Don't Know Why
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"Don't Know Why" is a song written and composed by American singer-songwriter Jesse Harris that originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. A cover of the song later appeared on Norah Jones' debut studio album, Come Away with Me (2002), and was released as her debut single on January 28, 2002.
Jones' version of "Don't Know Why" peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was a critical success, winning three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. "Don't Know Why" was also successful abroad, reaching number five in Australia, number six in Croatia, and number 24 in New Zealand. The song was ranked number 459 in Blender magazine's "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".
Jones' piano-playing has been compared to that of Floyd Cramer, having a "style and grace, a musical maturity not found in many keyboard players today."
Music video
A music video directed by Anastasia Simone and Ian Spencer was filmed in February 2002 and released later that year. It features Norah Jones performing the song on a gray beach at sunrise, on a rocky pier, and at a beach rental stand accompanied by a wooden piano while undersea images are projected onto the walls.
Track listings
UK CD single
- "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
- "Lonestar" – 3:05
- "Peace" – 3:51
Dutch CD single
- "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
- "Cold Cold Heart" – 3:38
French CD single
- "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
- "Lonestar" – 3:07
Australian CD single
- "Don't Know Why"
- "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"
- "Lonestar"
- "Peace"
UK CD single (2003)
- "Don't Know Why" – 3:05
- "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" – 3:16
- "Crazy" (live) – 3:29
Credits and personnel
Credits are lifted from the Come Away with Me album booklet.
Recording
- Recorded at Sorcerer Sound (New York City) and Allaire Studios (Shokan, New York)
- Mixed at Sear Sound (New York City)
- Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)
Personnel
- Jesse Harris – writing, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Norah Jones – vocals, piano, production
- Lee Alexander – bass guitar
- Dan Rieser – drums
- Arif Mardin – production, mixing
- Jay Newland – production, mixing, engineering
- Mark Birkey – assistant engineering
- Ted Jensen – mastering
Charts
| Chart (2002–2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Weekly charts 2002–2003 weekly chart performance for "Don't Know Why" Chart (2002–2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA) 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 56 Croatia (HRT) 6 France (SNEP) 74 Germany (GfK) 82 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 86 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 24 Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts) 71 Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts) with "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" 78 UK Singles (Official Charts) 59 UK Singles (Official Charts) with "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" 63 US Billboard Hot 100 30 US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard) 5 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 4 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard) 8 US Pop Airplay (Billboard) 32 2022 weekly chart performance for "Don't Know Why" Chart (2022) Peak position Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) 20 | Year-end charts 2002 year-end chart performance for "Don't Know Why" Chart (2002) Position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 38 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 25 US Triple-A (Billboard) 5 2003 year-end chart performance for "Don't Know Why" Chart (2003) Position Australia (ARIA) 77 US Billboard Hot 100 97 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 7 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 25 2012 year-end chart performance for "Don't Know Why" Chart (2012) Position South Korea Foreign (Circle) 98 2013 year-end chart performance for "Don't Know Why" Chart (2013) Position South Korea Foreign (Circle) 80 |
| Australia (ARIA) | 5 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 56 |
| Croatia (HRT) | 6 |
| France (SNEP) | 74 |
| Germany (GfK) | 82 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 86 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 24 |
| Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts) | 71 |
| Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts) with "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" | 78 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts) | 59 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts) with "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" | 63 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 30 |
| US Adult Alternative Airplay (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 4 |
| US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard) | 8 |
| US Pop Airplay (Billboard) | 32 |
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) | 20 |
| Chart (2002) | Position |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 38 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 25 |
| US Triple-A (Billboard) | 5 |
| Chart (2003) | Position |
| Australia (ARIA) | 77 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 97 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 7 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 25 |
| Chart (2012) | Position |
| South Korea Foreign (Circle) | 98 |
| Chart (2013) | Position |
| South Korea Foreign (Circle) | 80 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009 | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| South Korea (Gaon) | — | 582,355 |
| Spain (Promusicae) | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) with "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | January 28, 2002 | Triple A radio | Blue Note | |
| United Kingdom | May 13, 2002 | CD | Parlophone | |
| United States | June 24, 2002 | Hot adult contemporary radio | Blue Note | |
| August 5, 2002 | Contemporary hit radio | |||
| Australia | February 24, 2003 | CD | Parlophone | |
| United Kingdom (re-release) | September 1, 2003 |
External links
- reviewed by Ted Gioia ()