Cryin' Explained

Cryin'
Cover:Tn_Aerosmith_-_Cryin.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Aerosmith
Album:Get a Grip
B-Side:Walk On Down
Released:June 29, 1993
Length:
  • 5:08 (album version)
  • 4:14 (fade)
Label:Geffen
Producer:Bruce Fairbairn
Prev Title:Eat the Rich
Prev Year:1993
Next Title:Amazing
Next Year:1993

"Cryin'" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Taylor Rhodes, and released by Geffen Records on June 29, 1993, as the second US single from their 11th studio album, Get a Grip (1993). The single reached numbers 12 and 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, ending the year at number 60 overall. It is one of their most successful hits in Europe, reaching number one in Norway, number three in Iceland, Portugal, and Sweden, and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. The song went gold in the United States for selling over 500,000 copies. Its music video, directed by Marty Callner, features Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Dorff and Josh Holloway.

Background

Tyler described the song saying "It was country – we just Aerosmith’d it.”

Critical reception

Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song three out of five, describing it as "a high-octane performance" and named it the best song from the Get A Grip album. He also declared it as "anthemic and compelling. Expect a brief but glittering chart life."[1] Another Music Week editor, Andy Martin, also gave it three out of five, adding that "it is hard to see the single having any more than a brief but glittering run."[2]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Cryin'", directed by American director Marty Callner, features the first of three successive appearances by Alicia Silverstone in the band's videos, the next two being "Amazing" (1993) and "Crazy" (1994).[3] Silverstone was 16 years old when "Cryin'" was filmed. In the video, the band performs in the Central Congregational Church in Fall River, Massachusetts. The video flashes back and forth between the band and Silverstone, who plays a teen who has a falling out with her boyfriend (played by Stephen Dorff) after catching him cheating. She feigns an attempt to kiss him, but instead leans away, annoying him. She then punches him and shoves him out of the car, leaving him in the dust. She begins a phase of rebellion and individuality and gets a navel piercing, which has largely been credited as introducing navel piercing to mainstream culture.[4] After having her purse stolen by another young man (played by then-unknown Josh Holloway of Lost), she chases him down and knocks him to the ground. The video then cuts to her standing on the edge of an overpass, contemplating jumping. Her ex-boyfriend arrives on the scene, along with numerous police officers, encouraging her to come down from the bridge. She jumps, but a bungee rope is revealed, arresting her fall and leaving her dangling over the freeway, laughing at Dorff's character. The video ends with the dangling Silverstone looking up and giving Dorff the finger.

The video was a success on MTV, becoming the most requested video in 1993[5] and earning the band several awards at the Video Music Awards.

Awards

Track listings

A. "Cryin'" (LP version) – 5:08

B. "Walk On Down" (LP version) – 3:39

  1. "Cryin'" (LP version) – 5:08
  2. "Walk On Down" (LP version) – 3:39
  3. "I'm Down" (LP version) – 2:20
  4. "My Fist Your Face" (LP version) – 4:21
  1. "Cryin'" (LP version) – 5:08
  2. "Love in an Elevator" (LP version) – 5:22
  3. "Janie's Got a Gun" (LP version) – 5:29

A. "Cryin'" – 5:08

B. "Love in an Elevator" – 5:22

  1. "Cryin'" (LP version) – 5:08
  2. "Janie's Got a Gun" (LP version) – 5:29
  1. "Cryin'"
  2. "Janie's Got a Gun"
  3. "Love in an Elevator"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–1994)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 80
Denmark (IFPI)[16] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 7
Europe (European Hit Radio)[18] 30
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] 3
Portugal (AFP)[20] 3
US Cash Box Top 100[21] 11

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22] 62
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[23] 65
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 59
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 93
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 60
Chart (1994)Position
Belgium (Ultratop)[27] 92
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[28] 42
Germany (Official German Charts)[29] 78
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 93
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 45

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesJune 29, 1993Geffen
United KingdomOctober 18, 1993[32]

Notes and References

  1. Alan. Jones. Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles. Music Week. October 16, 1993. 21. February 2, 2023.
  2. Andy. Martin. Market Preview: Rock. Music Week. October 23, 1993. 13. February 2, 2023.
  3. Web site: The 20 Songs That Can Represent The Career Of Aerosmith. Society of Rock. May 23, 2022.
  4. Web site: Aerosmith - BME Encyclopedia. June 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20120210075845/http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php?title=Aerosmith&printable=yes. February 10, 2012. dead.
  5. Web site: MTV Top 100 Videos of 1993. IMDb. April 18, 2019.
  6. Web site: MTV Video Music Awards | 1994 | Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. https://web.archive.org/web/20080901022244/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1994/. dead. September 1, 2008. MTV.com. September 8, 1994. May 23, 2013.
  7. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. US & Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc. Geffen Records. GEFS7-19256.
  8. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. US & Canadian cassette single cassette notes. Geffen Records. GEFCS-19256.
  9. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. UK CD single disc notes. Geffen Records. GFSTD 56.
  10. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. European CD single disc notes. Geffen Records. GED21850.
  11. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. German 7-inch single vinyl disc. Geffen Records. GES 19192.
  12. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. French CD single disc notes. Geffen Records. GED 21879.
  13. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. French cassette single sleeve. Geffen Records. GEC 19202.
  14. Cryin'. Aerosmith. 1993. Australian CD single liner notes. Geffen Records. GEFDM 21850.
  15. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  16. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 11. 5. January 29, 1994. 22. February 1, 2020.
  17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 11. 2. January 8, 1994. 11. February 1, 2020.
  18. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 11. 2. January 8, 1994. 21. April 16, 2024.
  19. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (29.07–04.08). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. July 29, 1993. September 30, 2019.
  20. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 10. 48. November 27, 1993. 14. February 1, 2020.
  21. Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. LVII. 7. October 9, 1993. 10. April 22, 2024.
  22. The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 14, 2018.
  23. News: Árslistinn 1993. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 17. January 4, 1994. June 1, 2020.
  24. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1993. Dutch Top 40. May 18, 2020.
  25. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1993. MegaCharts. nl. October 14, 2018.
  26. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1993. February 9, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131227150249/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1993.php. December 27, 2013.
  27. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1994. Ultratop. nl. October 14, 2018.
  28. Web site: 1994 in Review – Sales Charts. Music & Media. 11. 52. December 24, 1994. 24. February 1, 2020.
  29. Web site: Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1994. GfK Entertainment. de. October 14, 2018.
  30. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1994. Sverigetopplistan. sv. April 10, 2020.
  31. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 1994. de. October 14, 2018.
  32. Single Releases. Music Week. 29. October 16, 1993.