Have I Told You Lately
"Have I Told You Lately" | ||||
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Single by Van Morrison | ||||
from the album Avalon Sunset | ||||
B-side | "Contacting My Angel" | |||
Released | 5 June 1989 | |||
Recorded | 1989 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:20 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison | |||
Producer(s) | Van Morrison | |||
Van Morrison singles chronology | ||||
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Avalon Sunset track listing | ||||
10 tracks
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"Have I Told You Lately" is a song written and recorded by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison for his nineteenth studio album, Avalon Sunset (1989). It is a romantic ballad that is often played at weddings, although it was originally written as a prayer. The opening line is from the song "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" by William Bell.
It was released as the album's lead single on 5 June 1989 by Mercury, and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[1] It has become a popular cover song with many vocal and instrumental versions recorded by numerous artists and bands. In 1993, Rod Stewart's version charted at number five on both the US Billboard Hot 100 as well as on the UK Singles Chart. In 2021, the song peaked at #1 in Ireland on the radio airplay chart.[2]
"Have I Told You Lately" has received acclaim, winning a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals[3] and a BMI Million-Air certificate.[4]
Composition
[edit]Composed as a love ballad and built on the framework of his earlier song "Someone Like You",[5] it is preceded on Avalon Sunset by the song, "I'd Love to Write Another Song" proclaiming "In poetry I'd carve it well/ I'd even make it rhyme." Then, in the words of Brian Hinton what follows is:
One of the finest love songs of the century, which I remember devastated me when I first heard it, as it seemed both something never quite said before, and yet a song I felt I had known forever. Earthly love transmutes into that for God, just like in Dante, 'there's a love that's divine and it's yours and it's mine.' The morning sun has set by the end of the song, suggesting love shading into death, but subtly.[6]
Reception
[edit]"Have I Told You Lately" was listed as number 261 on the "All Time 885 Greatest Songs" list compiled in 2004 by Philadelphia radio station WXPN from listeners' votes.[7] Van Morrison's original recording was also voted number six on a list of the "Top 10 First Dance Wedding Songs", based on a poll of 1,300 DJs in the UK,[8] and was ranked number 98 on the New York Daily News list of The 100 Greatest Love Songs, published on 12 February 2007.[9][10]
In October 2007, Van Morrison received a Million-Air certificate for over four million air plays of "Have I Told You Lately" from the prestigious BMI awards ceremony held in London, England.[11]
The Record Mirror said, "Van the Man must have been talking to Stevie Wonder recently, because he seems to have caught some of his infectious sentimentality. Either that, or he bumped into Richard Clayderman in the corridor at his record company. There's a really slushy bit of piano in this that my mum would love."[12] Cash Box called it "gorgeous" and an "instant classic."[13]
Charts
[edit]
Original version
Coney Island Medley
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With the Chieftains
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Other releases
[edit]Morrison chose "Have I Told You Lately" as one of the songs included on 1990s The Best of Van Morrison, his first greatest-hits album. It was also one of the songs on two of the compilation albums that were issued in 2007: Still on Top - The Greatest Hits contains a remastered version of this song and it was also featured on the compilation album, Van Morrison at the Movies - Soundtrack Hits. A live performance version was included on his 1994 album, A Night in San Francisco. In 1995 Morrison accompanied The Chieftains on a recording of the song for their album The Long Black Veil; this version was awarded the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.[4] A jazz arrangement is featured on the 2018 album Morrison recorded with organist Joey DeFrancesco entitled You're Driving Me Crazy.
Filmed performances of the song include a version recorded in 1989 that was featured on Morrison's video album Van Morrison: The Concert the following year. In 1995 Morrison performed the song in a duet with Sinéad O'Connor on Late Show with David Letterman; this version was subsequently released on the Live on Letterman: Music from the Late Show CD.
Rod Stewart versions
[edit]"Have I Told You Lately (Live)" | ||||
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Single by Rod Stewart | ||||
from the album Unplugged...and Seated | ||||
B-side | "Gasoline Alley" (live) | |||
Released | 13 April 1993 | |||
Recorded | February 1993 | |||
Studio | Universal (Los Angeles) | |||
Length | 4:08 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison | |||
Producer(s) | Patrick Leonard | |||
Rod Stewart singles chronology | ||||
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In 1993, British rock and pop singer and songwriter Rod Stewart covered the song for his sixteenth album, Vagabond Heart (1991). A live version from his album Unplugged...and Seated (1993) was released as a single, becoming a number-five hit in the US and the UK.[19][20] This version also reached number four on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart and spent five weeks at number one on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[21][22] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold 700,000 copies in the US.[23][24] Another live version by Stewart from his 2013 performance at The Troubadour, West Hollywood was included on the deluxe edition of his album Time.
