What Can I Do (The Corrs song)

"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 wasn't as strong as their previous songs. An accompanying music video was released, which was shot in New Zealand during their world tour. The song deals with issues like unrequited love and self-care.

"What Can I Do"
Single by The Corrs
from the album Talk on Corners
B-side"Little Wing"; "No Good for Me"
ReleasedJanuary 1998
August 1998 (Remix)
FormatCD single
Recorded1997
GenrePop rock, folk-pop
Length4:21
Label143/Lava/Atlantic
Songwriter(s)The Corrs
Producer(s)Jim Corr, Tin Tin Out (remix)
The Corrs singles chronology
"I Never Loved You Anyway"
(1997)		 "What Can I Do"
(1998)		 "Dreams"
(1998)

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 a pop rock and R&B style, 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 mj 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 didn't 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

"What Can I Do" didn't have as much success worldwide. Upon its release in January 1998, the song had debuted at number forty-four on the Swedish Singles Chart, until it rose to number twenty-seven, eventually peaking there.[6] The song however did not chart in New Zealand, but it did chart in the Official RadioScope charts (New Zealand's airplay charts). It had peaked at number four in their charts.

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 of the UK Singles Chart (at number 3). It remained on the charts for over 11 weeks.

Music video

Background and synopsis

This video was shot in New Zealand on February 26, 1998 at very short notice. The Corrs were only done with their tour in New Zealand when the record company decided to release "What Can I Do", therefore a video had to be filmed rather quickly. Both the album version and the Tin Tin Out remix were used for the video.

The location was Awhitu Peninsula which is situated 80 km (~50 miles) South-West of Auckland on the West Coast on the North Island of New Zealand. Much of the video was shot near Kohekohe Church, Awhitu. The car in the video is a 1962 Ford Consul. The green meadows in some way resembled their Irish home country, and even the weather became Irish for a little while as it started to rain during the shooting.

Director Nigel Dick (who shot Oasis' video for "Wonderwall") was flown in especially for the video and had less than a day to prepare it. The casual theme with jeans and T-shirts was suggested by East West Spain and welcomed by the Corrs who wanted this video to look very different from the rather stylish "Only When I Sleep". Andrea said that they left the video completely in the hands of the director, because according to her, "he's the one to blame!"

Reception from Nigel Dick

Dick stated: "My favourite memory is the image of Andrea, Sharon and Caroline all crouched down in the middle of the road, eating bowls of cereal at 5AM, waiting for the dawn. As it got light the drizzle arrived, but, with the band scheduled to fly home that evening, we kept on shooting."

Track listing

Source:[7]

Charts
Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8]
Tin Tin Out remix		 86
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] 23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 12
Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 62
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[12] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 30
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[14] 48
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[15]
Tin Tin Out remix		 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 27
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[17] 53
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[18]
Tin Tin Out remix		 3

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. 1999-04-02. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  5. Fawbert, Dave (2018-10-23). "30 classic songs that are somehow 20 years old this year". ShortList. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  6. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Corrs&titel=What+Can+I+Do&cat=s
  7. http://www.discogs.com/Corrs-What-Can-I-Do/master/108292
  8. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 27 Sep 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  9. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8123." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Corrs – What Can I Do". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  12. "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.
  13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Can I Do". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  14. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  15. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  16. "Swedishcharts.com – The Corrs – What Can I Do". Singles Top 100.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
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