My Favorite Mistake

Last updated

"My Favorite Mistake"
Sheryl Crow - My Favorite Mistake.jpg
Single by Sheryl Crow
from the album The Globe Sessions
B-side "There Goes the Neighborhood"
ReleasedAugust 31, 1998 (1998-08-31)
Studio
Genre Rock
Length4:08
Label A&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow singles chronology
"Tomorrow Never Dies"
(1997)
"My Favorite Mistake"
(1998)
"There Goes the Neighborhood"
(1999)
Music video
"My Favorite Mistake" on YouTube

"My Favorite Mistake" is the first single from Sheryl Crow's third studio album, The Globe Sessions (1998), released on August 31, 1998, through A&M Records. Crow wrote the song about a relationship with a man who proves to be unfaithful. Released in 1998, the single peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Crow's fifth top-20 single in the United States, while reaching number two in Canada and giving Crow her seventh top-five hit there. In the United Kingdom, it reached number nine, becoming her last top-10 single in Britain.

Contents

Writing and recording

The song was written by Sheryl Crow and her regular collaborator Jeff Trott. The song is about a philandering ex-boyfriend, rumored to be Eric Clapton. Crow, however, has refused to say who the song was about, telling Billboard Magazine on the release of her album, "Oh, there will be just so much speculation, and because of that there's great safety and protection in the fact that people will be guessing so many different people and I'm the only person who will ever really know. I'm really private about who I've had relationships with, and I don't talk about them in the press. I don't even really talk about them with the people around me." Crow compared "My Favorite Mistake" to "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon. However, she later claimed that she does not look at her relationship with Clapton as a mistake and verified that the song was not about him. [1] As further corroboration, Crow introduces Clapton as "a really good friend of mine" in her 1999 performance in Central Park, later to be released as an album.

The songs on The Globe Sessions including "My Favorite Mistake" were written in the first person as opposed the narrative songs featured on her first two albums. Crow was having so much difficulty with the honesty of the lyrics on the album that she was considering cancelling the release of the record in June 1998 and cancelled an appearance at Lilith Fair in the summer of that year. However, eventually the release of the album was deferred for six weeks while she recorded some new songs with a subsequent delay in the release of the leadoff single.

The song was recorded at Globe Recording Studio in New York owned by Robert FitzSimons and Tracey Loggia. Despite the difficulties in recording the album, Crow told the BBC in 2005 that: "My favorite single is 'My Favorite Mistake'; it was a lot of fun to record and it's still a lot of fun to play."

Release and promotion

"My Favorite Mistake" was released in the US to rock, pop and adult alternative stations in the US on August 18. It was considered to be the obvious choice as the lead single from the album and was widely considered to be one of the best songs from it. A&M Records heavily promoted the single and The Globe Sessions. Samuel Bayer directed the video which was played heavily on both MTV and VH1. Crow was the artist of the month on VH1 for September 1998 with an episode of "Storytellers" being devoted to her.

The single debuted at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 5, 1998, and peaked at number 20, as well as reaching number two on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart and Canada's RPM Top Singles chart. Crow did not tour immediately on the release of the single or album with a US tour scheduled in February/March 1999. In fact, Crow took time off from promoting the single to tour Vietnam in September 1998 with Steve Earle to promote the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. "My Favorite Mistake" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1999 losing to Céline Dion for "My Heart Will Go On". Crow won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

The single was released as a two part set (sold separately) in the United Kingdom. The first part contained two previously unreleased b-sides. The second part contained the songs "Subway Ride" and "Crash & Burn". Though billed as "2 brand new tracks" by a sticker on the front of the release, both songs were actually album tracks from "The Globe Sessions". "Subway Ride" is contained on the album as a hidden track. It is also titled on the sticker as "Subway".

Crow performed the song on her live album Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park . A different live version appears on some formats of the "There Goes the Neighborhood" single.

