Cry
Studio album by
Faith Hill
ReleasedOctober 15, 2002 (2002-10-15)
Genre
Length60:30
LabelWarner Bros. Nashville
Producer
Faith Hill chronology
There You'll Be
(2001)		 Cry
(2002)		 Fireflies
(2005)
Singles from Cry
  1. "Cry"
    Released: September 30, 2002
  2. "When the Lights Go Down"
    Released: November 19, 2002
  3. "One"
    Released: April 2003
  4. "Baby You Belong"
    Released: March 4, 2003
  5. "You're Still Here"
    Released: June 10, 2003

Cry is the fifth studio album by American country music singer Faith Hill. It was released October 15, 2002, via Warner Bros. Nashville. The album was Hill's attempt at a crossover album, following singles like "Breathe", "The Way You Love Me", and "There You'll Be". Hill co-produced the album along with Marti Frederiksen, Byron Gallimore, and Dann Huff.

Despite the album being a crossover, it was Hill's first album to not spawn a number one hit, let alone a top ten hit, on the country charts. Its lead, the title track, peaked only at number 12 at country radio; it however was a success on adult contemporary, spending 11 weeks atop that chart; it was a modest success internationally. "One" was not released to country radio but peaked at number seven on the adult contemporary charts. "When the Lights Go Down" and "You're Still Here" were released to country radio but failed to even crack the top twenty. "Baby You Belong" was exclusively released to Japan.

Upon release, Cry was met with mixed reviews, with critics divided on the lack of country influences.[1][2] Despite that though, the album sold over 472,000 copies in its first week in the US and topped both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts. The album went on to sell 4 million copies worldwide and has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA. Hill has defended the polarizing creative direction of Cry, telling Billboard that "it was definitely a different record," but that she is still "so proud of [the album]."[3] Cry was ranked at number 179 on the Billboard Top 200 albums of the 2000s decade. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Country Album, and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for its title track, "Cry".

Content

Cry is led off by its title track, written by Angie Aparo. This song reached number 12 on the country singles charts, the lowest country peak she has achieved with a lead-off single. "When the Lights Go Down" and "You're Still Here" were also released to country radio, peaking at number 26 and number 28 respectively.[3] "One" did not chart on the country singles charts, although it was a number 7 adult contemporary hit. "Baby You Belong" was only released as a single in Japan, but was used as the theme song for the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch. The song's music video features clips from the film. The album was produced primarily by Byron Gallimore and Dann Huff, who also worked on 1999's Breathe,[4] with additional production from Hill and Marti Frederiksen.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(59/100)[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Billboard(average)[6]
Blender[1]
E! OnlineB+[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Q[1]
Rolling Stone[9]
The Village VoiceC[10]

Cry received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 59, based on 8 reviews.[1] Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly praised Hill for taking stylistic risks but conceded that the album "invites some of the criticism that will inevitably come its way."[7] Billboard wrote that "Cry is a confident effort, with Hill laying claim as queen of" pop-country, however the magazine also described the songs as "sometimes bland" and "repetitive."[6] AllMusic writer Robert L. Doerschuk was ambivalent towards the album's production, writing that "her established skills as a song interpreter are lost in all this sturm und drang and her voice, while undeniably powerful at its peak, doesn't have the range that allows most singers in this style... to at least milk the material."[5]

Rolling Stone found the album to be "contrived" and impersonal, with Barry Walters writing, "[Hill is] an expert in the yelps and sighs that signify pop passion, and what she lacks in personality she makes up for with power, professionalism and unfailing hooks."[9] Robert Hillburn of the Los Angeles Times was particularly critical, rating the album one-and-a-half stars out of four. "The songs ... are mediocre," he writes, "her vocals are rarely convincing, and the arrangements are ham-fisted."[8]

In a piece commemorating Cry's tenth anniversary, Billy Dukes of Taste of Country theorized that the polarizing opinions on the album were a result of the "building tension" at the time between country "purists" and fans of the contemporary pop influences.[2]

