1999 studio album by Macy Gray
On How Life Is Macy Gray . It was released on July 1, 1999, by Epic Records and Clean Slate. Produced by Andrew Slater, it became Gray's best-selling album to date, selling 3.4 million copies in the United States and seven million copies worldwide.[ 6] [ 7]
The album's second single, "I Try ", became an international success, topping the charts in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand,[ 8] [ 9] Billboard Hot 100[ 10] Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2001.[ 11]
On How Life Is was met with highly positive reviews from music critics upon its release, with many praising Gray's songwriting and vocal performance. Q Rod Stewart were a girl."[ 20]
All lyrics are written by Macy Gray . All tracks are produced by Andrew Slater.
Title Music 1. "Why Didn't You Call Me " Jeremy Ruzumna 3:14 2. "Do Something " 4:57 3. "Caligula" 4:38 4. "I Try " Gray Ruzumna Jinsoo Lim David Wilder 3:59 5. "Sex-o-matic Venus Freak" 3:57 6. "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" 5:18 7. "Still " 4:15 8. "I've Committed Murder" 4:59 9. "A Moment to Myself" 4:00 10. "The Letter" 5:38
Australian and Japanese edition bonus track[ 23] [ 24] Title Music 11. "Rather Hazy" Gray 3:10
Credits adapted from the liner notes of On How Life Is .[ 25]
Macy Gray – lead vocals, vocal arrangements (all tracks) ; backing vocals (tracks 1, 3–5, 10) Dawn Beckman – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 5–9)
Musiic Galloway – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 5–10)
Jeremy Ruzumna – backing vocals (track 1) ; organ (tracks 1, 4–6, 8) ; piano (tracks 1, 7, 10) ; electric piano, Moog (track 2) ; Farfisa , clavinet (track 3) ; Rhodes (tracks 5, 6) ; Optigan , Chamberlin (track 10)
David Wilder – backing vocals (track 1) ; bass (tracks 1, 4)
Jinsoo Lim – guitar (tracks 1, 2)
Arik Marshall – guitar (tracks 1, 7–10) Lenny Castro – percussion (tracks 1, 2, 7–9) Matt Chamberlain – percussion (tracks 1, 3, 9, 10) ; drums (all tracks) Darryl Swann – backing vocals, guitar (track 3) ; programming (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–10) ; vocal arrangements (all tracks) DJ Kiilu – turntables (tracks 2, 8, 9) ; programming (track 8)
Jon Brion – Chamberlin (tracks 2, 3, 8, 10) ; synths (tracks 3, 8) ; guitar (tracks 3–6, 8–10) ; piano (tracks 4, 10) ; orchestra bells (track 4) ; vibes (tracks 7, 8) ; marimba (track 8) ; Optigan (track 10) Patrick Warren – vibes (track 2) ; Chamberlin (tracks 2–4, 7, 8) ; synths (track 3) ; Rhodes, Wurlitzer (track 9) Dion Derek Murdock – bass (tracks 2, 6)
Sy Smith – backing vocals (tracks 3, 5, 7) Bendrix Williams – guitar (track 4)
Rami Jaffee – synths (track 5) ; piano, Optigan, Chamberlin (track 10) Blackbyrd McKnight – guitar (track 5) Gabriel Moses – guitar (track 5)
Steve Baxter – horn (track 6)
Charlie Green – horn (track 6)
Michael Harris – horn (track 6)
Miles Tackett – guitar (track 6) Greg Richling – bass (tracks 6–10) David Campbell – string arrangement (track 7) Jay Joyce – guitar (track 7) Ngozi Inyama – sax solo (track 8)
Andrew Slater – production
Dave Way – recording, mixingDarryl "D-Style" Swann – additional engineering
Howard Willing – first assistant engineer
Dave Reed – second assistant engineer
Kevin Dean – second assistant engineer
Jeff Walch – second assistant engineer
Michelle Forbes – second assistant engineer
Sherry Sutcliff – production coordination Stéphane Sednaoui – photographyHooshik – art direction, design
Frank Harkins – art direction
Certifications and sales [ edit ]
^ In Japan, "I Try" was released as a double A-side with "Do Something" on July 23, 1999.[ 3]
^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 21 June, 1999: Singles". Music Week ^ "New Releases – Week Starting 27 September, 1999: Singles". Music Week . September 25, 1999. p. 25. ^ "メイシー・グレイ" [Macy Gray]. Sony Music Entertainment Japan . Archived from the original on February 12, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2023 .^ "New Releases – For Week Starting March 13, 2000: Singles". Music Week . March 11, 2000. p. 27. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting July 24, 2000: Singles". Music Week . July 22, 2000. p. 25. ^ "Macy Gray – Biography" . VH1 . Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ a b Peters, Mitchell (August 13, 2013). "Macy Gray Signs with APA" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 25, 2019 . ^ "Macy Gray – I Try" . australian-charts.com . Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ "Search the charts" . The Irish Charts. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2018 .^ "Macy Gray Chart History: Hot 100" . Billboard . Retrieved December 1, 2018 .