How Do I Live
Encyclopedia
"How Do I Live" is the title of a song written by Diane Warren
. It was originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes
in 1997 and shortly afterward by Trisha Yearwood
. Both versions were released on May 27, 1997.
Despite only peaking as high as #7 in the UK Singles Chart
, Rimes' version of "How Do I Live" spent 34 weeks on the chart, ending up as the 6th best selling single of 1998 (therefore becoming the first song ever to have reached a higher position in the year-end chart than in the effective weekly top 40).
In the US, Rimes' version peaked at #2 and set a record for staying on the Billboard Hot 100
chart for 69 weeks, a record it held for over 11 years before being beaten by Jason Mraz
's "I'm Yours
" in 2009. It ranks at #4 on Billboard's All Time Top 100, the only single on the top 10 of this list not peaking at #1. It has been certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of 3 million copies in the United States, the highest certified country single of that time, to be surpassed twelve years later by "Love Story
" from artist Taylor Swift
, which certified 4× Platinum. The song entered the Top 25 Country singles sales chart on June 21, 1997 and was still there in February 2003, a record 291 weeks (five and half years) later.
"How Do I Live" was covered
by F.I.R.
(Faye and Real featuring LeAnn Rimes). F.I.R. invited Rimes to record a portion of the song for their third album Flight Tribe in 2006.
The song has also been performed on the hit show American Idol
by Vonzell Solomon
in Season 4, Paris Bennett
in Season 5, and Meosha Denton in Season 2. It was also part of American Idol Season 2 compilation, sung by Carmen Rasmusen
.
soundtrack. According to Rimes, Warren wrote the song for her to sing and promised it to Rimes "no matter what." Disney (who owns Touchstone Pictures
) felt that Rimes was too young and chose Trisha Yearwood
to record the song. Yearwood's version was released on May 27, 1997 to country radio and appeared in the film. When Rimes heard of the release, she quickly released her version on the same day to mainstream pop radio. Neither Rimes' or Yearwood's version of the song was included on the soundtrack for the film. The entire soundtrack is devoted to the scores by Trevor Rabin
and Mark Mancina
.
US single rerelease
US dance mixes/digital download
UK single
UK maxi-CD
Germany maxi-CD
's "I'm Yours" in 2009. It also spent 32 weeks in the US Top 10, 58 weeks in the US Top 50 and 34 weeks on the UK singles chart. Trisha Yearwood's version was moving quickly up the charts, getting as high as number 23, when MCA refused to issue any more copies of the single, for fear of cannibalizing album sales. The limited press run of 300,000 sold out quickly, and the single was off the Hot 100 after 12 weeks. Yearwood's single on the country charts quickly climbed all the way to number 2.
Rimes' version spent 11 weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart.
In Australia, Rimes' version peaked on the ARIA Charts
at number 17 while Yearwood's peaked at number 2.
for which she won the 1997 award for Female Vocalist of the Year Yearwood also won the 1997 Academy of Country Music
Award for Top Female Vocalist.
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song
, but lost to "My Heart Will Go On
" from the film Titanic
. Yearwood performed the song at the award ceremony. The song was also nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song, "losing" to "the entire song score" of The Postman
. It is one of only three songs to be nominated for both awards, the others being "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
," from Armageddon (also by Warren) and "Life in a Looking Glass," from That's Life!
(music by Henry Mancini
, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
). None of these songs won either award.
, also by Warren, are lampooned in the comic and covered in its soundtrack by musician Michael Guy Bowman.
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
. It was originally recorded by 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...
in 1997 and shortly afterward by Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
. Both versions were released on May 27, 1997.
Despite only peaking as high as #7 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, Rimes' version of "How Do I Live" spent 34 weeks on the chart, ending up as the 6th best selling single of 1998 (therefore becoming the first song ever to have reached a higher position in the year-end chart than in the effective weekly top 40).
In the US, Rimes' version peaked at #2 and set a record for staying 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...
chart for 69 weeks, a record it held for over 11 years before being beaten by Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
's "I'm Yours
I'm Yours (Jason Mraz song)
"I'm Yours" is the first single released by Jason Mraz from his third studio album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The song was originally released on a limited edition EP called Extra Credit as a demo in 2005 to promote his second studio album Mr. A–Z. It was performed in his 2004 and 2005...
" in 2009. It ranks at #4 on Billboard's All Time Top 100, the only single on the top 10 of this list not peaking at #1. It has been certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of 3 million copies in the United States, the highest certified country single of that time, to be surpassed twelve years later by "Love Story
Love Story (Taylor Swift song)
"Love Story" is a country pop song performed by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The song was written by Swift and produced by Nathan Chapman, alongside Swift. It was released on September 12, 2008 by Big Machine Records, as the lead single from Swift's second studio album Fearless...
" from artist Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
, which certified 4× Platinum. The song entered the Top 25 Country singles sales chart on June 21, 1997 and was still there in February 2003, a record 291 weeks (five and half years) later.
"How Do I Live" was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by F.I.R.
F.I.R.
F.I.R. is a Taiwanese Mandopop pop rock band. The band currently consists of Faye Chan , Ian Chen and Real Huang . Producer Ian Chen formed his own band and recruited the other two members to form F.I.R. They are well known throughout Asia with their hit "Lydia", which was the theme song for the...
(Faye and Real featuring LeAnn Rimes). F.I.R. invited Rimes to record a portion of the song for their third album Flight Tribe in 2006.
The song has also been performed on the hit show 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...
by Vonzell Solomon
Vonzell Solomon
Vonzell Monique Solomon , nicknamed Baby V, is an American singer and aspiring actress who finished in third place in the fourth season of the televised singing competition American Idol. She also appeared in the independent movie Still Green.-Biography:Born in Baxley, Georgia, Solomon's family...
in Season 4, Paris Bennett
Paris Bennett
Paris Ana'is Bennett is an American singer. She came to national recognition as a contestant on the fifth season of the reality television talent show, American Idol, finishing in fifth place...
in Season 5, and Meosha Denton in Season 2. It was also part of American Idol Season 2 compilation, sung by Carmen Rasmusen
Carmen Rasmusen
Carmen Rasmusen is a Canadian-American country music artist who ranked sixth on the second season of American Idol in 2003. Rasmusen also plays piano and guitar.-Early life:...
.
Background
The song was originally intended for release as a single for the 1997 action blockbuster Con AirCon Air
Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
soundtrack. According to Rimes, Warren wrote the song for her to sing and promised it to Rimes "no matter what." Disney (who owns Touchstone Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Touchstone Pictures is an American film production label and is one of several film labels of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. Established in 1984, its releases typically feature more mature themes and darker tones than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner.Touchstone...
) felt that Rimes was too young and chose Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
to record the song. Yearwood's version was released on May 27, 1997 to country radio and appeared in the film. When Rimes heard of the release, she quickly released her version on the same day to mainstream pop radio. Neither Rimes' or Yearwood's version of the song was included on the soundtrack for the film. The entire soundtrack is devoted to the scores by Trevor Rabin
Trevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
and Mark Mancina
Mark Mancina
Mark Alan Mancina is a U.S. composer, primarily for Hollywood soundtracks, such as his collaboration with Trevor Rabin on the soundtrack for Con Air. He arranged many of the songs behind Disney's The Lion King including the Broadway musical...
.
