Change the World

"Change the World" is a song written by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy, and Wayne Kirkpatrick and recorded by country music artist Wynonna Judd. A later version was recorded by English singer Eric Clapton for the soundtrack of the 1996 film Phenomenon. Clapton's version was produced by R&B record producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
The Clapton release was recorded for Reprise and Warner Bros. Records. While reaching the top 40 in twenty countries, it topped the charts in Canada as well. The Clapton version also registered as Billboard magazine's Adult Contemporary and Adult Top 40 charts in the United States. The single won eight awards, including three Grammy Awards at the 39th annual ceremony in 1997.

Background and recording

In an interview with American Songwriter, Gordon Kennedy retold the recording history of the song:
Although some of the recordings took place in London, most of the song's recording was conducted in Record Plant studios in Los Angeles where basic rhythm tracks were recorded, starting with John "JR" Robinson on drums and Dean Parks on acoustic guitar. In a later session, more instruments were added, with Nathan East on bass, Michael Thompson on guitar, Greg Phillinganes on synthesizers, and Luis Conte on percussion. East recalls that the recording sessions were jam-packed because several internationally successful artists wanted to work with Babyface at the time; however, the pop producer put Clapton and "Change the World" first.
In 2013, Clapton explained his take on the song in an interview with Mojo magazine:
Personnel on the production end of recording sessions included Brad Gilderman and Thomas Russo as the recording engineers, Robbie Robertson as the soundtrack's producer, Mick Guzauski as a helper for the final mix, Babyface as producer for "Change the World", and Clapton as producer for the record's b-side "Danny Boy." All recording actions were overseen by music supervisor Kathy Nelson. The music mastering for the 1996 single release was done at Oasis Mastering in Burbank, California.

Composition

Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic noted that the song is "melodic, soulful catchy", due to its folk-pop and acoustic-based conception. Billboard magazine's Paul Verna felt the song also features Christian music styles. In the song, the performer expresses his desire to communicate his love to an unnamed woman. This love, he fears, will go unrequited without a drastic change in his life.
Elton John's lyricist, Bernie Taupin, who worked with Clapton and John on the 1992 single release "Runaway Train," uses this track as an example of a song that can succeed without a great title or lyric. He told Musician magazine: "What sold that song, I believe, is production. And it had a good melody. But don't listen to the lyrics. Because the lyric is appalling. It's a bad lyric. There are some rhymes in there that are awful. But that's not what sold the song".
The song is written in the key of E major.
"Change the World" begins with an intro, which features a chord progression of E⁷, E major, E6sus4, E⁷, E6sus4, and E major chords played around the E-based bass line, which later turns into a E major, F-sharp minor, and G major bass line. The intro is followed by the first verse, which is accompanied by the intro chord progression and an A major, A6sus4, A⁷, A⁷, A6sus4, and A major chord progression for the B-section of the verse. After the E-major chord progression, including 6th and 7th chords, was played again, it ends with a G^#7 chord, leading to the C-section of every verse, consisting of an F^#m⁷, G^#7, C^#m, D#m7-5, G^#7, C^#m, D#m7-5, G^#7, C^#m⁷, Cm⁷, Bm⁷, A, E/G^#, E/G^#, Gdim, and F^#m ending to the E major chord.
The first verse is followed by an interlude, which is identical to the first intro line. The accompaniment to the second verse and second chorus is identical to the ones before. A link is added with the lyric "Baby, if I could change the world," followed by Clapton's guitar solo, in which he played alongside an E minor blues scale, ending his solo with the G sharp major pentatonic scale. After the solo, the chorus is repeated, now starting with the line "If I could change the world...", leading to the second link, which is repeated three times before the song's outro, which is identical to the song's intro and interlude.

