Macy Gray, I Try | 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏

In the 7^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we highlight “I Try” performed by Grammy winner, Macy Gray.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 7^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏, we dive into 🎵 “I Try”,  the one hit wonder by 🎙 Macy Gray.

“I believe that fate has brought us here / And we should be together, babe / But we’re not.” 🎙 Macy Gray carved out her place in music history with one big hit, 🎵 “I Try”. “I Try” appears as the fourth track on her 1999, multiplatinum debut album, 💿 On How Life Is.  While the record qualifies as 1990s song, it first charted as a single in 2000.  “I Try” would chart for 27 weeks, and peak at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another accolade earned by this joint, which has become a pop culture gem, was a 🏆 Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance Female, beating out a 🎙 Britney Spears classic (🎵 “Oops!…I Did It Again”).  Notably, it was also nominated for Grammys for Record and Song of the Year.

So, what made “I Try” such a big deal? Regarding sound, this record is a fine blend of pop and neo-soul – the best of both worlds.  The production work (🎛 Andrew Slater) is superb, with the rich sounds of keyboard, organ, guitars and strings. Something else that makes “I Try” endearing is the distinct voice of Macy Gray, who truly is one of a kind.  Her instrument is incredibly raspy, but also quite expressive. The best moment of the song – the crowning achievement – is the chorus, DUH!

“I try to say goodbye and I choke

I try to walk away, and I stumble

Though I try to hide it, it’s clear

My world crumbles when you are not near.”

Beyond the chorus, the songwriting – Gray, 🎼 ✍ Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzumna, and David Wilder – is enjoyable and well-rounded.  Musically, another triumphant moment for this one-hit wonder is the key change. While Gray doesn’t have a voice characterized by a wide range, she shines on the ad-libs, singing in all her ultra-distinctive glory. All told, 🎵 “I Try” exemplifies one-hit wonderfulness!

Appears in 🔻:

• 11 Songs That Make You Wanna Try (2023)

🎙 Macy Gray • 💿 On How Life Is • 🏷 Sony BMG Music Entertainment • 📅 1999

Macy Gray, I Try: 1 Hit WONDERful 👏👏👏 No. 7 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Julia Larsen, Kurchakto, RDNE Stock project, Victor Terrell from Pexels; Andrew Martin from Pixabay]