"Why" is a song written by
Nile Rodgers and
Bernard Edwards and performed by American singer-songwriter
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Billboard Hot 100, top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation (song), Anticipatio ...
. Recorded for the film ''
Soup for One'' in 1982, the film was a commercial flop but the
soundtrack album was a success. One of many film-inspired singles by Simon, the song became a top 10 hit in the UK, and was successful throughout Europe.
Background
The song, like the rest of the soundtrack, was produced by
Bernard Edwards and
Nile Rodgers of
Chic.
This was a move away from the usual guitar-based hits of Simon's past. The bittersweet reggae-tinged ballad became a hit in Europe, hitting No. 10 in the UK, and staying on the British charts for 18 weeks.
The song peaked at No. 74 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 6 weeks.
The song has been included on several of Simon's
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...
s, including the three-disc ''
Clouds in My Coffee'' (1995), the single-disc ''
The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better'' (1999), the two-disc ''
Anthology'' (2002), and the import version of ''
Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits'' (2004).
Music video
Simon released a music video for the song, which was filmed on the streets of
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
in 1982. Simon's daughter,
Sally Taylor, also appears in the video, seen pouring a bottle of wine over a man's head.
[
]
Reception
''Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' said that "Simon's vocal and Chic's polyrhythm
Polyrhythm () is the simultaneous use of two or more rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The rhythmic layers may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rh ...
street groove proves just the right formula."
In 2015, ''Pitchfork
A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials.
The term is also applie ...
'' ranked "Why" at No. 188 on their list of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980s.
Later significance
Wham! notably covered the song during their last concert The Final in 1986.['' Number One'' Magazine (5 July 1986; P.24)] In 1989, "Why" re-surfaced on the Ibiza "Hacienda" scene, and cemented its status as a Balearic classic.
Track listings and formats
;7" single
Charts
References
External links
Carly Simon's official websiteNile Rodgers' official website
{{Authority control
1982 songs
1982 singles
Dance-pop songs
Carly Simon songs
Songs written by Bernard Edwards
Songs written by Nile Rodgers
Songs written for films
Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards
Song recordings produced by Nile Rodgers
Mirage Records singles
Warner Music Group singles