How Do I Live

"How Do I Live"
Single by LeAnn Rimes
from the album You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs
A-side Commitment
B-side Extended Mix
Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit (re-issue)
RH Factor Radio Edit (UK)
You Light Up My Life
Released May 27, 1997
Format CD single, cassette tape, Maxi single, vinyl
Recorded 1997[1]
Glenn Meadows/Masterfonics
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Starstruck Studios
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Barking Dog Studios
(Mt. Kisco, New York)
KD Studios
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Curb Studios
(Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre Pop, country
Length 4:25
Label Curb
Writer(s) Diane Warren
Producer(s) Chuck Howard
Wilbur C. Rimes
Mike Curb
Certification 3× Multi-platinum (U.S.)
LeAnn Rimes singles chronology
"The Light in Your Eyes"
(1996)		 "How Do I Live"
(1997)		 "You Light Up My Life"
(1997)
"How Do I Live"
Single by Trisha Yearwood
from the album (Songbook) A Collection of Hits
B-side "How Do I Live (video version)"
Released May 27, 1997
Format CD single, cassette tape
Recorded 1997
Genre Country
Length 4:28
Label MCA
Writer(s) Diane Warren
Producer(s) Garth Fundis
Certification 2x platinum (ARIA)
Trisha Yearwood singles chronology
"I Need You"
(1997)		 "How Do I Live"
(1997)		 "In Another's Eyes"
(1997)

"How Do I Live" is a song written by Diane Warren. It was originally performed by LeAnn Rimes from her album You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs in 1997 and later performed by Trisha Yearwood. Both versions were released on May 27, 1997.[2][3]

In the U.S., Rimes' version peaked at No. 2 for four non-consecutive weeks in late 1997 and early 1998, only behind "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John, and it set a record for staying on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 69 weeks, a record it held until "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz set a new record of 76 weeks. The Rimes recording also set the record for the most time in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 at 32 consecutive weeks, and the record for Billboard Hot 100's top 40 at 62 consecutive weeks; both records still hold. It ranks at No. 4 on Billboard's All Time Top 100, the only single on the top 10 of this list not peaking at No. 1. The only songs that finished ahead of it were Bobby Darin's cover of "Mack the Knife", Santana's song "Smooth", and Chubby Checker's version of "The Twist".[4] It has been certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of 3 million copies in the United States,[5] the highest certified country single of that time, to be surpassed twelve years later by "Love Story" from artist Taylor Swift, which has been certified 4× Platinum.[6]

Despite only peaking as high as No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart,[7] Rimes' version of "How Do I Live" spent 34 weeks on the chart, ending up as the 6th best selling single of 1998. As of August 2014, the song has sold 710,000 copies in the UK.[8]

"How Do I Live" was also covered by F.I.R. (Faye and Real featuring LeAnn Rimes). F.I.R. invited Rimes to record a portion of the song for their third album Flight Tribe in 2006.[9]

Background

The song was originally intended for release as a single for the 1997 action blockbuster Con Air soundtrack.

According to LeAnn Rimes, Warren wrote the song for her to sing and promised it to Rimes "no matter what". Walt Disney Pictures (a.k.a. Walt Disney Studios/The Walt Disney Company), the parent company of Touchstone Pictures, initially chose Rimes' version but later found out it had too much pop feeling over it; and, because she was 14, it was believed that she was too young. Trisha Yearwood was chosen to re-record the song.[10] Yearwood's version was released on May 27, 1997[3] to country radio and appeared in the film.

When Wilbur Rimes (Leann's father and then manager) heard of the release, her version was quickly released to mainstream pop radio.[2] Neither Rimes' nor Yearwood's version of the song was included on the soundtrack for the film. The entire soundtrack is devoted to the scores by Trevor Rabin and Mark Mancina.[11]

Track releases

Rimes' version

U.S. single[12][13]
  1. How Do I Live 4:25
  2. How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:53

U.S. single re-release[2]

  1. How Do I Live [Film Mix] 4:25
  2. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54

US/UK maxi-single/US/UK digital download/vinyl[14][15][16][17][18]

  1. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
  2. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15
  3. How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45
  4. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Mix] 7:38
  5. How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:53
U.S. promo Maxi-single[19]
  1. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
  2. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15
  3. How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45
  4. How Do I Live [RH Factor Club Vocal] 9:11
  5. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Mix] 7:38

UK single[20]

  1. How Do I Live 4:25
  2. How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45

UK maxi-CD[21]

  1. How Do I Live 4:25
  2. You Light Up My Life 3:34
  3. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Remix Club Radio Edit] 4:15
  4. How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45

