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- "I Try" – 3:59
- "I Try" – 5:21
- "Don't Come Around" – 4:20UK CD2
- "I Try" – 3:59
- "I Try" – 5:55
- "I Try" – 3:51UK cassette single
- "I Try" – 3:59
- "Don't Come Around" – 4:20European CD1
- "I Try" – 3:59
- "Rather Hazy" – 3:10European CD2
- "I Try" – 3:59
- "Rather Hazy" – 3:10
- "I Try" – 5:27Australian CD single
- "I Try" – 3:59
- "Rather Hazy" – 3:10
- "Do Something" – 3:33
- "I Try" – 5:27Japanese CD single
- "I Try"
- "Do Something"
- "Do Something"
- "Do Something"
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the On How Life Is album booklet.Studios
- Recorded and mixed at Paramount Studios, Sunset Sound, and A&M Studios
- Macy Gray – lyrics, music, back-up vocals
- Jeremy Ruzumna – music, organ
- Jinsoo Lim – music
- David Wilder – music, bass
- Jon Brion – guitars, piano, orchestra bells
- Bendrix Williams – guitars
- Patrick Warren – Chamberlin
- Matt Chamberlain – drums
- Lenny Castro – percussion
- Andrew Slater – production
- Dave Way – recording, mixing
- Krystof Zizka - engineer, producer
Charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| Australia | 18 |
| Austria | 37 |
| Europe | 58 |
| Germany | 80 |
| New Zealand | 19 |
| Switzerland | 60 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 26 |
| US Adult Contemporary | 32 |
| US Adult Top 40 | 6 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 | 6 |
| US Top 40 Tracks | 7 |