"Tears Dry on Their Own" is a song by English singer and songwriter

Amy Winehouse Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues and jazz. A membe ...

from her second and final studio album, ''

Back to Black ''Back to Black'' is the second and final studio album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 2006 by Island Records. Winehouse predominantly based the album on her tumultuous relationship with then-ex-boyfrien ...

'' (2006). It was released on 13 August 2007 as the album's fourth single. While the melody and lyrics are composed by Winehouse, the music behind her voice is an interpolation of Marvin Gaye and

Tammi Terrell Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye. ...

's 1967 song "

Ain't No Mountain High Enough "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla label, a division of Motown. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and ...

", penned by

Ashford & Simpson Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946). Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...

. The original ballad version of the track is featured on the posthumous album '' Lioness: Hidden Treasures'' (2011). The song was featured in the

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...

based on the life and death of Winehouse, '' Amy'' (2015) and was also included on the film's soundtrack.

Composition

"Tears Dry on Their Own" has been described by ''NME'' as a " Motown-influenced pop song", while Billy Hamilton of '' Drowned in Sound'' believed the song to be a

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...

song.

Music video

Tears Dry on Their Own's

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

was shot in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, and directed by

David LaChapelle David LaChapelle (born March 11, 1963) is an American photographer, music video director and film director. He is best known for his work in fashion, photography, which often references art history and sometimes conveys social messages. His pho ...

on 22 May 2007. Featuring Winehouse making her way down

Hollywood Blvd Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...

and in a dim motel room, the video features the Grand Motel at 1479 S La Cienega Blvd, in Los Angeles. The hotel room is a nod to the ones she would stay in while waiting for her to-be-husband,

Blake Fielder-Civil Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues and jazz. A membe ...

to arrive. The music video for this song was the second to last filmed before Winehouse's death on 23 July 2011.

Chart performance

"Tears Dry on Their Own" became Winehouse's fourth consecutive single to chart inside the top 40 of the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, when it entered at number 37 on 5 August 2007. It also became her eighth UK R&B top 40 hit. The single spent four weeks at number one on the UK Airplay Chart during August. After the song's physical release, the single climbed into the top 20, peaking at number 16. Therefore, "Tears Dry on Their Own" is Winehouse's second highest-charting single behind " Rehab" and the fourth consecutive top 30 hit from her second album. To date, it has spent 19 non-consecutive weeks on the UK Singles Chart, making it her fourth longest-running hit behind "Rehab" (57 weeks), "

Valerie Valerie may refer to: People *Saint Valerie (disambiguation), a number of saints went by the name Valerie *Valerie (given name), a feminine given name Songs *"Valerie", a 1981 song by Quarterflash, from ''Quarterflash'' *"Valerie", a 1982 son ...

" (39 weeks), and "

" (34 weeks). With sales of 84,750, "Tears Dry on Their Own" went on to become the UK's 93rd best-selling single of 2007. On 31 July 2011, the song re-entered the

at 27 after Winehouse's death.

Track listings and formats

;UK CD single #"Tears Dry on Their Own" – 3:09 #"You're Wondering Now" – 2:31 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix) – 6:42 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Al Usher Remix) – 7:00 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Video) ;UK limited edition clear 7" single *Side A: #"Tears Dry on Their Own" – 3:05 *Side B: #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (

NYPC NYPC (also known as New Young Pony Club) are an English electronic music band from London. The band was formed by Andy Spence and Tahita Bulmer in 2004. Their influences are predominantly post-punk and new wave artists. Career Forming and sig ...

's Fucked Mix) – 4:39 ;UK 12" single *Side A: #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix) – 6:42 *Side B: #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Al Usher Remix) – 7:00 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" – 3:05 ;Digital download – Remixes & B-Sides EP #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Vodafone Live at TBA) – 3:23 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix) – 5:35 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (NYPC's Fucked Mix) – 4:39 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Al Usher Remix) – 6:59 #"Tears Dry on Their Own" (Kardinal Beats Remix) – 3:21

Official versions and remixes

*Album Version – 3:05 *Al Usher Remix – 7:00 *Alix Alvarez Sole Channel Mix – 6:42 *Kardinal Beats Remix – 3:20 *

's Fucked Mix – 4:39 *Original Version — 4:09

Personnel

"Tears Dry on Their Own" * Recorded by Franklin Socorro * Mixed by Tom Elmhirst * Producer – Salaam Remi * Recorded by Gleyder "Gee" Disla, Shomari "Sho" Dillon * Bass, piano, guitar – Salaam Remi * Written by Amy Winehouse * Drums, tambourine – Troy Auxilly-Wilson * Mixed by Matt Paul * Trumpet (bass), trumpet, flugelhorn – Bruce Purse * Saxophone (baritone, tenor and alto), flute, clarinet, piano, celesta (celeste), guitar – Vincent Henry * Backing vocals – Amy Winehouse "You're Wondering Now" * Recorded by Jon Moon * Featuring – Ade*, Zalon* * Written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson*, Clement Dodd

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

Behind-the-scenes photos of the music video
{{authority control 2006 songs 2007 singles Amy Winehouse songs Music videos directed by David LaChapelle Songs written by Amy Winehouse Songs written by Valerie Simpson Songs written by Nickolas Ashford Island Records singles British pop songs