Why I Am (song)

"Why I Am"
Single by Dave Matthews Band
from the album Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King
ReleasedJuly 13, 2009
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:54
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Dave Matthews, LeRoi Moore, Tim Reynolds, Boyd Tinsley
Producer(s)Rob Cavallo
Dave Matthews Band singles chronology
"Funny the Way It Is"
(2009)
"Why I Am"
(2009)
"You & Me"
(2009)

"Why I Am" is the second single from American rock band Dave Matthews Band's album Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King. The song is a tribute to former band member LeRoi Moore, who died on August 19, 2008. The song discusses death and the urgency of living. It was written before Moore's death and features his playing on it.[1]

The song debuted live on April 14, 2009, at Madison Square Garden, alongside two other album songs, "Funny the Way It Is" (the first single) and "Spaceman".[2] The song was performed by the band on The Today Show,[3] Late Show with David Letterman,[4] The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien,[5] Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,[6] Austin City Limits[7] and Ellen,[8] as well as Fuse Presents...,[9] a show on the US television channel Fuse, which occurred on the same day as the release of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King (June 2, 2009).

A music video for the song was recorded live in London, England, and made its American debut on August 14, 2009, via MySpace.[10]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 2
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[12] 34

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Why I Am". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  2. ^ "Madison Square Garden New York, NY". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  3. ^ "Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  4. ^ "Ed Sullivan Theatre New York, NY".
  5. ^ "Universal Studios Universal City, CA". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  6. ^ "GE Building New York, NY". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  7. ^ "Austin City Limits Studio (University of Texas at Austin) Austin, TX". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  8. ^ "Warner Bros. Studios Burbank, CA".
  9. ^ "Beacon Theatre New York, NY". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  10. ^ "Dave Matthews Band news". Retrieved October 14, 2009.
  11. ^ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  12. ^ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.