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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox Single <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Try
| name = Try
| Cover = Blue Rodeo - Try single cover.JPG
| cover = Blue Rodeo - Try single cover.JPG
| Artist = [[Blue Rodeo]]
| alt =
| Album = [[Outskirts (album)|Outskirts]]
| type = single
| B-side =
| artist = [[Blue Rodeo]]
| Released = October 19, 1987
| album = [[Outskirts (album)|Outskirts]]
| Format =
| released = October 20, 1987
| Recorded =
| format =
| recorded =
| Genre = [[Country rock]]
| Length = 4:03
| studio =
| Label = [[Risque Disque]]
| venue =
| Writer = [[Greg Keelor]]<br />[[Jim Cuddy]]
| genre = [[Country rock]]
| length = 4:03
| Producer = [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]]
| Last single = "Outskirts"<br />(1987)
| label = Risque Disque
| This single = "'''Try'''"<br />(1987)
| writer = [[Greg Keelor]]<br />[[Jim Cuddy]]
| producer = [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]]
| Next single = "Rose Coloured Glasses"<br />(1988)
| prev_title = Outskirts
| Misc =
| prev_year = 1987
| next_title = Rose Coloured Glasses
| next_year = 1988
}}
}}
"'''Try'''" is the title of a song written by [[Greg Keelor]] and [[Jim Cuddy]], and recorded by Canadian country rock group [[Blue Rodeo]]. Released in October 1987, it was the second single from their debut album, ''[[Outskirts (album)|Outskirts]]''. The song peaked at #1 on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Country Tracks chart, #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #6 on the Top Singles chart. At the [[Juno Awards of 1989|1989]] [[Juno Award]]s, "Try" was named [[Juno Award for Single of the Year|Single of the Year]] and [[Juno Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]].<ref>[http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=blue+rodeo Juno Awards Database]</ref>
"'''Try'''" is a song written by [[Greg Keelor]] and [[Jim Cuddy]], and recorded by Canadian country rock group [[Blue Rodeo]]. Released in October 1987, it was the second single from their debut album, ''[[Outskirts (album)|Outskirts]]''. Considered one of the band's most enduring and beloved [[signature song]]s,<ref>Amy O'Brian, [https://vancouversun.com/news/blue-rodeo-puts-on-great-show-at-orpheum "Blue Rodeo puts on great show at Orpheum"]. ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', January 14, 2008.</ref> the song peaked at number 1 on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Country Tracks chart, number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and number 6 on the Top Singles chart.
At the [[Juno Awards of 1989|1989]] [[Juno Award]]s, "Try" was named [[Juno Award for Single of the Year|Single of the Year]] and [[Juno Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]].<ref>[http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=blue+rodeo Juno Awards Database]</ref>

==Background==
Even prior to the release of ''Outskirts'', the song already had a reputation as the highlight of the band's live performances in [[Toronto]]'s live music clubs, with fan demand often leading it to it being performed two or even three times per show.<ref name=barclay>Michael Barclay, [https://macleans.ca/culture/the-try-ing-times-of-blue-rodeo "The Try-ing times of Blue Rodeo"]. ''[[Maclean's]]'', November 9, 2012.</ref>

Keelor would, however, later describe the song's production as having a very 1980s sound, "like [[Tears for Fears]] were backing us up". He stated that the album's production by [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]] saw the band capitulating to production decisions that Keelor later regretted, including the [[snare drum]] and a "cheesy" organ sound, both of which he toned down when remastering the album for the ''Blue Rodeo: 1987 - 1993'' box set in 2012.<ref>[https://www.cp24.com/entertainment-news/blue-rodeo-remix-cheesy-fan-favourite-try-1.999278 "Blue Rodeo remix 'cheesy' fan favourite 'Try'"]. [[CP24]], October 17, 2012.</ref>


==Music video==
==Music video==
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==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (1987)
!Chart (1987)
!align="center"|Peak<br />position
!Peak<br />position
|-
|-
|align="left"|Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.8612&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=q63aud4p44ksj695qas2ffjq04 |title=RPM Adult Contemporary for December 19, 1987 |work=RPM |accessdate=12 October 2010}}</ref>
|Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.8612&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=q63aud4p44ksj695qas2ffjq04 |title=RPM Adult Contemporary for December 19, 1987 |work=RPM |accessdate=12 October 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|3
|-
|-
|align="left"|Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0906&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=q63aud4p44ksj695qas2ffjq04 |title=RPM Country Tracks for December 5, 1987 |work=RPM |accessdate=12 October 2010}}</ref>
|Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0906&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=q63aud4p44ksj695qas2ffjq04 |title=RPM Country Tracks for December 5, 1987 |work=RPM |accessdate=12 October 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|1
|-
|-
|align="left"|Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0902&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=q63aud4p44ksj695qas2ffjq04 |title=RPM Top Singles for November 21, 1987 |work=RPM |accessdate=12 October 2010}}</ref>
|Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0902&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=q63aud4p44ksj695qas2ffjq04 |title=RPM Top Singles for November 21, 1987 |work=RPM |accessdate=12 October 2010}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|align="center"|6
|}
|}


==References==
==Covers==
The song was covered by [[Jacksoul]] on the 2006 covers album ''[[mySoul]]''.<ref name=barclay/>
{{reflist}}


