"Can't Get You Off My Mind" is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Lenny Kravitz and released in February 1996 as the third single from his fourth studio album, ''

Circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and uni ...

'' (1995). The song was later included in the albums ''

Greatest Hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...

'' (2000) and ''

Lenny Lenny or Lennie may refer to: People and fictional characters * Lenny (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Lennie (surname), a list of people * Lenny (singer) (born 1993), Czech songwriter Arts and entertainment Music * ''L ...

'' (2001) as a bonus track. There are two versions of the music video for the song: one was directed by

Matthew Rolston Matthew Russell Rolston is an American artist, photographer, director and creative director, known for his lighting techniques and detailed approach to art direction and design. Rolston has been identified throughout his career with the revival a ...

, the other by Jim Gable.

Background

The song was inspired by Kravitz's missing his then-girlfriend while being on tour. Also, he missed his mother who died in December 1995. He explained to ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide ...

'' that he envisioned the song while he stayed at the Royalton hotel in New York. The song was initially called "The Country Song." Kravitz also said to '' Q'', "...lyric was not a pastiche, man. It came out of me naturally, just as all my lyrics do. I don't analyze songwriting, I simply write... And anyway, when you are on tour a lot, as I was, life is a lonely highway, and I did get lonely out there on the open road, OK?".

Reception

Daina Darzin from '' Cash Box'' noted that Kravitz "is positively countrified on this languid, pretty

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or '' ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

, which turns gracefully soulful in midstream. Mellifluous vocals, gently twimng harmonies and easy-going, soaring instruments make this a track that could work on any number of radio formats." ''

CD Review ''CD Review'' (formerly known as ''Digital Audio'' and ''Digital Audio and Compact Disc Review'') is a discontinued American monthly magazine that specialized in reviewing albums and audio electronics, especially compact discs. The magazine was fo ...

'' stated, "Kravitz is inspired by a lot more than just Jimi Hendrix and

Sly Stone Sylvester Stewart (born March 15, 1943), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer who is most famous for his role as frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the ...

, and the second half of ''Circus'' slows down to accommodate a little mood and melody . But the lovey "Can't Get You Off My Mind” has a little too calculated country feel ". Rob Wagner of '' The Tech'' added, "Obviously, Kravitz's touring with the

Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

has greatly influenced him. His song "Can't Get You Off My Mind" steals some chords from "

Wild Horses Wild horse (''Equus ferus'') is a species of the genus ''Equus'' that includes domesticated and undomesticated subspecies. * Przewalski's wild horse (''Equus ferus przewalskii'' or ''Equus przewalskii''), a rare and endangered subspecies of wild ...

" by the Stones. I kept expecting to hear

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

jump in." Kevin Powell of ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down production ...

'' wrote, "With its country western texture, the song feels distant, as if Kravitz were somewhere deep in the sticks, chilling, dreaming about a woman he'd met at a local bar."

Track listing

Charts

References

External links

* {{Authority control Lenny Kravitz songs 1995 songs 1996 singles Songs written by Lenny Kravitz Virgin Records singles