Macy Gray: 'On How Life Is'

[SHOOTER]

1. Why Didn't You Call Me
2. Do Something
3. Caligula
4. I Try
5. Sex-o-matic Venus Freak
6. I Can't Wait to Meetchu
7. Still
8. I've Committed Murder
9. A Moment to Myself
10. The Letter

Macy Gray's debut album, On How Life Is, was released in the U.S. on July 27, 1999. Led by the single "Do Something", the album debuted at #171 on the Billboard 200. After the release of second single "I Try", the album is propelled to a peak of #4 with sales totaling over 3.4 million. The single peaks at #5 on the Hot 100 and wins the 2002 Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

After revisiting the album today, I must say "I Try" was truly her blessing and curse because it painted her into this adult contemporary corner when the rest of the album was experimenting with different textures of pop and genre-bending that was far more interesting. It's truly shameful the way the industry prevents Black artists, particularly Black women, from experiencing success when they choose to subvert genre expectations. We literally invented rock & roll yet we're only valuable when performing R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop? Cut the shit.


(#63 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)


(#5 Hot 100; #1 ARIA; #1 Ireland; #1 New Zealand; #1 UK Hip-Hop/R&B)


(#3 UK Hip-Hop/R&B; #32 Adult Top 40)


(#9 UK Hip-Hop/R&B; #29 Mainstream Top 40)

[someguy]

One of my favourite albums of 2000. Macy Gray is so much more than "I Try" (which I admit I do love). This was such a strong, experimental album. "Still", "Do Something", "I've Committed Murder" and "A Moment To Myself" are all just as good as "I Try".

While I never enjoyed any of her follow-up albums as much as this one, she is someone who unfairly got painted with the "one hit wonder" brush, and subsequently was written off.

[jenglisbe]

My favorite has always been the soul-drenched "Why Didn't You Call Me."