In 2012, [[Maestro Fresh Wes]] sampled the song on his single "Reach for the Sky".<ref>[https://exclaim.ca/music/article/maestro-reach_for_sky_ft_classified_video "Maestro, 'Reach for the Sky' (ft. Classified)"]. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', September 30, 2012.</ref>
{{start box}}
{{s-bef|before="[[I Won't Need You Anymore (Always and Forever)]]"<br />by [[Randy Travis]]}}
{{s-ttl| title=''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Country Tracks<br />number-one single
| years=December 5, 1987}}
{{s-aft| after="[[Lynda (Steve Wariner song)|Lynda]]"<br />by [[Steve Wariner]]}}
{{end box}}


In 2020, [[Tanika Charles]] performed a live version of the song for the Junos 365 project promoting the [[Juno Awards of 2020]].<ref>Holly Gordon, [https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/watch/it-s-an-earworm-tanika-charles-covers-blue-rodeo-s-try-1.5443267 "'It's an earworm': Tanika Charles covers Blue Rodeo's 'Try'"]. [[CBC Music]], January 29, 2020.</ref> In 2022, country singer [[Tim Hicks]] performed the song live during the [[2022 Canadian Country Music Awards]] broadcast.<ref>Eric Volmers, [https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/grande-prairie-singer-songwriter-tenille-townes-the-big-winner-at-ccmas-this-year "Grande Prairie singer-songwriter Tenille Townes the big winner at CCMAs this year"]. ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', September 11, 2022.</ref>
==External links==

* {{MetroLyrics song|blue-rodeo|try}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{Blue Rodeo}}
{{Blue Rodeo}}
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[[Category:1987 singles]]
[[Category:1987 singles]]
[[Category:Blue Rodeo songs]]
[[Category:Blue Rodeo songs]]
[[Category:RPM Country Tracks number-one singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Terry Brown (record producer)]]
[[Category:1987 songs]]
[[Category:Singles certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association]]
[[Category:Songs produced by Terry Brown]]
[[Category:Songs written by Greg Keelor]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jim Cuddy]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Single of the Year singles]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Video of the Year videos]]
[[Category:Music videos shot in Toronto]]


{{1980s-country-song-stub}}
{{1987-country-song-stub}}

Latest revision as of 01:35, 17 April 2024

"Try"
Single by Blue Rodeo
from the album Outskirts
ReleasedOctober 20, 1987
GenreCountry rock
Length4:03
LabelRisque Disque
Songwriter(s)Greg Keelor
Jim Cuddy
Producer(s)Terry Brown
Blue Rodeo singles chronology
"Outskirts"
(1987)
"Try"
(1987)
"Rose Coloured Glasses"
(1988)

"Try" is a song written by Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy, and recorded by Canadian country rock group Blue Rodeo. Released in October 1987, it was the second single from their debut album, Outskirts. Considered one of the band's most enduring and beloved signature songs,[1] the song peaked at number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart, number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart and number 6 on the Top Singles chart.

At the 1989 Juno Awards, "Try" was named Single of the Year and Video of the Year.[2]

Background

[edit]

Even prior to the release of Outskirts, the song already had a reputation as the highlight of the band's live performances in Toronto's live music clubs, with fan demand often leading it to it being performed two or even three times per show.[3]

Keelor would, however, later describe the song's production as having a very 1980s sound, "like Tears for Fears were backing us up". He stated that the album's production by Terry Brown saw the band capitulating to production decisions that Keelor later regretted, including the snare drum and a "cheesy" organ sound, both of which he toned down when remastering the album for the Blue Rodeo: 1987 - 1993 box set in 2012.[4]

Music video

[edit]

Michelle McAdorey, a singer-songwriter who would later achieve prominence with her own band, Crash Vegas, appears in the song's video as a woman walking barefoot through a variety of settings. McAdorey was the girlfriend of Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor when the video was made.[5]

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (1987) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[6] 3
Canadian RPM Country Tracks[7] 1
Canadian RPM Top Singles[8] 6

Covers

[edit]

The song was covered by Jacksoul on the 2006 covers album mySoul.[3]

In 2012, Maestro Fresh Wes sampled the song on his single "Reach for the Sky".[9]

In 2020, Tanika Charles performed a live version of the song for the Junos 365 project promoting the Juno Awards of 2020.[10] In 2022, country singer Tim Hicks performed the song live during the 2022 Canadian Country Music Awards broadcast.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Amy O'Brian, "Blue Rodeo puts on great show at Orpheum". Vancouver Sun, January 14, 2008.
  2. ^ Juno Awards Database
  3. ^ a b Michael Barclay, "The Try-ing times of Blue Rodeo". Maclean's, November 9, 2012.
  4. ^ "Blue Rodeo remix 'cheesy' fan favourite 'Try'". CP24, October 17, 2012.
  5. ^ "Reel Toronto: Music Videos of the 1980s". Torontoist, January 19, 2011.
  6. ^ "RPM Adult Contemporary for December 19, 1987". RPM. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  7. ^ "RPM Country Tracks for December 5, 1987". RPM. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  8. ^ "RPM Top Singles for November 21, 1987". RPM. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  9. ^ "Maestro, 'Reach for the Sky' (ft. Classified)". Exclaim!, September 30, 2012.
  10. ^ Holly Gordon, "'It's an earworm': Tanika Charles covers Blue Rodeo's 'Try'". CBC Music, January 29, 2020.
  11. ^ Eric Volmers, "Grande Prairie singer-songwriter Tenille Townes the big winner at CCMAs this year". Calgary Herald, September 11, 2022.