Critical reception

Larry Flick of Billboard wrote, "This first single from her imminent third album, "The Globe Sessions", isn't a radical departure, but it certainly displays a laudable degree of growth and an apparent desire to be taken seriously. "My Favorite Mistake" is devoid of quirks and gimmicks. It's a simple rock song with smart, heartfelt lyrics. The overall tone of the song feels far more personal this time, and perhaps that's what has inspired such a restrained, almost introverted vocal, as well as an appealing but low-key arrangement. And while that would normally spell commercial death for a record, it will actually serve this one well. Quite frankly, Crow is just too intriguing here to toss this single off after one listen. She inspires you to go back and listen again and again—and the reward is finding something new and interesting about the track each time." [2] In 2017, Billboard ranked the song number six on their list of the 10 greatest Sheryl Crow songs, [3] and in 2023, The Guardian ranked the song number one on their list of the 20 greatest Sheryl Crow songs. [4]

Music video

The music video for the song features Crow in a room with spotlights, playing bass guitar and making all kinds of movements, wearing two identical outfits composed of a sleeveless top and leather pants, and each of a different colour, black and red. It was directed by Samuel Bayer.

Track listings

US 7-inch single [5]

A. "My Favorite Mistake" (LP version) – 4:06
B. "There Goes the Neighborhood" (LP version) – 5:02

Canadian, UK, European, and Australian CD single [6] [7]

  1. "My Favorite Mistake" – 4:06
  2. "Subway Ride" – 4:05
  3. "Crash and Burn" – 6:37

UK cassette single [8]

  1. "My Favorite Mistake" – 4:06
  2. "In Need" – 5:35
  3. "Carolina" – 3:55

Japanese CD single [9]

  1. "My Favorite Mistake"
  2. "In Need"
  3. "Carolina"
  4. "Subway Ride"

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from The Globe Sessions album booklet. [10]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [41] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United StatesAugust 25, 1998A&M [42] [43]
United KingdomAugust 31, 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
[44]
CanadaSeptember 8, 1998CD [45]
JapanSeptember 18, 1998 [46]

Notes

  1. ^ Eye.net review of The Globe Sessions recovered 2 November 2005
  2. ^ Entertainment Weekly, September 25, 1998, p42 recovered on November 2, 2005
  3. ^ Billboard Magazine, "The Globe's the Limit on new Sheryl Crow album" August 29, 1998, V110 n35 page 3 recovered through Galenet
  4. ^ (3) Entertainment Weekly Op. Cit. p42
  5. ^ (4) Transcript of BBC Radio interview with Ken Bruce accessed 2 November 2005

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheryl Crow</span> American musician (born 1962)

Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and actress. She is noted for her optimistic and idealistic subject matter, and incorporation of genres including rock, pop, country, folk, and blues. She has released twelve studio albums, five compilations, and three live albums, and contributed to several film soundtracks. Her most popular songs include "All I Wanna Do" (1994), "Strong Enough" (1994), "If It Makes You Happy" (1996), "Everyday Is a Winding Road" (1996), "My Favorite Mistake" (1998), "Picture", and "Soak Up the Sun" (2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Child o' Mine</span> 1988 single by Guns N Roses

"Sweet Child o' Mine" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, released on their debut studio album, Appetite for Destruction (1987). In the United States, the song was released in June 1988 as the album's first single, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming the band's only US number-one single. In the United Kingdom, the song was released on August 8, 1988, reaching number 24 on the UK Singles Chart the same month. Re-released there in May 1989, it peaked at number six.

<i>The Globe Sessions</i> 1998 studio album by Sheryl Crow

The Globe Sessions is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, released on September 21, 1998, in the United Kingdom and September 29, 1998, in the United States, then re-released in 1999. It was nominated for Album of the Year, Best Rock Album and Best Engineered Non-Classical Album at the 1999 Grammys, winning the latter two awards. The Globe Sessions reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, while peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, achieving US sales of two million as of January 2008. The album was recorded at and named for the sessions recorded at Globe Recording Studio in New York owned by Robert FitzSimons and Tracey Loggia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomorrow Never Dies (song)</span> Theme of the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies

"Tomorrow Never Dies" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow that serves as the theme song to the 1997 James Bond film of the same name and its video game adaptation. The song was co-written by Crow and the song's producer Mitchell Froom, and became her fifth UK top-20 hit, peaking at No. 12 in December 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The First Cut Is the Deepest</span> 1965 song written by Cat Stevens

