What Can I Do (The Corrs song)

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"What Can I Do"
WhatCanIDoCorrs.jpg
Single by the Corrs
from the album Talk on Corners
B-side
  • "Little Wing"
  • "No Good for Me"
ReleasedJanuary 1998 (1998-01)
GenreFolk-pop
Length4:17
Label
Songwriter(s)The Corrs
Producer(s)
The Corrs singles chronology
"I Never Loved You Anyway"
(1997) 		"What Can I Do"
(1998) 		"Dreams"
(1998)

"What Can I Do" is a song by Irish band the Corrs, from their breakthrough album Talk on Corners (1997). The song was originally released in January 1998, but its moderate charting success was limited, due to the time of the shooting of the video. However, it was later re-released in August that year in a remixed form by Tin Tin Out, which generated more attention, particularly in the UK where it reached No. 3, and became one of the band's most known hits worldwide. The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, some of whom felt it was not as strong as their previous songs. An accompanying music video was released, which was shot in New Zealand during their world tour.

Background[]

The original version of the song, which appeared on the original release of Talk on Corners, is a slow doo-wop style song, which is much lighter. However, the Tin Tin Out remix, which later appeared on the album's special edition release, is more guitar riffed with the addition of orchestral strings in the latter half of the song performed by the Duke Quartet. The voice range is a chord of A major and spans from G♯3 to C♯5.[1] The Corrs have regularly performed this song live in concert since the start of the Talk on Corners World Tour in November 1997, originally performing the album version, but later switching to the Tin Tin Out version on an on-off basis in May 1998, then permanently from September 1998 onwards.

Critical reception[]

"What Can I Do" received generally favourable reviews from music critics, although the group did not initially favour the track. Becky Byrkit from AllMusic had praised the remix version saying along with "So Young" that its "trademark glass voices and barely discernible acoustic musical instruments."[2] She also highlighted the song as an album standout.[3] Dave Karger from Entertainment Weekly called it a "sluggishly sweet tune" and added that the guitar riff is "a bit too reminiscent" of Edie Brickell's "What I Am" and the lyrics "shamelessly swiped" from Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word".[4] Dave Fawbert from ShortList described "What Can I Do" as a "absolutely brilliant song" and "really lovely slice of folky pop".[5]

Chart performance[]

Upon its release in January 1998, the song debuted at number 44 on the Swedish Singles Chart, until it rose to number 27, its peak.[6] The song was then re-released a few months later, remixed by Tin Tin Out. The remix was even more successful than "Dreams" and managed to enter the top 3 on the UK Singles Chart, at number 3. It remained on the charts for 13 weeks.[7]

Music video[]

Track listing[]

Source:[8]

Charts[]

Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9]
Tin Tin Out remix 		86
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 12
Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 62
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[14] 30
Scotland (OCC)[15] 48
Scotland (OCC)[16]
Tin Tin Out remix 		3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 27
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 53
UK Singles (OCC)[7]
Tin Tin Out remix 		3

Release history[]

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Ireland Original January 1998 (1998-01) N/A
[18]
United Kingdom 16 March 1998 (1998-03-16)
  • CD
  • cassette
 [19]
Remix 17 August 1998 (1998-08-17) [20]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0091553
  2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/talk-on-corners-r342257/review
  3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-corrs-p199804/songs
  4. ^ "What Can I Do". Entertainment Weekly. 2 April 1999. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  5. ^ Fawbert, Dave (23 October 2018). "30 classic songs that are somehow 20 years old this year". ShortList. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Swedishcharts.com – The Corrs – What Can I Do". Singles Top 100.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Corrs-What-Can-I-Do/master/108292
  9. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 27 Sep 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8123." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 36. 5 September 1998. p. 13. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Corrs – What Can I Do" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  13. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 292 Vikuna 1.10. – 8.10. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 October 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Can I Do". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  18. ^ Best of The Corrs (European album booklet). The Corrs. 143 Records, Atlantic Records, Lava Records. 2001. 7567-93073-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 March 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  20. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 August 1998. p. 27. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
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