LeAnn's track listing
US Single- How Do I Live 4:25
- How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:53
US single rerelease
- How Do I Live [Film Mix] 4:25
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
US dance mixes/digital download
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Radio Edit] 3:54
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15
- How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Mix] 7:38
- How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:53
UK single
- How Do I Live 4:25
- How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45
UK maxi-CD
- How Do I Live 4:25
- You Light Up My Life 3:34
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Remix Club Radio Edit] 4:15
- How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45UK maxi CD #2
- Commitment 4:36
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15
- How Do I Live [RH Factor Radio Edit] 3:45
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Mix] 7:38
- How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:53
Germany maxi-CD
- How Do I Live [Radio Edit] 3:45
- How Do I Live [Original Extended Version] 4:25
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Dance Radio Edit] 3:54
- How Do I Live [Mr. Mig Club Radio Edit] 4:15
Charts
Both the Rimes and the Yearwood versions debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on the week ending June 14, 1997. LeAnn Rimes' version peaked at number two and spent a record-breaking 69 weeks on the chart, more than any other song in history until Jason MrazJason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
's "I'm Yours" in 2009. It also spent 32 weeks in the US Top 10, 58 weeks in the US Top 50 and 34 weeks on the UK singles chart. Trisha Yearwood's version was moving quickly up the charts, getting as high as number 23, when MCA refused to issue any more copies of the single, for fear of cannibalizing album sales. The limited press run of 300,000 sold out quickly, and the single was off the Hot 100 after 12 weeks. Yearwood's single on the country charts quickly climbed all the way to number 2.
Rimes' version spent 11 weeks atop the Adult Contemporary chart.
In Australia, Rimes' version peaked on the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
at number 17 while Yearwood's peaked at number 2.
Chart positions
| Chart (1997/98) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (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,... ) |
2 |
| 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,... ) |
82 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (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,... ) |
13 |
| European Hot 100 Singles | 16 |
| Ireland (IRMA IRMA IRMA may refer to:* Institute of Rural Management, Anand, a management school for rural development in the state of Gujarat, India* International Recording Media Association*International Rectal Microbicide Advocates... ) |
14 |
End of decade chart
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| United States | 12 |
Year-end chart
| Year | Country | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | United States | 9 |
| 1998 | Europe | 72 |
| Netherlands | 13 | |
| United Kingdom | 6 | |
| United States | 5 |
All-Time chart
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| United States | 4 |
Certifications
Trisha Yearwood version charts & sales
Weekly charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 28 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 1 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 66 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs | 2 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1997) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 12 |
Certifications
Awards
In 1998, for the first time in history, the Grammy Awards nominated two artists for the same song in the same category. Directly following Rimes' performance of the song, Yearwood won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Yearwood also performed the song at the Country Music AssociationCountry Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
for which she won the 1997 award for Female Vocalist of the Year Yearwood also won the 1997 Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
Award for Top Female Vocalist.
The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
, but lost to "My Heart Will Go On
My Heart Will Go On
"My Heart Will Go On" is the theme song/love theme of the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic. With music by James Horner, lyrics by Will Jennings, and production by Simon Franglen, James Horner and Walter Afanasieff ,, it was recorded by Céline Dion...
" from the film Titanic
Titanic (1997 film)
Titanic is a 1997 American epic romance and disaster film directed, written, co-produced, and co-edited by James Cameron. A fictionalized account of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater and Billy Zane as Rose's fiancé, Cal...
. Yearwood performed the song at the award ceremony. The song was also nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song, "losing" to "the entire song score" of The Postman
The Postman (film)
The Postman is an American post-apocalyptic epic film based on the 1985 novel of the same name by David Brin. It was filmed in northeastern Washington , Fidalgo Island, Washington, central Oregon and Tucson, Arizona, and was directed by Kevin Costner, who also stars in the film...
. It is one of only three songs to be nominated for both awards, the others being "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
," from Armageddon (also by Warren) and "Life in a Looking Glass," from That's Life!
That's Life! (film)
That's Life! is a 1986 film with Jack Lemmon and Julie Andrews, directed by Blake Edwards.The film was made independently by Edwards using largely his own finances and was distributed by Columbia Pictures...
(music by Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
). None of these songs won either award.
In Popular Culture
In the popular webcomic Homestuck, How Do I Live and I Don't Want To Miss A ThingI Don't Want to Miss a Thing
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
, also by Warren, are lampooned in the comic and covered in its soundtrack by musician Michael Guy Bowman.