"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold in April 1967. Stevens's own version originally appeared on his album New Masters in December 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light in Your Eyes</span> 2004 single by Sheryl Crow

"Light in Your Eyes" is a song by American artist Sheryl Crow, recorded for her 2003 compilation album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow. The song was first released in the United States in May 2004 to adult album alternative radio before being released physically in the UK on June 21, 2004, as the second and final single from the compilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Change Would Do You Good</span> 1997 single by Sheryl Crow

"A Change Would Do You Good" is the fourth single from American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow's 1996 self-titled album. The song uses a series of non sequitur lyrics to describe what one should change in life. It became Crow's third top-five single from the album in Canada, where it reached number two, and peaked at number eight in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Wanna Do (Sheryl Crow song)</span> 1994 single by Sheryl Crow

"All I Wanna Do" is a song performed by American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow. It was written by Crow, David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell, and Kevin Gilbert, with lyrics adapted from Wyn Cooper's 1987 poem "Fun". Released in July 1994 by A&M, it was Crow's breakthrough hit from her 1993 debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. The song is Crow's biggest US hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for six consecutive weeks from October 8 to November 12, 1994, and it also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It was the winner of the 1995 Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and was nominated for Song of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve McQueen (Sheryl Crow song)</span> 2002 single by Sheryl Crow

"Steve McQueen" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. It is the lead track from her fourth studio album, C'mon, C'mon (2002). It was released as the second single from the album on July 1, 2002. The song reached No. 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a dance hit, peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Crow's fourth win in the category. The single's music video was directed by Wayne Isham and features Crow racing around in various vehicles, recreating scenes from Steve McQueen movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Goes the Neighborhood (Sheryl Crow song)</span> 1998 single by Sheryl Crow

"There Goes the Neighborhood" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. The song was released as the second single from her third studio album, The Globe Sessions (1998), on November 23, 1998, and won an award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anything but Down</span> 1999 single by Sheryl Crow

"Anything but Down" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. Released as the third single from her third studio album, The Globe Sessions (1998), it fared better than its predecessor "There Goes the Neighborhood" in the United States, reaching number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Triple-A chart. The song also reached number 11 in Canada and number 19 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home (Sheryl Crow song)</span> 1997 single by Sheryl Crow

"Home" is a song from American musician Sheryl Crow's 1996 self-titled album. Written and produced by Crow, the folk ballad was released as the final single from the album on October 6, 1997, and was later included on her greatest hits album The Very Best of Sheryl Crow (2003). "Home" was released commercially only in Europe. It became Crow's ninth top-40 hit in both Canada and the United Kingdom, peaking at numbers 40 and 25, respectively. A black-and-white music video directed by Samuel Bayer was made for the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everyday Is a Winding Road</span> 1996 single by Sheryl Crow

"Everyday Is a Winding Road" is the second single from American singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow's 1996 eponymous album. Neil Finn, lead singer of Crowded House, provides backing vocals. Paul Hester, another member of Crowded House, was the inspiration for the song. The single was issued in the United Kingdom in November 1996 and was released in the United States the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If It Makes You Happy</span> 1996 single by Sheryl Crow

"If It Makes You Happy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, released as the lead single from her 1996 eponymous album in September 1996. The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Crow's final top-10 solo hit in the United States, and at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached number one in Canada and won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "If It Makes You Happy" at number 663 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leaving Las Vegas (song)</span> 1994 single by Sheryl Crow

"Leaving Las Vegas" is a song co-written by David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell, Sheryl Crow, Kevin Gilbert, Brian MacLeod, and David Ricketts that appears on Crow's debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club (1993). It charted within the top 75 in the United States and the top 30 in Canada. Crow performed the song on her live album Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landslide (Fleetwood Mac song)</span> 1975 song by Fleetwood Mac