UK maxi CD #2/Australian CD single[22][23]

  1. Commitment 4:36
  2. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
  3. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15
  4. How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45
  5. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Mix] 7:38
  6. How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:53

Germany maxi-CD[24]

  1. How Do I Live [Radio Edit] 3:45
  2. How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:25
  3. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
  4. How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15

Yearwood's version

US/Japan CD-Single/US cassette tape[25][26][27]
  1. How Do I Live 4:28
  2. How Do I Live [Video Version] 4:07
European CD single[28][29]
  1. How Do I Live [Video Version] 4:07
  2. How Do I Live 4:28
  3. She's in Love with the Boy 4:05

Other versions

  1. How Do I Live (Cahill Remix) 6:30
  2. How Do I Live (Cahill Radio Edit) 3:34

Charts

Both the Rimes and the Yearwood versions debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending June 14, 1997. LeAnn Rimes' version peaked at number two and spent a record-breaking 69 weeks on the chart, more than any other song in history until Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" in 2009. It also spent 32 weeks in the U.S. Top 10, 62 weeks in the U.S. Top 40 and 34 weeks on the UK singles chart.[8] Trisha Yearwood's version was moving quickly up the charts, getting as high as number 23, when MCA refused to issue any more copies of the single, for fear of cannibalizing album sales. The limited press run of 300,000 sold out quickly, and the single was off the Hot 100 after 12 weeks. Yearwood's single on the country charts quickly climbed all the way to number 2.

Rimes' version ranked at number 4 on Billboard's All Time Top 100 in 2008. When the All Time chart was retabulated for the chart's 55th anniversary in 2013, it remained in the same position, being the most successful single by a female artist in the list.

Rimes' version spent 11 weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart.[4] In Australia, Rimes' version peaked on the ARIA Charts at number 17 while Yearwood's peaked at number 2.

Rimes version charts & sales

Chart positions

Chart (1997–98) Peak
Australia (ARIA)[30] 17
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[31] 24
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[32] 19
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[33] 13
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[34] 60
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) 16
Germany (Media Control Charts)[35] 41
Ireland (IRMA)[36] 14
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[38] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 24
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[40] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[42] 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 10
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[44] 43
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 4

All-time charts

Chart (1958–2013) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[46] 4

End-of-decade chart

Country Position
United States[47] 12

Year-end charts

Year Country Position
1997 US Billboard Hot 100 Singles 9
1998 Europe[48] 72
Netherlands[49] 13
United Kingdom 6
US Billboard Hot 100 Singles 5

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Norway (IFPI Norway)[50] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[5] 3× Platinum 3,700,000[4]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin		 Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single (LeAnn Rimes version)
September 6 - November 14, 1997 		Succeeded by
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" by Elton John

Yearwood version charts & sales

Weekly charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[52] 3
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[33] 28
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[34] 1
Irish Singles Chart[36] 2
UK Singles Chart[53] 66
US Billboard Hot 100[54] 23
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[55] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1997) Position
Australian Singles Chart[56] 12
Canada Adult Contemporary Tracks (RPM)[57] 71
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[58] 27
U.S. Country Songs (Billboard)[59] 18

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[60] 2× Platinum 140,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"Still Holding On"
by Clint Black with Martina McBride		 RPM Country Tracks
number-one single (Trisha Yearwood version)
September 1–8, 1997 		Succeeded by
"She's Got It All"
by Kenny Chesney

Accolades

In 1998, for the first time in history, the Grammy Awards nominated two artists for the same song in the same category. Directly following Rimes' performance of the song, Yearwood won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.[61] Yearwood also performed the song at the Country Music Association for which she won the 1997 award for Female Vocalist of the Year[62] Yearwood also won the 1997 Academy of Country Music Award for Top Female Vocalist.[63]

The song was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, but lost to "My Heart Will Go On" from the film Titanic.[64] Yearwood performed the song at the award ceremony.

