Achy Breaky Heart

Infobox Single
Name = Achy Breaky Heart


Caption = CD maxi
Artist = Billy Ray Cyrus
from Album = Some Gave All
B-side = "I'm So Miserable"
Released = 1992
Format = Cassette
CD single
7" single
Recorded =
Genre = Country
Length = 3:23
Label = Mercury
Writer = Don Von Tress
Producer = Joe Scaife
Jim Cotton
Certification = Platinum (RIAA)
This single = "Achy Breaky Heart"
(1992)
Next single = "Could've Been Me"
(1992)
Misc = External music video|" [http://www.cmt.com/videos/billy-ray-cyrus/69892/achy-breaky-heart.jhtml Achy Breaky Heart] " at CMT.com"Achy Breaky Heart" is a hit country music song written by Don Von Tress. Originally titled "Don't Tell My Heart", it was recorded by the The Marcy Brothers on their self-titled second album but was not released as a single. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wjfpxqw5ldhe |title=The Marcy Brothers - Overview |accessdate=2008-08-27 |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |work=Allmusic] The name was later changed to "Achy Breaky Heart" and was recorded by Billy Ray Cyrus on his 1992 CD "Some Gave All". As Cyrus' debut single and signature song, it made him famous and has been his most successful song. The song became a crossover hit on pop and country radio, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. After being featured on "Top of the Pops", the single reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart.

History

The change in lyrics came about when a friend of Billy Ray Cyrus split up with his wife. Cyrus went to see him to make sure he was okay. When Cyrus asked his friend how he was feeling his friend said: "My heart's all achy, breaky". The music video for the song was filmed during a concert at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky. It was nominated for Record of the Year in the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in 1993, but lost to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven".

Cover versions

* The Chipmunks covered the song in 1992. Their version managed to reach number 71 on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs chart, becoming their first chart entry on "any" Billboard chart in 42 years.
* Kikki Danielsson covered the song with lyrics in Swedish by Mikael Wendt and Christer Lundh, as "En allra sista chans" (Swedish: "A final chance") on her 1993 album "Jag ska aldrig lämna dig".
*Caballo Dorado covered the song with the lyrics in Spanish, and has been released in many of their albums.
* William Hung covered the song on his 2005 album "".

Parodies

"Weird Al" Yankovic has written a parody called "Achy Breaky Song". The lyrics describe Yankovic's annoyance with "Achy Breaky Heart", where he states he would rather be tied to a chair and kicked down a set of stairs than listen to it. This parody appears on his album "Alapalooza". Run C&W also parodied the song as "Itchy Twitchy Spot" on their debut album "Into the Twangy-First Century".

Uses in the media

The song is to be the Soundtrack to Saw V. The 2006 movie "Crank" also includes the song, where the hero tries to maintain his heart rate by headbanging to the song in a cab driven by an Arab driver (who is somewhat preplexed at the command to change stations, and turn up the volume). The scene then cuts to an external viewpoint to illustrate the volume as the cab traverses to scene.

In 1994, this song was covered in the Kidsongs video release "Country Sing Along".

Critical reception

* "Achy Breaky Heart" was rated number 89 in VH1's "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders".
* It reached #87 in VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the '90s".
* Also reached #2 on VH1's 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs, and on "Blender" magazine's 50 Worst Songs Ever. [ [http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=819 Run for Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever!] from "Blender.com" (Retrieved May 4, 2008)]
* In 2008, "Achy Breaky Heart" was rated #23 on CMT's "Top 100 Greatest Videos".

Track listings

Billy Ray Cyrus version

; CD maxi
# "Achy Breaky Heart" — 3:24
# "I'm So Miserable" — 4:00
# "Wher'm I Gonna Live?" — 3:29

; 7" single
# "Achy Breaky Heart" — 3:23
# "I'm So Miserable" — 3:59

Alvin and The Chipmunks version

; 7" single
# "Achy Breaky Heart"
# "I Ain't No Dang Cartoon"

Certifications

Alvin and the Chipmunks version

References