^ Skanse, Richard (February 22, 2001). "Steely Dan, U2 Top Grammys" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 1, 2018 . ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "On How Life Is – Macy Gray" . AllMusic . Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ DeRogatis, Jim (August 8, 1999). "Macy Gray, 'On How Life Is' (Epic)" . Chicago Sun-Times the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017 – via HighBeam Research .^ Christgau, Robert . "Robert Christgau: CG: Macy Gray" . robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 6, 2023 .^ Weingarten, Marc (August 2, 1999). "On How Life Is" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2023 . ^ Cox, Tom (July 9, 1999). "Irresistible sister". The Guardian ISSN 0261-3077 . ^ Perry, Tim (July 3, 1999). "Album Reviews" The Independent Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2020 . ^ Nichols, Natalie (July 25, 1999). "Echoing '70s Soul, in a Voice That's All Her Own" . Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017 . ^ Howard, Jackson (March 9, 2025). "Macy Gray: On How Life Is" . Pitchfork . Retrieved March 9, 2025 . ^ a b Harron, Sarah (August 1999). "Macy Gray: On How Life Is" . Q ISSN 0955-4955 . Archived from the original on January 29, 2000. Retrieved September 2, 2018 . ^ Walters, Barry (August 19, 1999). "Macy Gray: On How Life Is" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2007 . ^ Randall, Mac (2004). "Macy Gray". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Simon & Schuster . pp. 344–45 . ISBN 0-7432-0169-8 ^ "Macy Gray On How Life Is + Bonus Track" . JB Hi-Fi . Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ a b c オン・ハウ・ライフ・イズ/メイシー・グレイ Oricon . Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2009 .^ On How Life Is (liner notes). Macy Gray . Epic Records . 1999. 494423 2.{{cite AV media notes }}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )^ "Australiancharts.com – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 12th February 2001" (PDF) . The ARIA Report . Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via National Library of Australia .^ "Austriancharts.at – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Ultratop.be – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Ultratop.be – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9814" . RPM Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved January 18, 2019.^ "Macy Gray Chart History (Canadian Albums)" . Billboard ^ "R&B : Top 50" . Jam! the original on May 23, 2000. Retrieved January 27, 2023 .^ a b "Top National Sellers" (PDF) . Music & Media OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Hits of the World" . Billboard . Vol. 112, no. 16. April 15, 2000. p. 57. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books .^ "Macy Gray: On How Life Is" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved December 1, 2018.
^ "Lescharts.com – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved July 24, 2015.^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 16, no. 49. December 4, 1999. p. 13. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.^ "Italiancharts.com – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 24, 2015.^ "Charts.nz – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 17, no. 13. March 25, 2000. p. 13. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved July 24, 2015.^ "Swedishcharts.com – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2011.^ "Swisscharts.com – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" . Hung Medien. 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Retrieved March 24, 2022 .^ "Års Hitlister 2000" (in Danish). IFPI Denmark . Archived from the original on December 20, 2002. Retrieved June 5, 2017 .^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000" . dutchcharts.nl . Retrieved April 3, 2021 .^ "Year in Focus – European Top 100 Albums 2000" (PDF) . Music & Media . Vol. 17, no. 52. December 23, 2000. p. 9. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2000" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ "Top Selling Albums of 2000" . Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved August 20, 2017 .^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2000" . swisscharts.com . Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2000" . Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year End 2000" . Billboard . Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2015 .^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2000" . Billboard . Archived from the original on May 8, 2018. 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Studio albums Other albums Singles Featured singles
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