Insensitive (song)
Encyclopedia
"Insensitive" is the title of a track from the 1994 Jann Arden
album Living Under June
; an international hit single, "Insensitive" remains the career record for Arden. The song is unique in Arden's repertoire as the one song she's made the first recorded version of which she did not write, the composer of "Insensitive" being Anne Loree
.
restaurant where Loree was waiting tables. "I sat down at my electric piano in the basement of a rented house I shared with four roommates, broke and broken hearted, full of pain and angst, and wrote 'Insensitive'. It took me probably less than half an hour and I walked away feeling much better for it and much hipper to Prince Charming
s who aren't really into you." Jann Arden, then based in Calgary, optioned "Insensitive" for Living Under June after hearing Loree perform the song at a local club.
"Insensitive" remains by far Arden's most successful single to date outside of Canada (where it hit #1 on the RPM 100
national singles chart on January 30, 1995 and remained there for three weeks), reaching #12 on the Hot 100
in Billboard
(US) also reaching the Top Ten on Billboards Adult Contemporary
charts. The song's US success was assisted by its presence in the film Bed of Roses; although Bed of Roses was not a major success the video for "Insensitive" was aired on an episode of Entertainment Tonight
on which the film had been promoted. Even before its Canadian chart success, "Insensitive" had afforded Arden a hit in Italy reaching #14 in December 1994 the track's Italian success being occasioned by its use as a jingle
in a TV ad campaign
for a brand of jeans
. "Insensitive" reached #1 on the Australian charts
on August 19 1996 and also charted in New Zealand at #44 and the UK at #40. At the Juno Awards of 1996
"Insensitive" was named Single of the Year
.
"Insensitive" was also included on Arden's 2001 greatest hits
album, Greatest Hurts
, in both the original and live versions.
directed. The video for "Insensitive" was nominated for Video of the Year
at the 1995 Juno Awards
.
also released her own version of "Insensitive" on her 1998 album Sittin' on Top of the World
. Jasper Steverlinck remade "Insensitive" for his 2004 album Songs of Innocence.
Jann Arden
Jann Arden is a Canadian singer-songwriter.-Life and career:Arden was born and raised near Calgary in Springbank, Alberta and attended Springbank Community High School. Her breakthrough came with her critically acclaimed 1993 debut album Time for Mercy and her first single "I Would Die For You"...
album Living Under June
Living Under June
Living Under June is the second album by Canadian singer/songwriter Jann Arden, released in August 1994 . Outside of Canada, the album was released in the spring of 1995....
; an international hit single, "Insensitive" remains the career record for Arden. The song is unique in Arden's repertoire as the one song she's made the first recorded version of which she did not write, the composer of "Insensitive" being Anne Loree
Anne Loree
Anne Loree is a Canadian singer-songwriter from Edmonton, Alberta. Best known as the writer of "Insensitive", an international Top 40 hit for Jann Arden in 1995, Loree has also released four albums as a solo performer. She was also previously a member of Jr...
.
Background
Anne Loree would recall writing "Insensitive" in response to an unhappy tryst with a chef at a CalgaryCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
restaurant where Loree was waiting tables. "I sat down at my electric piano in the basement of a rented house I shared with four roommates, broke and broken hearted, full of pain and angst, and wrote 'Insensitive'. It took me probably less than half an hour and I walked away feeling much better for it and much hipper to Prince Charming
Prince Charming
Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell...
s who aren't really into you." Jann Arden, then based in Calgary, optioned "Insensitive" for Living Under June after hearing Loree perform the song at a local club.
"Insensitive" remains by far Arden's most successful single to date outside of Canada (where it hit #1 on the RPM 100
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
national singles chart on January 30, 1995 and remained there for three weeks), reaching #12 on the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
(US) also reaching the Top Ten on Billboards Adult Contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
charts. The song's US success was assisted by its presence in the film Bed of Roses; although Bed of Roses was not a major success the video for "Insensitive" was aired on an episode of Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
on which the film had been promoted. Even before its Canadian chart success, "Insensitive" had afforded Arden a hit in Italy reaching #14 in December 1994 the track's Italian success being occasioned by its use as a jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
in a TV ad campaign
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for a brand of jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
. "Insensitive" reached #1 on the Australian charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
on August 19 1996 and also charted in New Zealand at #44 and the UK at #40. At the Juno Awards of 1996
Juno Awards of 1996
The Juno Awards of 1996, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 10 March 1996 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum...
"Insensitive" was named Single of the Year
Juno Award for Single of the Year
The Juno Award for Single of the Year has been awarded since 1974 for the best single in Canada. It has also been known as Best Single and Best Selling Single.-Best Single :...
.
"Insensitive" was also included on Arden's 2001 greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album, Greatest Hurts
Greatest Hurts
Greatest Hurts is a 2001 greatest hits album by Jann Arden.In addition to Arden's best-known hits, the album also includes two new songs , two songs that Arden recorded for compilation albums , an...
, in both the original and live versions.
Music video
For the track's US release a video was prepped comprising clips from the film Bed of Roses interspersed with footage of Arden singing the song; Jeth WeinrichJeth Weinrich
Jeth Weinrich is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, music video, and commercial director.- Early life :Weinrich grew up in Calgary, Alberta, attended Parsons School of Design, and played for the Calgary Colts of the Canadian Junior Football League, the farm league for the CFL, for two years...
directed. The video for "Insensitive" was nominated for Video of the Year
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
at the 1995 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 1995
The Juno Awards of 1995, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 26 March 1995 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum...
.
Charts
| End of year chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 22 |
Cover versions
Country singer LeAnn RimesLeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
also released her own version of "Insensitive" on her 1998 album Sittin' on Top of the World
Sittin' on Top of the World (album)
-Remixes:*Digital download#"Sittin' on Top of the World" 5:34#"Sittin' on Top of the World" 4:36-Charts:...
. Jasper Steverlinck remade "Insensitive" for his 2004 album Songs of Innocence.