"Cryin'" is a power ballad[2] by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Taylor Rhodes, and released by Geffen Records on June 29, 1993, as the second US single from their 11th studio album, Get a Grip (1993). The single reached numbers 12 and 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, ending the year at number 60 overall. It is one of their most successful hits in Europe, reaching number one in Norway, number three in Iceland, Portugal, and Sweden, and number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. The song went gold in the United States for selling over 500,000 copies. Its music video, directed by Marty Callner, features Alicia Silverstone, Stephen Dorff and Josh Holloway.

"Cryin'"
Single by Aerosmith
from the album Get a Grip
B-side"Walk On Down"
ReleasedJune 29, 1993
Studio
Length
  • 5:08 (album version)
  • 4:14 (fade)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn[1]
Aerosmith singles chronology
"Eat the Rich"
(1993)
"Cryin'"
(1993)
"Amazing"
(1993)
Music video
"Cryin'" on YouTube

Background

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Tyler described the song saying "It was country – we just Aerosmith’d it.”[3]

Critical reception

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Alan Jones from Music Week gave the song three out of five, describing it as "a high-octane performance" and named it the best song from the Get A Grip album. He also declared it as "anthemic and compelling. Expect a brief but glittering chart life."[4] Another Music Week editor, Andy Martin, also gave it three out of five, adding that "it is hard to see the single having any more than a brief but glittering run."[5]

Music video

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A screenshot of Alicia Silverstone's character getting a navel piercing in the music video for "Cryin'".

The accompanying music video for "Cryin'", directed by American director Marty Callner, features the first of three successive appearances by Alicia Silverstone in the band's videos, the next two being "Amazing" (1993) and "Crazy" (1994).[3] Silverstone was 16 years old when "Cryin'" was filmed. In the video, the band performs in the Central Congregational Church in Fall River, Massachusetts. The video flashes back and forth between the band and Silverstone, who plays a teen who has a falling out with her boyfriend (played by Stephen Dorff) after catching him cheating. She feigns an attempt to kiss him, but instead leans away, annoying him. She then punches him and shoves him out of the car, leaving him in the dust. She begins a phase of rebellion and individuality and gets a navel piercing, which has largely been credited as introducing navel piercing to mainstream culture.[6] After having her purse stolen by another young man (played by then-unknown Josh Holloway of Lost), she chases him down and knocks him to the ground. The video then cuts to her standing on the edge of an overpass, contemplating jumping. Her now ex-boyfriend arrives on the scene, along with numerous police officers, encouraging her to come down from the bridge. She jumps, but a bungee rope is revealed, arresting her fall and leaving her dangling over the freeway, laughing at Dorff's character. The video ends with the dangling Silverstone looking up and giving Dorff the finger.

The video was a success on MTV, becoming the most requested video in 1993[7] and earning the band several awards at the Video Music Awards.[8]

Awards

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Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[49] Gold 250,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[50] Gold  
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[52] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States June 29, 1993
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
Geffen [52]
United Kingdom October 18, 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[53]

References

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  1. ^ a b Big Ones (CD insert). Aerosmith. United States: Geffen Records. 1994. GEFD-24716.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Jackson, L. (2008). Steven Tyler: The Biography. Little, Brown Book Group.
  3. ^ a b "The 20 Songs That Can Represent The Career Of Aerosmith". Society of Rock. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Jones, Alan (October 16, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Martin, Andy (October 23, 1993). "Market Preview: Rock" (PDF). Music Week. p. 13. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "Aerosmith - BME Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2008.
  7. ^ "MTV Top 100 Videos of 1993". IMDb. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d "MTV Video Music Awards | 1994 | Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards". MTV.com. September 8, 1994. Archived from the original on September 1, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  9. ^ Cryin' (US & Canadian 7-inch single vinyl disc). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GEFS7-19256.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Cryin' (US & Canadian cassette single cassette notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GEFCS-19256.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Cryin' (UK CD single disc notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GFSTD 56.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Cryin' (European CD single disc notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GED21850.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Cryin' (German 7-inch single vinyl disc). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GES 19192.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Cryin' (French CD single disc notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GED 21879.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Cryin' (French cassette single sleeve). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GEC 19202.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Cryin' (Australian CD single liner notes). Aerosmith. Geffen Records. 1993. GEFDM 21850.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  18. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  19. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2270." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 5. January 29, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  22. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 2. January 8, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  23. ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 2. January 8, 1994. p. 21. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  24. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'" (in French). Les classement single.
  25. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (29.07–04.08)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). July 29, 1993. p. 20. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cryin'". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  28. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  29. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  30. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'". VG-lista.
  31. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 48. November 27, 1993. p. 14. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  32. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'". Singles Top 100.
  33. ^ "Aerosmith – Cryin'". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  35. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  36. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  37. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  38. ^ "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII, no. 7. October 9, 1993. p. 10. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  39. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved October 14, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  40. ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. p. 17. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  41. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1993". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  43. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  45. ^ "1994 in Review – Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. December 24, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Singles – Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  47. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  48. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1994" (in German). Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  49. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Aerosmith; 'Cryin'')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  50. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  51. ^ "British single certifications – Aerosmith – Cryin'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  52. ^ a b "American single certifications – Aerosmith – Cryin'". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  53. ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. October 16, 1993. p. 29.