1982 single by Carly Simon
"Why" is a song written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards and performed by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon. Recorded for the film Soup for One in 1982, the film was a commercial flop but the soundtrack album was a success. One of many film-inspired singles by Simon, the song became a top 10 hit in the UK, and was successful throughout Europe.[4]
Background
The song, like the rest of the soundtrack, was produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of Chic.[5] This was a move away from the usual guitar-based hits of Simon's past. The bittersweet reggae-tinged ballad became a hit in Europe, hitting No. 10 in the UK, and staying on the British charts for 18 weeks.[4] The song peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 6 weeks.[6]
The song has been included on several of Simon's compilation albums, including the three-disc Clouds in My Coffee (1995), the single-disc The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better (1999), the two-disc Anthology (2002), and the import version of Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits (2004).[7]
Music video
Simon released a music video for the song, which was filmed on the streets of New York City in 1982. Simon's daughter, Sally Taylor, also appears in the video, seen pouring a bottle of wine over a man's head.[5]
Reception
Cash Box said that "Simon's vocal and Chic's polyrhythm street groove proves just the right formula."[8]
In 2015, Pitchfork ranked "Why" at No. 188 on their list of the 200 Best Songs of the 1980s.[1]
Later significance
Wham! notably covered the song during their last concert The Final in 1986.[9] In 1989, "Why" re-surfaced on the Ibiza "Hacienda" scene, and cemented its status as a Balearic classic.[2] Known for its bass-line and funky drums, it was then that the growing hip-hop scene in the US began to pick it up seven years after its original release. The song re-entered the UK charts the same year, reaching No. 56. In 1990, A Tribe Called Quest would heavily sample the song for a remix of their hit single, "Bonita Applebum". In 1999, British dancehall musician Glamma Kid heavily interpolated the song in "Why", which was also a top 10 UK hit.