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[23] | Gold | 700,000[24] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 13 April 1993 |
|
Warner Bros. | [23] |
Japan | 25 May 1993 | Mini-CD | [47] | |
United Kingdom | 14 June 1993 |
|
[48] |
Heb Ik Ooit Gezegd
[edit]"Heb Ik Ooit Gezegd (Have I Told You Lately)" | |
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Single by Clouseau | |
from the album In Stereo | |
Language | Dutch |
English title | Have I Told You Lately |
B-side | "Heb ik ooit gezegd (Instrumentaal)" |
Released | 29 January 1999 |
Studio | Synsound, Brussels |
Genre | |
Length | 4:15 |
Label | EMI |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | |
Music video | |
"Heb Ik Ooit Gezegd" on YouTube |
"Heb ik ooit gezegd" ("Have I ever said") is a song recorded by Belgian pop band Clouseau from their eleventh studio album, In Stereo (1999). The song was produced by Kris Wauters and Jean Blaute. The song was released as the album's lead single on 29 January 1999,[50] and remained on the Belgium (Flanders) Ultratop 50 chart for sixteen weeks, peaking at number seven for two weeks.[51] It also spent eight weeks on the Netherlands GfK Dutch Chart, peaking at number 68.[52]
Background
[edit]Clouseau is best known for their ballads; but although lead singer Koen Wauters was eager to release more lively, upbeat songs, their cover of Van Morrison's romantic ballad "Have I Told You Lately" was chosen as the album's lead single.[53] The Dutch translation of Morrison's English lyrics was written by Koen Wauters and Yurek Onzia, and the song was produced by Kris Wauters and Jean Blaute.[54]
The song was recorded at Synsound Studio in Brussels, Belgium.[55]
Track listings
[edit]- CD single EMI 8866632 (be) / EAN 0724388666329 [50]
- "Heb ik ooit gezegd" – 4:15
- "Heb ik ooit gezegd" (Instrumentaal) – 4:14
Personnel
[edit]Personnel list adapted from The Music Archive[56]
- Koen Wauters – vocals
- Kris Wauters – keyboards
- Jean Blaute – guitar, Hammond organ, piano
- Eric Melaerts – guitar
- Evert Verhees – bass guitar
- Walter Mets – drums
Chart performance
[edit]"Heb ik ooit gezegd" entered the Belgium (Flanders) Ultratop 50 chart on 6 February 1999 at number 27. Two weeks later on 20 February 1999, it peaked at number seven, where it remained for two weeks. It briefly dropped out of the top ten but returned to number eight on 20 March 1999 and held that position for two weeks. The song finally exited on 22 May 1999, having spent a total of sixteen weeks on the chart, five of which were in the top ten.[54]
In the Netherlands, "Heb ik ooit gezegd" entered the Dutch charts at number 88 on 1 May 1999, peaking three weeks later at number 72 on 22 May 1999. The song dropped out at number 90 on 19 June 1999, after a total of eight weeks on the chart.[57]
Charts
[edit]Chart (1999) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[58] | 7 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[59] | 68 |
Certifications
[edit]"Heb ik ooit gezegd" was certified Gold on 19 March 1999 for sales in excess of 10,000 units.[60]
Other releases
[edit]Clouseau included "Heb ik ooit gezegd" on several of their subsequent album releases:
- Ballades (2001)[61]
- Clouseau20 (2003)[62]
- Ballades (2010)[63]
- Essential (2011)[64]
- Clouseau30 (2017)[65]
Covers
[edit]Belgian X-Factor winner Udo Mechels[66] recorded a cover of Clouseau's version of the song for the album Braveau Clouseau (2007), produced by Hans Francken.[67][68] The album, a tribute to Clouseau, topped the Belgium (Flanders) Ultratop 200 Albums chart in September 2007[67] and was certified Gold in Belgium on 22 September 2007.[69] Udo performed the song live in 2011 at a concert in Lier, Belgium; Alexandra Soto of Gazet van Antwerpen described Udo's performance of "Heb ik ooit gezegd" as "beautiful".[70]
Other versions
[edit]"Have I Told You Lately" has been performed by many unknown as well as many famous artists.
- A version made by Muzak Played at the Austin J. Tobin Plaza on September 11, 2001, at around 7:30 AM, around an Hour before American Airlines flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center Complex.
- Some of the other known covers of the song are by Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell,[71] Michael Ball,[72] Della Reese and Engelbert Humperdinck;[73] an instrumental cover was recorded by Floyd Cramer.
- Andy Williams covered it on his album I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up (2007) and performed a live version in 2007 at Royal Albert Hall in London, England.[74]
- Barry Manilow included this song on his album The Greatest Songs of the Eighties, released in November 2008.[75]
- Contemporary jazz/new-age pianist Chris Geith covered the song on his album Timeless World.[76][77]
- Emilio Navaira released a single of the title from his album Life Is Good, which also included a version in Spanish. His version peaked at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1996.[78]
- Sissel Kyrkjebø covered it on her 2019 album Reflections, as well as releasing a music video for the song same year.[79]
In the media
[edit]Film
[edit]- "Have I Told You Lately" was featured in the 1996 film, One Fine Day, starring George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer.[80][better source needed]
- The song was played at the end of the Amanda Bynes 2003 film, What a Girl Wants, covered by Matt Acheson.[81][better source needed]
- The song was featured in the 2014 film 5 Flights Up, starring Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton.[82][better source needed]
Desert Island Discs selections
[edit]- Impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner included the song as one of his eight Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 on 20 April 2003.[83]
- Television and radio presenter Gloria Hunniford also included the song on her list on 24 December 2006.[84]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Adult Contemporary Music Chart". Billboard.com. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Have I Told You Lately?".
