Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)

"Drops of Jupiter", initially released as "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)", is a song written and recorded by American rock band Train. It was released on January 29, 2001, as the lead single from their second studio album, Drops of Jupiter (2001). The song hit the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and also charted in the top 40 for 29 weeks.[2] The European single has tracks "It's Love", "This Is Not Your Life", and "Sharks" as its B-sides.

"Drops of Jupiter"
Single by Train
from the album Drops of Jupiter
B-side
  • "It's Love"
  • "This Is Not Your Life"
  • "Sharks"
ReleasedJanuary 29, 2001 (2001-01-29)
StudioSouthern Tracks Recording (Atlanta, Georgia, US)
GenreRock[1]
Length4:20
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Train
Producer(s)Brendan O'Brien
Train singles chronology
"Ramble On"
(2001)		 "Drops of Jupiter"
(2001)		 "Something More"
(2001)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" on YouTube

The recording features the signature strings of arranger Paul Buckmaster, who won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for "Drops of Jupiter."

Background and composition

Lead singer Pat Monahan stated that the song was inspired by his late mother, who had died after a struggle with cancer, and that the opening lines "came to [him] in a dream". He told VH1's Behind the Music: "The process of creation wasn't easy. I just couldn't figure out what to write, but then I woke up from a dream about a year after my mother passed away with the words 'back in the atmosphere'...It was just her way of saying what it was like – she was swimming through the planets and came to me with drops of Jupiter in her hair."[3][4]

The song is written in the key of C major and plays at a moderate tempo in cut time.[5]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that it "demonstrates a truly artistic lyrical bent that merits instant acceptance of this credible rock-edged song". He sums up the review saying "add piano, a splendid orchestral backdrop, and a vocal shimmering with passion and personality, and this is a runaway track for Train".[4]

Chart performance

"Drops of Jupiter" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in June 2001.[6] On the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, the song ascended to the top 10 during its 49th week, marking the longest climb to the top 10 on that tally by any act, and spent 54 weeks on the ranking.[7][8] The song has sold and streamed over 7,000,000 units since its digital release in 2003, earning a seven-times platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[9]

On the UK Singles Chart, "Drops of Jupiter" debuted and peaked at number 10 on August 5, 2001.[10] The track re-entered the UK Singles Chart for the week ending on April 7, 2012, at number 53 following a performance from contestant Phil Poole on The Voice UK. On the week ending April 28, 2012, "Drops of Jupiter" climbed to number 34.[11] The song has received a double platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streams exceeding 1,200,000 units.[12]

Music video

There are two music videos for this song. The first one shows the band performing it on a stage, with a large banner reading "TRAIN" in the green-lit background. Clips of a woman performing various actions in various backgrounds related to the lyrics (e.g., Jupiter, holding her hands out in the rain) are inserted into various parts of the song.

The second, more famous video shows the band performing the song on a stage backed by a string ensemble. As the video progresses, people come in to watch the song being performed. The video was shot at Union Station in Los Angeles, California, and was directed by Nigel Dick with production design by Andrew Elias.[13] It was released in July.[14] The first version of this particular video also featured the story of a girl who ran away from home and, upon arriving at the station where the band was playing, was so moved that she decided to return home. However, this storyline was dropped during the editing process.

Awards

The song was nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and won two for Best Rock Song and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Drops of Jupiter album booklet.[20]

Studios

  • Recorded and mixed at Southern Tracks Recording (Atlanta, Georgia, US)
  • Strings recorded at Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California)
  • Mastered at Gateway Mastering & DVD (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel

  • Train – writing
    • Charlie Colin – background vocals, guitars, bass
    • Rob Hotchkiss – background vocals, guitars, bass
    • Pat Monahan – vocals, percussion
    • Jimmy Stafford – background vocals, guitars
    • Scott Underwood – keyboards, drums, percussion, programming
  • Chuck Leavell – piano
  • Brendan O'Brien – keyboards, production, mixing
  • Mike Markman – principal violin
  • Evan Wilson – principal viola
  • Dan Smith – principal cello
  • Suzie Katayama – cello, orchestral contracting
  • Paul Buckmaster – orchestral arrangement and conducting
  • Steve Churchyard – orchestral engineering
  • Steve Genewick – orchestral engineering assistance
  • Nick DiDia – recording
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[57] Platinum 90,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[58] Platinum 50,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[9] 7× Platinum 7,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 29, 2001 Hot adult contemporary radio Columbia [59]
January 30, 2001
[60]
February 27, 2001 Contemporary hit radio [61]
Australia May 21, 2001 CD [62]
United Kingdom July 30, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
 [63]
United States April 1, 2003 Digital download [9]

References
  1. Lynch, Joe (March 26, 2021). "Train's 'Drops of Jupiter' at 20: Pat Monahan Shares Surprising Stories Behind the Smash". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  2. Billboard Drops of Jupiter Facts
  3. "Train". Behind the Music. Season 15. Episode 1. September 16, 2012. Vh1.
  4. Billboard, February 3, 2001 – Vol. 113, No. 5, Page 38.
  5. "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". Musicnotes.com. MN0046022. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. "Train Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. Drops of Jupiter Songfacts
  8. "Train Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  9. "American single certifications – Train – Drops of Jupiter". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. "British single certifications – Train – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  13. "Train: Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) - Full Cast and Crew". IMDb.
  14. "Train Readying Second Video for 'Drops of Jupiter' (MTV News)". MTV.
  15. Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) (US 7-inch single sleeve). Train. Columbia Records. 2001. 38-79565.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) (UK CD single liner notes). Train. Columbia Records. 2001. 671447 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) (UK cassette single sleeve). Train. Columbia Records. 2001. 671447 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) (European CD single liner notes). Train. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 671197 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) (Australian CD single liner notes). Train. Columbia Records. 2001. 670914.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. Drops of Jupiter (US CD album booklet). Train. Columbia Records, Aware Records. 2001. CK 69888.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. "Train – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  22. "Train – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
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  30. "Train – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". Top Digital Download.
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  32. "Train – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
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  34. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. "Train – Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". Singles Top 100.
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  37. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  38. "Train Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
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