Annie's Song
Encyclopedia
"Annie's Song" is a rock/country song recorded and written by singer-songwriter
John Denver
. It was his second number-one song in the United States, occupying that spot for two weeks in July 1974. "Annie's Song" also went to number one on the Easy Listening chart. It went to number one in the United Kingdom, where it was Denver's only major hit single (many of Denver's American hits
were more familiar in the UK through cover version
s by other artists).
" to the top of Ajax Mountain in Aspen, Colorado
, as the physical exhilaration of having "just skied down a very difficult run" and the feeling of total immersion in the beauty of the colors and sounds that filled all senses inspired him to think about his wife.
"'The first time I heard "Annie's Song," I told John it had the same melody as Tschaikovsky's
"Fifth Symphony, Second Movement
,"' says Milt Okun
. 'He walked over to the piano, sat for an hour and came back, and the only thing remaining from Tschaikovsky was the first five notes. It was fantastic.'"
", the main chant of fans of Sheffield United
football club.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
. It was his second number-one song in the United States, occupying that spot for two weeks in July 1974. "Annie's Song" also went to number one on the Easy Listening chart. It went to number one in the United Kingdom, where it was Denver's only major hit single (many of Denver's American hits
John Denver discography
Here is the comprehensive discography of folk musician John Denver.-With The Mitchell Trio:-1960s albums:-1970s albums:-1980s albums:-1990s albums:-Live albums:-Holiday albums:-Compilation albums:-Collaboration albums:-1960s singles:...
were more familiar in the UK through cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s by other artists).
Inspiration
"Annie's Song" was written as an ode to Denver's wife at the time, Annie Martell Denver. Denver "wrote this song in about ten-and-a-half minutes one day on a ski liftSki lift
The term ski lift generally refers to any transport device that carries skiers up a hill. A ski lift may fall into one of the following three main classes:-Lift systems and networks:...
" to the top of Ajax Mountain in Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
, as the physical exhilaration of having "just skied down a very difficult run" and the feeling of total immersion in the beauty of the colors and sounds that filled all senses inspired him to think about his wife.
Liner notes
"Denver paid loving tribute to his wife by dedicating this album to her, and with 'Annie's Song,' a number one hit in July '74, Annie Denver recalls the beginnings: 'It was written after John and I had gone through a pretty intense time together and things were pretty good for us. He left to go skiing and he got on the Ajax chair on Aspen mountain and the song just came to him. He skied down and came home and wrote it down... Initially it was a love song and it was given to me through him, and yet for him it became a bit like a prayer.'"'The first time I heard "Annie's Song," I told John it had the same melody as Tschaikovsky's
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
"Fifth Symphony, Second Movement
Symphony No. 5 (Tchaikovsky)
The Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was composed between May and August 1888 and was first performed in St Petersburg at the Hall of Nobility on November 6 of that year with Tchaikovsky conducting. It is dedicated to Theodore Avé-Lallemant.-Structure:A typical...
,"' says Milt Okun
Milt Okun
Milton "Milt" Okun is an American arranger and record producer and founder of Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc. Okun transformed the careers of a dozen or more major U.S. artists who under Okun's tutelage became some of the most successful musical acts of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s...
. 'He walked over to the piano, sat for an hour and came back, and the only thing remaining from Tschaikovsky was the first five notes. It was fantastic.'"
Sheffield United
Its tune is used in the UK by "The Greasy Chip Butty SongThe Greasy Chip Butty Song
The Greasy Chip Butty Song is a football chant originally sung by the supporters of Sheffield United football club to the tune of Annie's Song, glorifying the dubious delights of life in Sheffield, in chief the eponymous Chip butty but also nightlife, beer and tobacco products...
", the main chant of fans of Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
football club.
Chart performance
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| US Billboard Easy Listening | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot Country Singles | 9 |
See also
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1974
- List of number-one singles of 1974 (Ireland)
- List of number-one singles from the 1970s (UK)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1974 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1974 (U.S.)