- ^ "The 38th Annual Grammy Awards (1995) - Winners". The Recording Academy. 1995. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals - The 38th Annual Grammy Awards (1995)". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ Hage. The Words and Music of Van Morrison, p. 109.
- ^ Hinton. Celtic Crossroads, p. 278.
- ^ "All Time 885 Greatest Songs". xpn.org. 2004. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Top 10 First Dance Wedding Songs". Uk-disco.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ Farber, Jim (12 February 2007). "The 100 Greatest Love Songs". New York Daily News. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Throckmorton, Warren (14 February 2007). "100 Greatest Love Songs". Patheos. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "2007 BMI London Awards: Song List". Broadcast Music. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ Betty Page (10 June 1989). "45" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 30.
- ^ Wednesday, Oscar (24 June 1989). "Pure Pop for Now People" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 14. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ Scott, Gavin. "This Week In 1989: August 20, 1989". chartbeats.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Have I Told You Lately". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Have I Told You Lately - Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Chart - Billboard", Billboard, 2 January 2013, retrieved 29 January 2018
- ^ "British single certifications – Van Morrison – Have I Told You Lately". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Rod Stewart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Rod Stewart Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Rod Stewart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b c "American single certifications – Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Best-Selling Records of 1993". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 3. 15 January 1994. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 230.
- ^ "Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2179." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1001." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 28. 10 July 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Have I Told You Lately". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 10 July 1993. p. 16. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, 10 July 1993". Archived from the original on 16 October 2018.
- ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 January 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993" (PDF). Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Archived from the original on 10 November 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ "The Year in Music 1993" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 52. 25 December 1993. p. YE-46. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, 31 December 1993". Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "British single certifications – Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "ハブ・アイ・トールド・ユー・レイトリー | ロッド・スチュワート" [Have I Told You Lately | Rod Stewart] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 12 June 1993. p. 21.
- ^ a b "Clouseau - Heb Ik Ooit Gezegd". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Clouseau - Heb ik ooit gezegd (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop Singles". Ultratop. 20 February 1999. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Dutch Single Top 100". GfK Dutch Charts. 15 May 1999. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "In stereo - Clouseau - VivaVlaanderen" (in Dutch). Radio 2. 20 March 1999. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Clouseau - Heb ik ooit gezegd". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ Houbrechts, Dirk (April 1999). "CD of the week (April 1999): Clouseau In Stereo". houbi.com. Flanders Music Centre. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Heb ik ooit gezegd". muziekarchief.be. Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie, Belgian Entertainment Association. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Heb ik ooit gezegd". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau – Heb Ik Ooit Gezegd" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau – Heb Ik Ooit Gezegd" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Goud en platina -singles 1999". Ultratop. 1999. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Ballades". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Clouseau20". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Ballades [2010]". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Essential". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Clouseau - Clouseau30". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Jon. "Udo - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ a b "Braveau Clouseau". Ultratop. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
- ^ "Udo - Heb ik ooit gezegd (Song)". Hung Medien. 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Goud en platina -albums 2007". Ultratop. 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ Soto, Alexandra (29 July 2011). "Udo puts on an excellent show in Lier". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "allmusic(((It Works For Me>Overview)))". allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ^ "allmusic:Secrets of Love". allmusic.com. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
- ^ "Engelbert Humperdinck and James Last - Christmas Eve". Allmusic. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ "I Don't Remember Ever Growing Up: Overview". allmusic.com. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
- ^ "Barry Manilow returns with the Greatest Songs of the Eighties". Access. 17 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
- ^ "Timeless World overview". Allmusic.com.
- ^ "What We're Listening To ** February". SmoothVibes.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Hot Country Songs 1944–2012. Record Research, Inc. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-89820-203-8.
- ^ "Sissel - Have I Told You Lately". YouTube. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Van Morrison at IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ "Matt Acheson". IMDb. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "5 Flights Up Soundtrack List". The Ultimate Source for Soundtrack Lists. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Desert Island Discs - Rory Bremner". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Desert Island Discs - Gloria Hunniford". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
Sources
[edit]- Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison. London: Sanctuary. ISBN 1-86074-169-X.
- Hage, Erik (2009). 'The Words and Music of Van Morrison. Praeger Publishers. ISBN 978-0-313-35862-3.
External links
[edit]- 1989 singles
- 1989 songs
- 1993 singles
- Songs written by Van Morrison
- Van Morrison songs
- Rod Stewart songs
- Emilio Navaira songs
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
- Live singles
- Love themes
- Mercury Records singles
- EMI Records singles
- Warner Records singles
- Rock ballads
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- 1999 singles
- Clouseau (band) songs
- Song recordings produced by Van Morrison
- Song recordings produced by Patrick Leonard