"Landslide" is a song by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, written and performed by Stevie Nicks. The song was first featured on the band's self-titled album Fleetwood Mac (1975). The original recording also appears on the compilation albums 25 Years – The Chain (1992), The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (2002) and 50 Years – Don't Stop (2018), while a live version was released as a single 23 years later from the live reunion album The Dance (1997). "Landslide" reached No. 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Landslide" was certified gold in October 2009 for sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States. According to Nielsen Soundscan, "Landslide" sold 2,093,186 copies in the United States as of 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strong Enough (Sheryl Crow song)</span> 1994 single by Sheryl Crow

"Strong Enough" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow from her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club (1993). The song reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks, number three in Australia, and number one in Canada, becoming her second chart-topper there following "All I Wanna Do". In Australia, the song received a double-platinum certification for sales and streams exceeding 140,000 units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Cry Anymore</span> 1995 single by Sheryl Crow

"Can't Cry Anymore" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow from her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club (1993), released through A&M Records. Released in May 1995, the song reached number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Crow's third top-40 hit. In Canada, the song reached number three to become Crow's third consecutive top-three hit, following the number-one singles "All I Wanna Do" and "Strong Enough". Elsewhere, the song had limited success, reaching number 33 in the United Kingdom and number 41 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run Baby Run (Sheryl Crow song)</span> 1993 song by Sheryl Crowl

"Run Baby Run" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow from her first album, Tuesday Night Music Club (1993), released by A&M Records in September 1993 as her debut single. It failed to chart in the United States but peaked at No. 86 in Canada, No. 83 in the United Kingdom, and No. 45 in the Netherlands. "Run Baby Run" was released for a third time in the UK after the success of "All I Wanna Do" and "Strong Enough", reaching a new peak of No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheryl Crow discography</span>

The discography of Sheryl Crow, an American singer-songwriter, consists of 12 studio albums, four live albums, two EPs, seven compilation albums, one box set, 54 singles, six promotional singles, 13 video albums, 61 music videos, 21 B-sides and 19 soundtrack contributions. She has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she has sold 16 million certified albums in the United States. Billboard named her the 5th Greatest Alternative Artist of all time.

References

  1. "Sheryl Crow Admits 'My Favorite Mistake' Is Her 'You're So Vain' Moment: 'I Carly-ed It' (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  2. Flick, Larry (September 5, 1998). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard . p. 27. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  3. Dauphin, Chuck (August 10, 2017). "Sheryl Crow's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard . Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  4. Cragg, Michael (August 3, 2023). "Sheryl Crow's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian . Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  5. My Favorite Mistake (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1998. 31458 2776 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. My Favorite Mistake (Canadian CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1998. 314 582 763-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. My Favorite Mistake (UK, European & Australian CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1998. 582 763-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. My Favorite Mistake (UK cassette single sleeve). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1998. 582 761-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. My Favorite Mistake (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1998. POCM-1254.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. The Globe Sessions (US CD album booklet). Sheryl Crow. A&M Records. 1998. 31454 0959 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  12. "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7076." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 11, 209.
  14. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7025." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 11, 209.
  15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 15, no. 38. September 19, 1998. p. 11. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  16. "Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  17. "Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  18. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (10.9–17.9. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 11, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  19. "Tipparade-lijst van week 41, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  20. "Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  21. "Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  23. "Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  24. "Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  26. "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  27. "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  28. "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  29. "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  30. "Sheryl Crow Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  31. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  32. "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved February 11, 2019 via Library and Archives Canada.
  33. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  34. "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 55.
  35. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
  36. "Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 35.
  37. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved February 11, 2019 via Library and Archives Canada.
  38. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-100. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  39. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54.
  40. "The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 38.
  41. "American single certifications – Sheryl Crow – My Favorite Mistake". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  42. "New Releases". Radio & Records . No. 1262. August 21, 1998. p. 39.
  43. Newman, Melinda (August 29, 1998). "For A&M, The Globe's the Limit on Third Sheryl Crow Album". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 35. p. 95. ...'My Favorite Mistake,' went to top-40, triple-A, and all rock formats...
  44. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . August 29, 1998. p. 35. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  45. "Album Releases: September 1998". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  46. "マイ・フェイバリット・ミステイク | シェリル・クロウ" [My Favorite Mistake | Sheryl Crow] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved August 30, 2023.