"Why" is a song by English singer Gabrielle. It was written by Gabrielle, longtime collaborators Ben Wolff and Andy Dean, and Paul Weller for her fifth studio album, Always (2007).[1] The song was one of the final songs recorded for the album and written around a sample of Weller's 1993 song "Wild Wood". Weller enjoyed Gabrielle's interpretation of the song so much, he recorded new vocals for the track following Gabrielle's recording of the original demo version of "Why".[2] It also features David Cracknell, then political editor of The Sunday Times, on piano. Selected as the album's lead single, "Why" was released on 17 September 2007 as a digital download and one week later, on 24 September 2007, as a physical CD single. It charted at number 42 on the UK Singles Chart, her second consecutive single to miss the top 40.

"Why"
Single by Gabrielle
from the album Always
Released17 September 2007
Recorded2007
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Boilerhouse Boys
Gabrielle singles chronology
"You Used to Love Me"
(2004)
"Why"
(2007)
"Every Little Teardrop"
(2007)
Paul Weller singles chronology
"Are You Trying to Be Lonely?"
(2007)
"Why"
(2007)
"Echoes Round the Sun"/"Have You Made Up Your Mind"
(2008)

Music video

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The music video for "Why" premiered on UK music channels on 31 August 2007. It features footage of Gabrielle and Weller in a recording studio producing and recording the song.

Track listings

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UK CD[3]
No.TitleLength
1."Why"3:13
2."Nothing Hurts Like Goodbye"4:33

Charts

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Chart (2007) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[4] 42

References

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  1. ^ Popjustice article on "Why" and Always
  2. ^ Official Gabrielle web site
  3. ^ "Gabrielle – Why (CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 May 2018.