Blue (LeAnn Rimes song)
Encyclopedia
"Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American
country music
singer, LeAnn Rimes
, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name
(1996). The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old.
"The Light in Your Eyes
" was originally slated to be the A-side of LeAnn's first single, for which she also filmed her first video. A clip of the originally-intended B-side "Blue" was only included as a ten-second tag on the promo record sent to radio stations, but when disc jockeys responded more favorably to "Blue", the A and B sides were reversed and it became her first single instead.
This song was also covered by Haley Reinhart
in the tenth installment
of American Idol
and received critical acclaim from judges and fans of the show.
Bill Mack
in the early 1960s. Mack originally intended legendary country music singer Patsy Cline
to record the song, but Cline died in a plane crash before it could be recorded. Although it was claimed that Mack had been waiting to find the right vocalist to record "Blue" for all that time, the song was recorded by at least three artists (Mack, himself; Kathryn Pitt; and Kenny Roberts
) prior to Rimes.
However, the idea was spread to the media, leading people to believe Rimes was the successor to Cline's vocal style.
Rimes first recorded the song when she was 11 years old on an independent album, All That (1994), under the label Nor Va Jak. The song was re-recorded for Blue to match her current vocals (as she was 13 at the time of the single's release in 1996.) Because of this Rimes was brought to comparisons with other former teenage country singers, including 50s singer, Brenda Lee
and 70s Outlaw country singer, Tanya Tucker
. Many of Rimes' songs were adult-sounding songs, including "Blue," as well as later releases.
"The Light in Your Eyes
" was originally slated to be the A-side
of Rimes' first single, for which she also filmed her first video. A clip of the originally-intended B-side "Blue" was only included as a ten-second tag on the promo record sent to radio stations, but when disc jockeys responded more favorably to "Blue", the A and B sides were reversed and it became her first single instead.
Rimes rerecording the song for her new album, Lady & Gentlemen
, which was released on September 27, 2011. The song is credited with Time Jumpers and is produced by Darrell Brown and Rimes herself.
and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
, while also reaching #1 on the Canadian Country RPM singles chart. Her album of the same was also released the same year and sold 123,000 copies within its first week, eventually selling six million copies (6× Multi-Platinum) in the United States.
featured Rimes sitting by a pool in the summer with sunglasses on, while a young boy passes her by. It debuted on CMT
's Top 20 Video Countdown in 1996.
UK Maxi CD single
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name
Blue (LeAnn Rimes album)
Blue is the debut album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996 by Curb Records. It reached #3 on Billboard 200, and #1 on Top Country Albums....
(1996). The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old.
"The Light in Your Eyes
The Light in Your Eyes
"The Light in Your Eyes" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, released as the sixth and final single from her major label debut Blue. The song made it to number five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997....
" was originally slated to be the A-side of LeAnn's first single, for which she also filmed her first video. A clip of the originally-intended B-side "Blue" was only included as a ten-second tag on the promo record sent to radio stations, but when disc jockeys responded more favorably to "Blue", the A and B sides were reversed and it became her first single instead.
This song was also covered by Haley Reinhart
Haley Reinhart
Haley Reinhart is an American singer from Wheeling, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois who placed third in the tenth season of American Idol. Reinhart is currently signed to 19 and Interscope Records.-Early life:...
in the tenth installment
American Idol (season 10)
The tenth season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2011 and concluded on May 25, 2011, on Fox. The show underwent a number of changes from season nine, including the reduction of the judging panel to its original number of just three judges , a returning executive producer, a new music...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and received critical acclaim from judges and fans of the show.
Background
"Blue" was written by radio disc jockeyDisc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
Bill Mack
Bill Mack
Bill Mack is one of the most recognizable voices in country music radio. For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth...
in the early 1960s. Mack originally intended legendary country music singer Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
to record the song, but Cline died in a plane crash before it could be recorded. Although it was claimed that Mack had been waiting to find the right vocalist to record "Blue" for all that time, the song was recorded by at least three artists (Mack, himself; Kathryn Pitt; and Kenny Roberts
Kenny Roberts (musician)
Kenny Roberts was a country music singer, born in Lenoir City, Tennessee, but raised on a farm outside of Greenfield, Massachusetts....
) prior to Rimes.
However, the idea was spread to the media, leading people to believe Rimes was the successor to Cline's vocal style.
Rimes first recorded the song when she was 11 years old on an independent album, All That (1994), under the label Nor Va Jak. The song was re-recorded for Blue to match her current vocals (as she was 13 at the time of the single's release in 1996.) Because of this Rimes was brought to comparisons with other former teenage country singers, including 50s singer, Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
and 70s Outlaw country singer, Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
. Many of Rimes' songs were adult-sounding songs, including "Blue," as well as later releases.
"The Light in Your Eyes
The Light in Your Eyes
"The Light in Your Eyes" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, released as the sixth and final single from her major label debut Blue. The song made it to number five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997....
" was originally slated to be the A-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of Rimes' first single, for which she also filmed her first video. A clip of the originally-intended B-side "Blue" was only included as a ten-second tag on the promo record sent to radio stations, but when disc jockeys responded more favorably to "Blue", the A and B sides were reversed and it became her first single instead.
Rimes rerecording the song for her new album, Lady & Gentlemen
Lady & Gentlemen
Lady & Gentlemen is the thirteenth studio album by American country music recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The album is Rimes' second cover album The only new songs on the album are the two bonus tracks, "Crazy Woman" and "Give". It was released on September 27, 2011 by Curb Records...
, which was released on September 27, 2011. The song is credited with Time Jumpers and is produced by Darrell Brown and Rimes herself.
Composition
"Blue" is a ballad about a lonely woman who is wondering why her lover can't be blue or lonely over her. However she later realizes, that words her lover had whispered were only lies:-
- "Blue
- Oh, so lonesome for you
- Why can't you be blue over me?"
Chart performance
"Blue" debuted at #49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of May 25, 1996. The single was released to country radio in 1996 and became a major hit that summer, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Country ChartHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, while also reaching #1 on the Canadian Country RPM singles chart. Her album of the same was also released the same year and sold 123,000 copies within its first week, eventually selling six million copies (6× Multi-Platinum) in the United States.
Music Video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
featured Rimes sitting by a pool in the summer with sunglasses on, while a young boy passes her by. It debuted on CMT
Country Music Television
Country Music Television, or CMT, is an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming includes music videos, taped concerts, movies, biographies of country music stars, game shows, and reality programs...
's Top 20 Video Countdown in 1996.
Track listing
US CD single- "Blue" – 2:47
- "The Light in Your EyesThe Light in Your Eyes"The Light in Your Eyes" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, released as the sixth and final single from her major label debut Blue. The song made it to number five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997....
" – 3:20
UK Maxi CD single
- "Blue" – 2:47
- "How Do I Live" – 4:27
- "Undeniable" – 3:44
Peak positions
| Chart (1996/98) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... ) |
1 |
| UK Singles (The Official Chart Company) | 23 |
Year-end chart
| Year | Country | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Australia | 50 |