I'll Be (Edwin McCain song)

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"I'll Be"
Edwin McCain I'll Be Cd.jpg
Single by Edwin McCain
from the album Misguided Roses
B-side"Grind Me in the Gears"
ReleasedJanuary 26, 1998
Recorded1997
Length4:25
LabelLava
Songwriter(s)Edwin McCain
Producer(s)Matt Serletic
Edwin McCain singles chronology
"See the Sky Again"
(1997) 		"I'll Be"
(1998) 		"What Matters"
(1998)
Music video
I'll Be on YouTube

"I'll Be" is a song written and sung by American singer Edwin McCain. The song was released in January 1998 as the first single from his second album, Misguided Roses. McCain recorded an acoustic version of the song for his follow-up album, Messenger.

The radio version of "I'll Be", which was released on a CD-single with "Grind Me in the Gears" as the B-side, differs from the album version. Its opening melody is played with electric guitar (as opposed to acoustic on the album) and the vocal and saxophone lines differ.

On December 22, 1999, McCain also recorded a version with Warren Haynes on the live concert album from the 11th Annual Christmas Jam, a benefit concert for Habitat for Humanity in Asheville, North Carolina. The album is titled Wintertime Blues: The Benefit Concert.[1]

In 2015, McCain re-recorded "I'll Be" for his EP Phoenix.[2]

Content[]

Although "I'll Be" has become a popular wedding song, McCain said "it's really more of a prayer" written in a moment of personal desperation after a break-up, the idea being that "maybe if I write my future, it'll come true."[3]

McCain said, "It was the end of a relationship for me, and it was also an admission of my inability to function in a relationship, hence the love suicide line. And it was the hope that I would be better, grow and be better as a person. I was struggling with some personal problems at the time, as well, so it was all of those things. It was this admission of failure and this prayer that I could be a better person, wrapped up as sort of the end of a relationship kind of thought. And it was something that I said to a girl that I'd been going out with. I knew that she was waiting, and I always said to her, 'Don't ever look back on this in any other way than I'll be your biggest fan.' You know, 'I'll always be a fan.'"[4]

In popular culture[]

At the height of the song's popularity back in 1998 it was featured during a pivotal moment in the first-season finale of the hit WB series, Dawson's Creek, titled "Decisions".[5]

In 2000, the song was featured in an episode of the television show Higher Ground.

The song was used in the masquerade ball scene in A Cinderella Story.

It was covered by Dean Geyer on his debut album Rush.

In the episode of The Office "Here Comes Treble", the song is covered by Andy Bernard's a cappella group.[6]

Blake Jenner performed the song in the finale of The Glee Project.

Chart performance[]

"I'll Be" ended up being a success for McCain in the United States, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 after debuting at #7 on the issue dated September 26, 1998. While it was only his second single to chart, it became his first and only Top 10 hit and his biggest hit.

Track listing[]

7" vinyl/CD single
  1. "I'll Be" - 4:25
  2. "Grind Me in the Gears" - 4:19
Digital download[7]
  1. "I'll Be" (LP Version) - 4:26
  2. "I'll Be" (Acoustic Version) - 4:37
  3. "I'll Be" (Music Video) - 4:07

Charts[]

Kian Egan version[]

"I'll Be"
Kian Egan Ill Be.jpeg
Single by Kian Egan
from the album Home
ReleasedMay 12, 2014 (2014-05-12)
GenrePop
Length4:00
LabelRhino
Songwriter(s)Edwin McCain
Producer(s)Brian Rawling
Kian Egan singles chronology
"Home"
(2014) 		"I'll Be"
(2014)
Music video
I'll Be on YouTube

In 2014, "I'll Be" was covered by Irish musician Kian Egan. The song was included on his debut album, and was released as a single on 12 May 2014 through Rhino Records.[17]

Background and production[]

In an interview with Digital Spy, Egan said "I chose 'I'll Be' for my second single, as I've always absolutely loved this song. This song means a lot to me and being able to record it was an honour. I'm incredibly excited to be able to perform this for all my fans."[citation needed]

Music video[]

The footage was shot in Egan's hometown of Sligo, in County Sligo, and the singer can be seen strumming a guitar while wandering along the deserted beach. In the visual, Egan also throws pebbles out to sea before meeting up with friends around a campfire.

Artwork[]

The single cover of the song shows Egan sitting on a plush red sofa and holding a white guitar.[18]

Track listing[]

  • Promotional CD single[19]
  1. "I'll Be" (radio mix) – 3:09
  • Promotional CD single[19]
  1. "I'll Be" (radio mix)
  2. "I Run to You" (featuring Jodi Albert)

Chart performance[]

Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK Airplay Top 200 71

References[]

  1. ^ Answers.com. "Wintertime Blues: The Benefit Concert"
  2. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oydgJjPb_xU
  3. ^ Better.tv. Edwin McCain interviewed about "I'll Be" (video).
  4. ^ "Edwin McCain : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. October 4, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. ^ IMDb.com. Edwin McCain Soundtrack Filmography
  6. ^ Barbuto, Dana (October 23, 2012). "Marshfield native performs on 'The Office,' 'Pitch Perfect'". The Patriot Ledger. GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  7. ^ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ill-be-single/id513677822
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6987." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7022." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  10. ^ "Edwin McCain Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Edwin McCain Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  12. ^ "Edwin McCain Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Edwin McCain Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  14. ^ "Edwin McCain Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  15. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  16. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  17. ^ digitalspy.co.uk. "Kian Egan announces second single 'I'll Be' - listen"
  18. ^ "Kian Egan reveals artwork and name of his second single 'I'll Be'". Reveal.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  19. ^ Jump up to: a b I'll Be (single). Kian Egan. Rhino Records. 2014.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

External links[]

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