Track listings

All songs written and composed by Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick, except where noted.
Release

Before Clapton's hit version was released, the song was recorded by country artist Wynonna Judd for her February 1996 album, Revelations. Her three-minute, nineteen-second take on the song is more of a neo-traditionalist country music track. Judd did not release her version as a single. Judd's interpretation was also released on the compilation album Best of America, Volume 2 for Curb Records on June 3, 2003.
Eric Clapton's version of the song was released on July 8, 1996, on 7-inch vinyl, compact music cassette, and compact disc formats. It was later made available as a digital download single. The publishing rights of Clapton's recordings belong to Warner Chappell Music, although the lyric writing license is owned by the Universal Music Publishing Group. The 1996 single was released and distributed through Reprise and Warner Bros. Records for worldwide territories. The title was also included on the Phenomenon soundtrack album, released by Reprise Records in June 1996.
On February 11, 1997, "Change the World" was included on the 1997 Grammy Nominees compilation album, where it was featured alongside other Grammy nominated and winning songs, including "Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman and "Because You Loved Me" by Celine Dion. On February 2, 1999, the song was released by Warner Bros. Records as an extended play, accompanied by Clapton's 1998 studio effort Pilgrim.
On October 12, 1999, the pop single was released as part of the number-one compilation album Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton for Reprise Records. On September 11, 2001, the song was released on the Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton and Unplugged double compilation for Warner Music Entertainment. It was also released on Warner Bros. Records' Japan-only compilation album Ballads two years after, on December 23, 2003.
On October 9, 2007, "Change the World" was released on the Complete Clapton compilation for Reprise and Polydor Records, accompanying the release of Clapton's best-selling autobiography. It was also part of the Ultimate Grammy Collection, celebrating contemporary pop music hits, released on November 27, 2007, for Shout! Factory. On April 28, 2015, the pop title was released on Clapton's compilation album Forever Man, which recognized his biggest hits.
In total, Eric Clapton's version of "Change the World" has been featured on over 20 releases, including extended plays and various artists compilation albums, produced by both Reprise and Warner Bros.Records.

Critical reception

AllMusic critic Matthew Greenwald wrote that Clapton "smartly realized his strength in acoustic-based, soulful folk-pop and cut this fabulous side with noted producer Babyface" after the huge success of Unplugged and "Tears in Heaven." Greenwald called the song's homespun quality and overall sense of reality refreshing, writing that the release's "folksy melodic hook and soulful turnaround in the catchy chorus are handled by Clapton admirably here and, more importantly, with honesty and an artless grace." He rated the single 2.5 of five stars.
Music journalist Frank Merschmeier wrote for his review on the official Swiss music charts chart that the song is without question a "definitive lovesong" and goes on by liking the religious background note of the song. The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung awarded the single's release four out of five possible stars. Journalist Violetta Schranke calls "Change the World" a "beautiful pop song" with "delicate production" with much "guitar artwork" and "fantastic bluesy singing." The critics also liked Babyface's background vocals.
In Billboard magazine, journalist Datu Faison wrote that the recording is a perfect example of how music has the power to unite musicians of different genres, nations, and looks. He calls the title "great". Billboard magazine's Larry Flick notes that "pairing rock hero Clapton with pop/soul maestro Babyface may seem totally incongruous; however, one listen to this positively electric single, and you will be hoping for the two to collaborate on an entire album. Working with a sweet, uplifting lyric and melody, Clapton brings worldly acoustic-blues favor to the table, while Babyface injects a splash of modern soul and pop gloss. Featured on the soundtrack to the new John Travolta movie, 'Phenomenon', this smacks of multi-format appeal".

Awards and nominations

Year	Ceremony	Award	Result
1996	Billboard	Most Played Radio Songs of Year	#13
1996	CRIA	Record of the Year	Won
1997	ASCAP Award	Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures	Won
1997	BMI Film & TV Awards	Most Performed Song from a Film	Won
1997	Grammy Awards	Song of the Year	Won
1997	Grammy Awards	Record of the Year	Won
1997	Grammy Awards	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Won
1997	MTV Movie Awards	Best Movie Song
1997	Nashville Music Award	Song of the Year	Won
1997	OFTA Award	Best Adapted Song
1998	Q	Best Rediscovered Track	Won
1999	RIAA	Songs of the Century	#270
2015	WHTZ	Top 100 Songs of 1996	#22