Song by Johnny Nash
"I Can See Clearly Now" |
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/08/I_can_see_clearly_now_%28Johnny_Nash%29.jpg/220px-I_can_see_clearly_now_%28Johnny_Nash%29.jpg) |
Single by Johnny Nash |
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from the album I Can See Clearly Now |
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B-side | "How Good It Is" |
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Released | June 23, 1972 |
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Genre | |
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Length | 2:45 |
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Label | Epic |
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Songwriter(s) | Johnny Nash |
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Producer(s) | Johnny Nash |
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Johnny Nash singles chronology |
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"Stir It Up" (1972) | "I Can See Clearly Now" (1972) | "There Are More Questions Than Answers" (1972) | |
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Official audio |
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"I Can See Clearly Now" on YouTube |
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"I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his twelfth album, I Can See Clearly Now (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdom when it was released in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It also reached number one in Canada and South Africa. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including a hit version by Lee Towers that reached no. 19 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1982, and another recorded by Jimmy Cliff for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings that peaked at no. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.
Writing and recording
After Nash wrote and composed the original version, he recorded it in London with members of the Fabulous Five Inc.,[1] and produced it himself. The song's arrangements and style are both heavily laced with reggae influences, as Nash had earlier collaborated with Bob Marley[2] and his approach drew strongly from Marley's reggae style.
After making modest chart advances for a month, the RIAA-certified gold single unexpectedly took only two weeks to vault from No. 20 to No. 5 to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 4, 1972, remaining atop this chart for four weeks, and also spent the same four weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.[3]
Charts
Weekly charts | Year-end charts Chart (1972) | Rank | Australia[4] | 46 | Canada[13] | 55 | UK[14] | 39 | US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 47 | |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[17] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Jimmy Cliff version
Jamaican reggae singer Jimmy Cliff recorded a cover of the song for the 1993 movie Cool Runnings.[19] It was released as a single in October 1993 by Chaos label, reaching No. 18 and 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It was Cliff's first single to make the Hot 100 in 25 years and is his highest-charting single in the United States. Internationally, the song reached No. 1 in France, Iceland, and New Zealand. The music video for this version was directed by Academy Award nominated film director Scott Hamilton Kennedy.[20]
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Cliff manages to breathe freshness into this oft-covered pop nugget. His laid-back vocal is matched by a relatively faithful arrangement (except for the delicate reggae flavors). Already amassing praise at adult formats, track is a good bet for eventual top 40 success."[21]
Charts
Weekly charts | Year-end charts Chart (1994) | Position | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[42] | 81 | France (SNEP)[43] | 11 | Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[44] | 7 | New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] | 14 | US Billboard Hot 100[46] | 66 | |
Sales and certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
France (SNEP)[47] | Gold | 250,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] | Platinum | 10,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Other notable covers
- A version by Ray Charles was included on his 1977 album True to Life and in 2021 on the compilation box set True Genius.[49][50]
- Irish band Hothouse Flowers released their version as the second single from their album Home in 1990. It reached No. 5 in Ireland,[51] No. 22 in Australia[52] and No. 23 in the UK.[53]
- Buffalo Rose and R&B singer INEZ released their cover version as a single in 2021, later named one of the best songs of the year by WYEP-FM.[54]
- A version by Lee Towers reached the top Dutch top 40, charting at No. 19, and was recorded on his 1982 album New York.
- Viola Wills recorded a dance/hi-NRG version, released as a single-only in 1993.
- The Holly Cole Trio covered the song in their 1993 album Don't Smoke in Bed.
- The French singer Claude François also recorded a version of this song called "Toi et le soleil".[55][56] Singers of the musical Belles belles belles covered the song.
- Willie Nelson also recorded a version, released on his album Stardust (1999 version)
References
- ^ Stephen Nye. "The Fabulous Five". Trojan Records. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (February 3, 2012). "Bob Marley: the American connection". The Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications).
- ^ a b Steffen Hung. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. November 18, 1972. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie Archived June 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved August 9, 2008)
- ^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ UK Singles Chart Official Charts Company (Retrieved September 21, 2023)
- ^ "Johnny Nash Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ a b Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved August 9, 2008)
- ^ UK Singles Chart (1989 release) [1] (Retrieved September 21, 2023)
- ^ "Best of 1972 songs and music, on MusicAndYears.com!". Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
- ^ "Top 100 1972 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ "British single certifications – Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Borzillo, Carrie (October 2, 1993). "Reggae Potential Realized on Radio". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 40. p. 97.
...and Jimmy Cliff's 'I Can See Clearly Now' is going to AC radio and top 40 this week.
- ^ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade – 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 341. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
- ^ "Kennedy, Scott Hamilton – Environmental Film Festival". Environmental Film Festival. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ Flick, Larry (October 2, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 75. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2347." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2386." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2395." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 28. July 9, 1994. p. 17. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 21. May 21, 1994. p. 30. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- ^ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 13. March 26, 1994. p. 26. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (14.04.1994 – 20.04.1994)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 14, 1994. p. 20. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Jimmy Cliff Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII, no. 17. December 18, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "1994 in Review – Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. December 24, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1994" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1994". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ "French single certifications – Jimmy Cliff – I Can See" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
- ^ "I Can See Clearly Now" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Ray Charles - True to Life Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Fireball Media.
- ^ Hung, Steffen. "australian-charts.com - Hothouse Flowers - I Can See Clearly Now". australian-charts.com.
- ^ "HOTHOUSE FLOWERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
- ^ "The Best Songs of 2021 – WYEP". 14 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "Claude François "Toi Et Le Soleil" Johnny Nash "I Can See Clearly Now"". whosampled.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ "Claude François – Toi et le soleil". Ultratop. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
External links
- Lyrics of this song
- Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now on YouTube
Studio albums | |
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Singles | - "As Time Goes By"
- "Hold Me Tight"
- "Cupid"
- "Stir It Up"
- "I Can See Clearly Now"
- "Tears on My Pillow"
- "(What a) Wonderful World"
- "Rock Me Baby"
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Related topics | |
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Studio albums | |
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Compilation albums | |
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Soundtrack albums | - The Harder They Come (1972)
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Songs | |
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Albums | |
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Singles | |
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Related articles | |
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