| "Why" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Carly Simon | ||||||||||
| from the album Soup For One | ||||||||||
| Released | August 1982 | |||||||||
| Format | 12" Single 12" Maxi Single |
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| Recorded | 1981 | |||||||||
| Genre | Pop | |||||||||
| Length | 3:32 | |||||||||
| Label | Mirage Records WEA |
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| Writer(s) | Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards |
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| Producer | Chic | |||||||||
| Carly Simon singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Why", by Carly Simon, was one of a string of film-inspired singles from a less successful period in her career (specifically in the US). Following her much publicized break-down on stage in 1980, it was recorded for the movie Soup For One in 1982. The movie flopped but the soundtrack was a success.
The song, like all of the soundtrack, was produced by Edwards & Rodgers of Chic fame. This was a move away from the usual guitar-based hits of Simon's past, and many saw it as an ill-fated attempt at disco as musical tastes changed in the 80's. However, the bittersweet reggae-tinged ballad became quite a huge hit in Europe, hitting #10 in the UK, staying on the British charts for 18 weeks. The song stalled at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song is centered around the phrase "Why does your love, hurt so much?", and Simon sings perhaps[1] one of her most heartfelt and yearning vocals to date on the track. However, despite this sad subject matter, the song also became well known for its catchy refrain "La di-da, di-da".
In 1989, the song re-surfaced on the Ibiza "Hacienda" [2] scene, and cemented its status as a mellow classic. Known for its bass-line and funky drums it was then that the growing hip-hop scene in the USA began to pick it up, 7 years after the original release. The song re-entered the UK charts the same year, charting at #56.
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