Released 1995 Recorded 1995 Label Arista | Format CD single Genre Pop | |
Writer(s) Sarah McLachlan, Séamus Egan, Dave Merenda | ||
"I Will Remember You" is a song written by Sarah McLachlan, Séamus Egan and Dave Merenda. The song first appeared on the soundtrack for the movie The Brothers McMullen in 1995 and 1996 where it peaked at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart & #10 in Canada and was featured on her remix album Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff. The original inspiration came from Seamus Egan's instrumental song "Weep Not for the Memories", which appeared on his album A Week in January (1990). McLachlan and Merenda added lyrics and modified the melody for her version. It was re-released and became a hit when McLachlan released a live version of the song on her 1999 album Mirrorball placing at #14 in the US on July 20, 1999, after reaching the Top 40 on June 8 and it peaked again at #10 in Canada.
Contents
The live version of "I Will Remember You" earned McLachlan her third straight Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nomination in 2000 (after "Building a Mystery" in 1998 and "Adia" in 1999). The song won the award, becoming McLachlan's second award in the category after "Building a Mystery".
The Rarities version of the song has three verses, the first of which is omitted during live performances (as heard on Mirrorball).
Sarah McLachlan performed this song during an "in memoriam" slide show at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, held on September 20, 2009.
Reception
On the week ending January 20, 1996, the original recording of the song peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales chart and number 65 on Hot 100 Singles chart. The live rerecording of the song peaked number three at the Adult Top 40 chart in July and August 1999 and also number three at the Adult Contemporary chart in August and September 1999. On the week ending July 31, 1999, it peaked at number fourteen on the Hot 100 chart and number seven at the Hot 100 Airplay chart.
The song has sold more than two million copies worldwide as of February 2000.
A Billboard reviewer Brett Atwood praised the original release as "solemn ballad."
Covers
This song was covered by Kenny Rogers on his 1999 album, She Rides Wild Horses.
Séamus Egan's band Solas included a version of the song on their 2000 album The Hour Before Dawn.
Andy Bernard sings an acoustic version of the song on the ninth season episode of The Office entitled "Livin' the Dream".
This song opened the series finale of Melrose Place "Ashes to Ashes" in 1999.