Don't Know Why

"Don't Know Why"
Single by Norah Jones
from the album Come Away with Me
Released	July 2002
Format	CD
Recorded	2001 Sorcerer Sound (New York City) Allaire Studios (Shokan, New York)[1]
Genre	Pop
Length	3:09
Label	Blue Note
Writer(s)	Jesse Harris
Producer(s)	Norah Jones Arif Mardin Jay Newland
Norah Jones singles chronology
"Don't Know Why" (2002) "Feelin' the Same Way" (2003)
"Come Away with Me" (2003) "Don't Know Why" / "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (2003) "Turn Me On" (2004) Alternative cover Cover art for "Don't Know Why" / "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

	"Don't Know Why" Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why" from First Sessions and Come Away with Me
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"Don't Know Why" is a song written by Jesse Harris which originally appeared on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. It was the second single by American singer Norah Jones from her debut studio album Come Away with Me (2002). Although Jones's version only peaked at number thirty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it was a critical success for her that helped establish her as a respected new artist, and subsequently her album sold extremely well. The single went on to win three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It remains Jones's biggest hit single in the United States to date, and her only one to reach the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. The single was also a hit internationally and reached top 10 in several countries. The song charted at 459 in Blender magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.^[2]

A music video directed by Anastasia Simone and Ian Spencer was released in 2002.

Covers

• Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny played "Don't Know Why" on his 2003 solo album One Quiet Night.
• Smokey Robinson covered the song on his 2009 solo album Time Flies When You're Having Fun.
• Aya Matsuura covered the song for her album Naked Songs.
• Ken Hirai: Japanese R&B singer performed the song on his album of covers entitled Ken's Bar.
• The Japanese soul singer Juju included the cover on her single "Donna ni tokutemo" as a B-side.
• Vania Borges covered the song on the compilation album Rhythms del Mundo.
• Aliya Parcs covered the song on the compilation album Jam and Jive.
• It was featured on the video game Karaoke Revolution as a cover.
• The children's television show Sesame Street parodied the song with Jones playing the song at a piano about the letter Y being missing and Elmo appears later with her, joining in singing the song.
• The sketch comedy show MADtv parodied the song in a commercial for the fictitious album Monotonous. The joke of the sketch is that the song sets the mood for wild parties despite its slow pace.
• Jazz fusion pianist David Benoit covered the song from his 2003 album Right Here, Right Now.^[3][4]
• Kenny G also covered his version together with American jazz pianist David Benoit on Kenny G's 2004 album At Last...The Duets Album.
• British soul singer Kenny Thomas covered the song on his 2006 album Crazy World.
• Saxophonist Jimmy Sommers covered the song on his 2007 release Time Stands Still.^[5][6]
• Asaro and Wolcott covered the song on their 2010 EP Goodbye Note.
• Martin Taylor included this song on his album The Valley, and in a number of concerts including his performance at The Stables on the day John Dankworth died.
• George Benson included this song on his 2011 album Guitar Man.
• Go West included this song during their joint tour with Tony Hadley in 2004.
• Korean jazz duo Winterplay covered the song for their 2010 album Touche Mon Amour.
• Adrienne Hindmarsh covered the song for her 2012 album Jazz Moods.
• Korin Bukowski covered the instant save song selection on The Voice.

Charts

"Don't Know Why"

"Don't Know Why" / "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

Year-end charts

Other appearances

• WYEP Live and Direct: Volume 4 – On Air Performances (2002)

References

External links

• "Don't Know Why" reviewed by Ted Gioia (Jazz.com)
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics