''Wintertime Blues: The Benefit Concert''. In 2015, McCain re-recorded "I'll Be" for his EP ''Phoenix''.


Content

Although "I'll Be" has become a popular wedding song, McCain said "it's really more of a prayer" written in a moment of personal desperation after a break-up, the idea being that "maybe if I write my future, it'll come true." McCain said, "It was the end of a relationship for me, and it was also an admission of my inability to function in a relationship, hence the love suicide line. And it was the hope that I would be better, grow and be better as a person. I was struggling with some personal problems at the time, as well, so it was all of those things. It was this admission of failure and this prayer that I could be a better person, wrapped up as sort of the end of a relationship kind of thought. And it was something that I said to a girl that I'd been going out with. I knew that she was waiting, and I always said to her, 'Don't ever look back on this in any other way than I'll be your biggest fan.' You know, 'I'll always be a fan.'"


Chart performance

In the United States, "I'll Be" debuted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Airplay chart on the issue dated February 28, 1998, and went on to peak at number four there in November, in its 39th week on the chart. Under the chart rules at the time, which required songs to have a physical single release, "I'll Be" was initially ineligible for the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but on September 8, 1998, a "very limited pressing" of the song was issued, making it then eligible; it debuted at number seven on the Hot 100 on the issue dated September 26, 1998, and ultimately peaked at number five the following week. While it was only McCain's second single to chart, it became his first and only top-10 hit and his biggest hit.


Track listings

US CD single # "I'll Be" – 4:28 # "Grind Me in the Gears" – 4:22 # "I'll Be" (full-length music video) US 7-inch single # "I'll Be" – 4:28 # "Grind Me in the Gears" – 4:22 European CD single # "I'll Be" (edit) # "Solitude" # "I'll Be" (LP version) Digital download # "I'll Be" (LP version) – 4:26 # "I'll Be" (acoustic version) – 4:37 # "I'll Be" (video) – 4:07


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Release history


Kian Egan version

In 2014, "I'll Be" was covered by Irish musician
Kian Egan Kian John Francis Egan (born 29 April 1980) is an Irish pop singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as a member of the pop group Westlife. Westlife have released twelve albums, embarked on thirteen world tours, and won numerous award ...
. The song was included on his debut album, and was released as a single on May 12, 2014, through
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.digitalspy.co.uk
"Kian Egan announces second single 'I'll Be' - listen"
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Background and production

In an interview with
Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its initial launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television pro ...
, Egan said "I chose 'I'll Be' for my second single, as I've always absolutely loved this song. This song means a lot to me and being able to record it was an honour. I'm incredibly excited to be able to perform this for all my fans."


Music video

The footage was shot in Egan's hometown of Sligo, in County Sligo, and the singer can be seen strumming a guitar while wandering along the deserted beach. In the visual, Egan also throws pebbles out to sea before meeting up with friends around a campfire.


Artwork

The single cover of the song shows Egan sitting on a plush red sofa and holding a white guitar.


In popular culture

At the height of the song's popularity in 1998, it was featured during a pivotal moment in the first-season finale episode titled "Decisions" on the WB series ''
Dawson's Creek ''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college. It aired from January 20, 19 ...
''. In the episode of ''
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'' " Here Comes Treble", the song is covered by
Andy Bernard Andrew Baines Bernard (born Walter Baines Bernard Jr.) is a fictional character portrayed by Ed Helms in the NBC comedy television series ''The Office.'' Character synopsis Season 3 (2006–2007) Andy's character is introduced in the season ...
's a cappella group. In the 2022 movie ''Shotgun Wedding'', the song is sung by the cast during the climax of the film.


References

{{Authority control 1997 songs 1998 singles 2014 singles Edwin McCain songs Lava Records singles Rhino Entertainment singles Song recordings produced by Brian Rawling Song recordings produced by Matt Serletic