Give Me One Reason

"Give Me One Reason" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman. It was included on her fourth studio album, New Beginning (1995), and was released as a single in various territories between November 1995 and March 1997, her first since 1992's "Dreaming on a World". The song is Chapman's biggest US hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also her biggest hit in Australia, where it reached number three as well, and it topped the charts of Canada and Iceland. Elsewhere, the song reached number 16 in New Zealand, but it underperformed in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 95 in March 1997.

"Give Me One Reason"
Single by Tracy Chapman
from the album New Beginning
B-side"The Rape of the World"
ReleasedNovember 19, 1995 (1995-11-19)
GenreBlues rock[1]
Length4:30
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Tracy Chapman
Producer(s)
Tracy Chapman singles chronology
"Dreaming on a World"
(1992)		 "Give Me One Reason"
(1995)		 "New Beginning"
(1996)
Audio sample
"Give Me One Reason"
  • file
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Chapman first performed "Give Me One Reason" during her 1988 tour, seven years before its release.[2] She also performed the song on the December 16, 1989, episode of Saturday Night Live.[3] Chapman earned the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for the track, and it was also nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1997.[4] A version of this song featuring Eric Clapton was included on the 1999 compilation album A Very Special Christmas Live. A music video was released to promote the single.

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "Less intense and somewhat looser than her benchmark hit Fast Car, it perfectly mixes her folksy style with traditional R&B qualities, intelligent lyrics and that edgy distinctive voice. Compelling listening."[5] Pitchfork said the song was, "strutting along a plucked, head-nodding guitar melody and Chapman’s grainy alto. Centering on an imbalanced relationship, each verse grows more frustrated from a lack of reciprocity; then the band kicks in and the pleading in her voice becomes cathartic, begging for a reason to stay while knowing it won’t come."[6]

Track listings

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Gold 5,000*
United States (RIAA)[36] Platinum 1,100,000[37]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
Australia November 19, 1995 CD Elektra [13]
United States February 27, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [38]
March 19, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 [39][40]
United Kingdom March 10, 1997 [41]

Cover versions

In 2015, Kelly Clarkson covered the song for Sirius XM, garnering over 2.5 million views.[42] She again covered the song for her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, in 2021.[43] The band Ruth covered the song on their 2009 digitally released The Covers EP. In 2021, Black Stone Cherry released two versions of the song on the deluxe edition of their album The Human Condition. Their versions peaked at number 25 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.[44]

References
  1. ""Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman". July 24, 2020.
  2. "Tracy Chapman Setlist at Rockefeller's, Houston, TX". Setlist.fm. Setlist.fm. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  3. Navaroli, Joel. "SNL Archives | Episodes | 12.16.1989 #6". SNL Archives. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  4. "Tracy Chapman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  5. Jones, Alan (March 22, 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  6. Eric Torres. "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork.
  7. Give Me One Reason (US CD single disc notes). Tracy Chapman. Elektra Records. 1995. 64346-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Give Me One Reason (US cassette single cassette notes). Tracy Chapman. Elektra Records. 1995. 4-64346.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Give Me One Reason (UK CD single liner notes). Tracy Chapman. Elektra Records. 1997. EKR 213 CD, 7559-66070-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Give Me One Reason (European CD single liner notes). Tracy Chapman. Elektra Records. 1995. EKR 213 CD, 7559-66070-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Give Me One Reason (Australian CD single liner notes). Tracy Chapman. Elektra Records. 1995. 7559660702.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Give Me One Reason (Australian cassette single sleeve). Tracy Chapman. Elektra Records. 1995. 7559643444.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3004." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  15. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3021." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  16. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.8. – 23.8. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). August 17, 1996. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  17. "Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  20. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  21. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  22. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  23. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  24. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  25. "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  26. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: June 1, 1996". Cash Box. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  27. "1996 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  28. "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 27, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  29. "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 27, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  30. "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  31. "End of Year Charts 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  32. "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  33. "1996 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-84. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  34. Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  35. "New Zealand single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". Recorded Music NZ.
  36. "American single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason". Recording Industry Association of America.
  37. "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. BPI Communications Inc. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  38. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1134. February 23, 1996. p. 36. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  39. "Give Me One Reason / Rape of the World". Amazon. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  40. "Give Me One Reason". Amazon. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  41. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 8, 1997. p. 34. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  42. "Kelly Clarkson - "Give Me One Reason" (Tracy Chapman Cover) [LIVE @ SiriusXM]". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 30, 2021 – via YouTube.
  43. Weisholtz, Drew. "Kelly Clarkson brings down the house with cover of 'Give Me One Reason'". Today. The Today Show. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  44. "Chart History: Black Stone Cherry (Mainstream Rock Airplay)". billboard.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
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