I Try


"I Try" is a song co-written and performed by American musician Macy Gray. Issued as the second single from her debut album, On How Life Is, the song was first released in Japan as a double A-side with "Do Something" on July 23, 1999. Later that year, on September 27, it received its first solo release in the United Kingdom. "I Try" peaked at number six in the United Kingdom, number five in the United States, number two in Canada, and number one in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. At the 2001 Grammy Awards, "I Try" won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Critical reception

Daily Record called the song "soulful", noting that Macy Gray "has one of the most distinctive singing voices around."

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by American filmmaker Mark Romanek, depicts Gray waking up in a hotel room, buying flowers, and traveling through New York City, traveled through by bus and train to meet a man in a park. At the end of the video, Gray is shown to still be in her hotel room.
At the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won Best New Artist in a Video and was also nominated for Best Female Video. Gray presented the award for Best Pop Video alongside LL Cool J.

Track listings

UK CD1
  1. "I Try" – 3:59
  2. "I Try" – 5:21
  3. "Don't Come Around" – 4:20UK CD2
  4. "I Try" – 3:59
  5. "I Try" – 5:55
  6. "I Try" – 3:51UK cassette single
  7. "I Try" – 3:59
  8. "Don't Come Around" – 4:20European CD1
  9. "I Try" – 3:59
  10. "Rather Hazy" – 3:10European CD2
  11. "I Try" – 3:59
  12. "Rather Hazy" – 3:10
  13. "I Try" – 5:27Australian CD single
  14. "I Try" – 3:59
  15. "Rather Hazy" – 3:10
  16. "Do Something" – 3:33
  17. "I Try" – 5:27Japanese CD single
  18. "I Try"
  19. "Do Something"
  20. "Do Something"
  21. "Do Something"

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the On How Life Is album booklet.
Studios
Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 18
Austria 37
Europe 58
Germany 80
New Zealand 19
Switzerland 60
US Billboard Hot 10026
US Adult Contemporary 32
US Adult Top 40 6
US Mainstream Top 40 6
US Top 40 Tracks 7