Wikipedia

Who's Crying Now

"Who's Crying Now" is a song by the American rock band Journey. It was written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry. It was released in 1981 as the first single from Escape and reached No. 4 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. The song charted at No. 46 in the UK Singles Chart, and was the band's highest charting single in the UK until "Don't Stop Believin'" (also released as a single from the Escape album in 1981) incurred a resurgence in UK popularity in 2009.

"Who's Crying Now"
Single by Journey
from the album Escape
B-side"Mother, Father"
ReleasedJuly 9, 1981 (US)[1]
Recorded1981
GenreSoft rock
Length4:24 (single version)
5:01 (album version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Journey singles chronology
"The Party's Over (Hopelessly in Love)"
(1981) 		"Who's Crying Now"
(1981) 		"Don't Stop Believin'"
(1981)

The song is highlighted by Steve Perry's lyrics (with vocal riffs highly reminiscent of Sam Cooke) and piano playing by Jonathan Cain which segues into a bass riff by Ross Valory, and other guitars.

Background

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Singer Steve Perry said the chorus popped into his head while driving to Los Angeles, which he recorded on his personal mini cassette player. Once he arrived in LA, he went straight to keyboardist Jonathan Cain's house to show him the work in progress. Perry had come up with most of the melodies and rhythms, but was stumped on the lyrics. Cain helped write most of the verses.[2]

At the end of the song, Neal Schon plays a repeating guitar solo that sounds similar to Santana. According to Schon on In the Studio with Redbeard (which devoted an entire episode to the making of Escape), originally he recorded an aggressive, experimental guitar solo which he liked but Perry and Cain did not. He then recorded a second solo, the "simplest thing he could play off the top of his head" as recalled by Perry. That one was appreciated much more by the rest of the band. Steve Smith's drumming is only found in the choruses and towards the end of the song.

Reception

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Billboard praised "Who's Crying Now" as "one of Journey's strongest and classiest records," and "one of the most appealing love songs" of 1981.[3] Record World said the song spotlights "haunting vocals" and "icy keyboards."[4]

Cover version(s)

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"Who's Crying Now"
Single by Randy Crawford
from the album Through the Eyes of Love
Released1992
GenreR&B
Length4:31
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael J. Powell
Randy Crawford singles chronology
"Diamante"
(1991) 		"Who's Crying Now"
(1992) 		"Ryhthm of Romance"
(1992)

R&B singer Randy Crawford recorded a soulful version on her 1992 album Through the Eyes of Love.[5] Her cover of this song also features jazz pianist Joe Sample of The Crusaders.

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1981) Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report[6] 65
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Singles[7] 1
Canadian RPM Top Singles[8] 3
Radio Luxemburg Singles[9] 29
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 4
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 14
US Billboard Top Rock Tracks 4
US Cashbox Top 100[12] 3

Year-end charts

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Chart (1981) Position
Canadian RPM Top Singles[13] 40
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[14] 56
US Cashbox Top 100[15] 26

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "RIAA Certification". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Kielty, Martin (April 25, 2020). "How Steve Perry Came Up with Journey's Hit 'Who's Crying Now'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard Magazine. July 18, 1981. p. 75. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  4. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 18, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com. August 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  9. ^ "Ultimate Music Database". Umdmusic.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  10. ^ "Journey: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-05-06.
  11. ^ "Journey Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  12. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". October 17, 1981. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  13. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  14. ^ "Number One Awards – Billboard's 1981 Year-End Charts : Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 93, no. 51. December 26, 1981. p. YE-9. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  15. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1981". December 26, 1981. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – Journey – Who's Crying Now". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
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