Credits and personnel

Diane Warren – songwriter

Rimes version

Credits for LeAnn's version are adapted from the liner notes of the UK version of Sittin' on Top of the World.[65]

  • Wilbur C. Rimes – producer
  • Chuck Howard – producer
  • Mike Curb – producer
  • Lesley Albert – production coordinator
  • Mary Ann Kennedy – background vocals
  • Pam Rose – background vocals
  • Michael Black – background vocals
  • Dennis Wilson – background vocals
  • Mick Guzauski – mixing engineer, mixing
  • Bob Campbell-Smith – mixing engineer, recording, mixing
  • Greg Morrow – drums
  • Michael Spriggs – acoustic guitar
  • John Willis – electric guitar
  • Michael Rhodes – bass
  • Steve Nathan – piano, keys
  • Paul Franklin – steel guitar
  • Jeff Watkins – assistant recording
  • Daniel Kresco – assistant recording, additional recording
  • Scott Ahaus – assistant recording, assistant mixing
  • Jim Rogers – assistant recording
  • David Boyer – assistant recording
  • Csaba Petocz – recording
  • David Hall – assistant recording

References

  1. ↑ "The arms of the one who loves you ; The day I stop loving you ; Feels like home ... [et al.] part 4 - song, music - Copyright Info". Faqs.org. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "How Do I Live / My Baby: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "How Do I Live: Trisha Yearwood: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary". billboard.com. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "American single certifications – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  6. ↑ "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Love Story". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  7. ↑ "EveryHit.com". EveryHit.com. 2000-03-16. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Biggest Selling Pop Hits of the 90s". 4Music. 17 August 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ "世界被音樂點亮•夢想跟著F.I.R.無限飛行 :::2006全新創作大碟 飛行部落 7月14 全面預購:::". Warnermusic.com.tw. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  10. ↑ CMT Inside Fame: LeAnn Rimes CMT (2004-4-12) Retrieved 2011-10-8
  11. ↑ "Con Air: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Mark Mancina, Trevor Rabin: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  12. ↑ "How Do I Live: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  13. ↑ "How Do I Live: Leann Rimes: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  14. ↑ "How Do I Live: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  15. ↑ "iTunes - Music - How Do I Live Dance Mix - EP by LeAnn Rimes". Itunes.apple.com. 1997-06-03. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
  16. ↑ "iTunes - Music - How Do I Live Dance Mix - EP by LeAnn Rimes". Itunes.apple.com. 1997-06-03. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  17. ↑ "How Do I Live: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  18. ↑ "How Do I Live Dance Mix [Vinyl] LeAnn Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  19. ↑ How Do I Live Dance Mix (Promotional CD single). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records. 1998. D2-1432 PRCD-3429.
  20. ↑ Steffen Hung. "LeAnn Rimes - How Do I Live". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  21. ↑ "How Do I Live (Dance Mixes) [CD 1]: LeAnn Rimes: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  22. ↑ "Commitment/How Do I Live: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  23. ↑ "Commitment/How Do I Live: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  24. ↑ "How Do I Live: LeAnn Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  25. ↑ "Trisha Yearwood-How Do I Live-2 Trk CD Single-EX-1250". eBay. 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  26. ↑ "WOW! How Do I Live by Trisha Yearwood (CD 1997) Japan!". eBay. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  27. ↑ "How Do I Live: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  28. ↑ "Trisha Yearwood - How Do I Live 3 Track CD Single". eBay. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  29. ↑ "TRISHA YEARWOOD How Do I Live EURO CD single + Info". eBay. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  30. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  31. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  32. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3369." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 27, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3322." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. September 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 3313." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. September 1, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Chartverfulgong > Rimes, LeAnn > European Charts – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  37. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  38. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live". VG-lista.
  39. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live". Swiss Singles Chart.
  40. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes: Artist Chart History" UK Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for LeAnn Rimes. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  42. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Contemporary for LeAnn Rimes. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  43. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for LeAnn Rimes. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  44. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for LeAnn Rimes. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  45. ↑ "LeAnn Rimes Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for LeAnn Rimes. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  46. ↑ Bronson, Fred (2 August 2013). "Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  47. ↑ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  48. ↑
  49. ↑ "Singles Top 100 Van 1998" (PDF). Top40.nl. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  50. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  51. ↑ "British single certifications – LeAnn Rimes – How Do I Live". British Phonographic Industry. Enter How Do I Live in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  52. ↑ "australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  53. ↑ "Chart Stats - Trisha Yearwood - How Do I Live". chartstats.com. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  54. ↑ "Trisha Yearwood Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Trisha Yearwood.
  55. ↑ "Trisha Yearwood Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Country Songs for Trisha Yearwood.
  56. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1997". ARIA Charts. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  57. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  58. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  59. ↑ "Best of 1997: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  60. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  61. ↑
  62. ↑ "Home". Cmaawards.com. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  63. ↑ "Academy of Country Music". Acmcountry.com. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  64. ↑ "Session Timeout - Academy Awards® Database - AMPAS". Awardsdatabase.oscars.org. 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  65. ↑ Sittin' on Top of the World (CD liner notes). LeAnn Rimes. Curb Records, London Records. 1999. 3984 29690 2.

External links