Tears Dry on Their Own explained

Tears Dry on Their Own
Cover:Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Amy Winehouse
Album:Back to Black
B-Side:You're Wondering Now
Studio:Instrument Zoo, Miami
Label:Island
Producer:Salaam Remi
Prev Title:Back to Black
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:Valerie
Next Year:2007

"Tears Dry on Their Own" is a song by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse from her second and final studio album, Back to Black (2006). It was released on 13 August 2007 as the album's fourth single. While the melody and lyrics are composed by Winehouse, the music behind her voice is an interpolation of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's 1967 song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", penned by Ashford & Simpson. The original ballad version of the track is featured on the posthumous album (2011). The song was featured in the documentary film based on the life and death of Winehouse, Amy (2015) and was also included on the film's soundtrack.

In October 2023, Skepta released "Can't Play Myself (A Tribute to Amy)", which samples "Tears Dry on Their Own".[1]

Composition

"Tears Dry on Their Own" has been described by NME as a "Motown-influenced pop song",[2] while Billy Hamilton of Drowned in Sound believed the song to be a soul song.[3] The song was originally written in the key of E major.

Music video

Tears Dry on Their Own's music video was shot in Los Angeles,[4] and directed by David LaChapelle on 22 May 2007.[5] Featuring Winehouse making her way down Hollywood Blvd and in a dim motel room, the video features the Grand Motel at 1479 S La Cienega Blvd, in Los Angeles. The hotel room is a nod to the ones she would stay in while waiting for her to-be-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil to arrive. The music video for this song was the second to last filmed before Winehouse's death on 23 July 2011.

Chart performance

"Tears Dry on Their Own" became Winehouse's fourth consecutive single to chart inside the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, when it entered at number 37 on 5 August 2007. It also became her eighth UK R&B top 40 hit. The single spent four weeks at number one on the UK Airplay Chart during August. After the song's physical release, the single climbed into the top 20, peaking at number 16. Therefore, "Tears Dry on Their Own" is Winehouse's second highest-charting single behind "Rehab" and the fourth consecutive top 30 hit from her second album. To date, it has spent 19 non-consecutive weeks on the UK Singles Chart, making it her fourth longest-running hit behind "Rehab" (57 weeks), "Valerie" (39 weeks), and "Back to Black" (34 weeks).

With sales of 84,750, "Tears Dry on Their Own" went on to become the UK's 93rd best-selling single of 2007.[6]

On 31 July 2011, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at 27 after Winehouse's death.

Track listings and formats

UK CD single
  1. "Tears Dry on Their Own" – 3:09
  2. "You're Wondering Now" – 2:31
  3. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix) – 6:42
  4. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Al Usher Remix) – 7:00
  5. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Video)
UK limited edition clear 7" single
  1. "Tears Dry on Their Own" – 3:05
  1. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (NYPC's Fucked Mix) – 4:39
UK 12" single
  1. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix) – 6:42
  1. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Al Usher Remix) – 7:00
  2. "Tears Dry on Their Own" – 3:05
Digital download – Remixes & B-Sides EP [7]
  1. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Vodafone Live at TBA) – 3:23
  2. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix) – 5:35
  3. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (NYPC's Fucked Mix) – 4:39
  4. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Al Usher Remix) – 6:59
  5. "Tears Dry on Their Own" (Kardinal Beats Remix) – 3:21

Official versions and remixes

Personnel

"Tears Dry on Their Own"

"You're Wondering Now"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2007–08)Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[9] 49
Netherlands (Tipparade)[10] 14
Chart (2011)Peak
position
Belgium Back Catalogue Singles (Ultratop Flanders)8
Belgium Back Catalogue Singles (Ultratop Wallonia)23
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 44

Year-end charts

External links

Notes and References

  1. Skepta pays tribute to Amy Winehouse on new single 'Can't Play Myself'. Rolling Stone. 13 October 2023. 17 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Amy Winehouse: Her 10 Best Tracks. Wright. Lisa. 10 July 2015. NME. 8 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171009093311/http://www.nme.com/list/amy-winehouse-her-10-best-tracks-1083. 9 October 2017. live.
  3. Web site: Single Review: Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own. Hamilton. Billy. 13 August 2007. Drowned in Sound. 9 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171009194923/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/11094/reviews/2334473. 9 October 2017. live.
  4. Web site: Amy Winehouse Sports New Beehive On The Set Of "Tears Dry On Their Own" Music Video - PopCrunch. 23 May 2007. 26 May 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031818/http://www.popcrunch.com/amy-winehouse-sports-new-beehive-on-the-set-of-tears-dry-on-their-own-music-video/. 4 March 2016. dead.
  5. Web site: Flickr.
  6. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 - 2007 . . . 13 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924181715/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20070107/37501/ . 24 September 2015 . live.
  7. Web site: iTunes - Music - Tears Dry On the Own (Remixes & B Sides) - EP by Amy Winehouse. 23 July 2007 . iTunes Store (GB).
  8. Web site: Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own. . 24 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925105852/http://www.discogs.com/Amy-Winehouse-Tears-Dry-On-Their-Own/release/1502612. 25 September 2015. live.
  9. European Hot 100 Singles – Chart Listing For The Week Of Sep 08 2007 . Billboard . 19 February 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090206170053/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=349&cfgn=Singles&cfn=European+Hot+100+Singles&ci=3090416&cdi=9620989&cid=09%2F08%2F2007 . 6 February 2009.
  10. Web site: Amy Winehouse – Tears Dry On Their Own . nl . . 6 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190701104516/https://www.top40.nl/amy-winehouse/amy-winehouse-tears-dry-on-their-own-17874 . 1 July 2019 . live.
  11. Web site: Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 28 July 2011 . . 17 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120612111232/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2011&year=2011&week=30 . 12 June 2012.
  12. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2007 . Official Charts Company . 6 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150422001949/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20070107/37501/ . 22 April 2015 . live.

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