(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
John Denver - "I'm Sorry"
Hit Number 1: September 27, 1975
Stay at Number 1: 1 Week
Chances are if you're going to listen to some John Denver, you're going to be hearing a lot about the outdoors. You're going to hear about the mountains, the countryside, open roads and even the ocean. You're not, however, going to hear about many love songs. Even when Denver tried his hand at a love song, he couldn't help himself by comparing his love to many outdoorsy things, which of course resulted in 1974's "Annie's Song." But then he released "I'm Sorry" in 1975, and it's unlike anything Denver had ever done before. That's because "I'm Sorry" is a really somber love song, one about feeling sorry for yourself (among other things) because you messed up in your relationship and want to do anything to get your love back. Obviously, this is not a new topic for many artists, but for John Denver, it's something that I bet a lot of people in 1975 weren't expecting. But because people in 1975 loved John Denver, they bought it anyway. And I have to say, Denver is able to pull it off.
Normally, songs like "I'm Sorry" aren't my favorites because they fall into that category of way-too-mellow ballads, or songs that could easily put me to sleep. But there's no way I can disrespect this song because of how well Denver is able to sell the thing. In "I'm Sorry," Denver is sorry for a lot of things, which other than the way things are in China, are the things he wished he didn't do while in his relationship. But he sings with that approachable charm that made slower songs like "Sunshine on My Shoulders" still work. He truly sounds like a very sorry man, and though the lyrics never say it, it's still heavily implied that the narrator is more sorry for the woman he mistreated than himself. That only works because of how Denver sings the song. But there's other things around him that help too: the subtle string section, the backing singers in the bridge and at the end, the escalating guitar licks, but nothing jumps out at you. Instead, everything blends together, and it creates a downright beautiful song. This is another one of those slow ballads that I can actually appreciate and enjoy.
But "I'm Sorry" also shares an A-side with "Calypso," an absolutely amazing anthem about the sea goddess. Again, the power of "Calypso" is in Denver's voice, and the way he wails and yodels after the chorus is impressive. ("Calypso" is a 9) This is the song I was alluding to when I said Denver's outdoorsy tunes can spread as far as the ocean. "Calypso" is the better of the two songs, but considering how beautiful and harmless "I'm Sorry" is, combining the two together on a #1 hit single makes for a great record.
This is the last time we'll hear from Denver in this blog, but it was a hell of a run for sure. His name would fade from pop music stardom not long after "I'm Sorry" hit #1, but he still remained active in the music world through the '80s and into the '90s. He spent a lot of time in the Rocky Mountains (unsurprisingly) and even took up flying. Unfortunately though, flying would later cost him his life after he crashed his own plane into the ocean in 1997. (Fun fact: Denver died a day after I was born) Maybe it wouldn't be accurate to call a #1 hit an obscure song, but compared to Denver's other songs, "I'm Sorry" is forgotten about. Which really is too bad, considering it was his last #1, and "I'm Sorry" isn't all that bad a song. At least we have no shortage of great Denver material for us all to listen to for eternity.
GRADE: 7/10
IN POP CULTURE:
Speaking of obscurity, I can find no instances of "I'm Sorry" being around in pop culture. I can't even find a cover of the song. So here's Denver performing the song live at his Wildlife Concert in 1995.
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