Commercial performance

Cry debuted at number one on both the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the all-genre Billboard 200 chart dated November 2, 2002. The album sold over 472,000 copies in its first week, marking the highest first week sales of Hill's career and also setting a new record for the largest first-week sales figure by a solo female country artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991;[11] the record was later broken just a few weeks later when fellow country singer Shania Twain would debuted at number one with over 867,000 copies sold first week for her 2002 album Up!. It would only spend one week at number one on the Billboard 200 and only spent 39 weeks total, Hill's second shortest chart run with a solo album. On the country charts, it would spend three non-consecutive weeks at number one and overall 63 weeks on the chart to date; Cry is one of only two of Hill's solo albums to not spend at least 100 weeks on the country charts.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Free"Annie Roboff, Beth Nielsen Chapman4:38
2."Cry"Angie Aparo3:45
3."One"Roboff, Bekka Bramlett, Billy Burnette5:20
4."When the Lights Go Down"Rivers Rutherford, Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman4:05
5."Beautiful"Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Shaye Smith4:41
6."Unsaveable"Bramlett, Bobby Terry3:51
7."Baby You Belong"Keith Follesé, Wade Kirby, Bill Luther4:08
8."If You're Gonna Fly Away"Alecia Moore, Linda Perry3:48
9."Stronger"Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges4:13
10."If This Is the End"Steve McEwan4:55
11."This Is Me"H. Lindsey, Verges5:04
12."Back to You"Derek Bramble, Lindy Robbins4:35
13."I Think I Will"Steve Robson, Anthony Smith4:08
14."You're Still Here"Matraca Berg, Aimee Mayo3:19
Total length:60:30
Bonus Track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Wicked" (Japanese bonus track)McEwan4:04
Total length:64:34

Personnel

Performance credits
  • Faith Hill – vocals
  • Greg Barnhill – background vocals
  • Bekka Bramlett – background vocals
  • Lisa Cochran – background vocals
  • Marti Frederiksen – background vocals
  • Lisa Gregg – background vocals
  • Chris Rodriguez – background vocals
  • Edmund Stein – vocals
  • Crystal Taliefero – background vocals
Music credits
  • Tim Akers – keyboard
  • Rick Baptist – trumpet
  • Bob Becker – viola
  • Charlie Bisharat – violin
  • Bekka Bramlett – tambourine
  • Denyse Buffum – viola
  • Paul Bushnell – bass
  • Eve Butler – violin
  • David Campbell – arranger, conductor
  • Darius Campo – violin
  • Matt Chamberlain – drums
  • Susan Chatman – violin
  • Jeff Cobble – lead guitar
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums, tambourine
  • Larry Corbett – cello
  • Jim Cox – piano, Hammond organ
  • Eric Darken – percussion
  • Mario deLeon – violin
  • Joel Derouin – violin, concert master
  • Erika Duke – cello
  • Bruce Dukov – violin
  • Earl Dumler – oboe
  • Stephen Erdody – cello
  • Stefanie Fife – cello
  • Marti Frederiksen – acoustic guitar, percussion, electric guitar
  • John Fumo – trumpet
  • Matt Funes – viola
  • Byron Gallimore – electric guitar, clavinet, sampling, slide guitar, drum loop, sampled keyboards, synthesizer accordion
  • Armen Garabedian – violin
  • Berj Garabedian – violin
  • Endre Granat – violin
  • Lynn Grants – viola
  • Maurice Grants – cello
  • John Hayhurst – viola
  • Dan Higgins – tenor saxophone
  • Jim Hoke – autoharp
  • Jim Horn – tenor saxophone
  • Dann Huff – guitar
  • Damon Johnson – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar
  • Suzie Katayama – cello, conductor, string conductor
  • Peter Kent – violin
  • Michael Landau – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Sam Levine – tenor saxophone
  • Dane Little – cello
  • Diane Little – cello
  • Erik Lutkins – drum loop
  • Michael Markman – violin
  • Miguel Martinez – cello
  • Robert Matsuda – violin
  • Chris McHugh – drums
  • Jerry McPherson – guitar
  • Doug Moffett – baritone saxophone
  • Jamie Muhoberac – organ, keyboard, Wurlitzer
  • Carole Mukogawa – viola
  • Steve Nathan – keyboard
  • Maria Newman – violin
  • Sid Page – violin
  • Toss Panos – drums
  • Sara Parkins – violin
  • Dean Parks – acoustic guitar, gut-string guitar
  • Joel Peskin – baritone saxophone
  • Bob Peterson – violin
  • Tim Pierce – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Kazi Pitelka – viola
  • Karie Prescott – viola
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
  • Michele Richards – violin
  • Steve Richards – cello
  • Mark Robertson – violin
  • Annie Roboff – drum loop
  • Matt Rollings – piano
  • Haim Shtrum – violin
  • Leland Sklar – bass
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass
  • Dan Smith – cello
  • Rudy Stein – cello
  • David Stenske – violin
  • Michael Hart Thompson – guitar
  • Mari Tsumura – violin
  • Josephina Vergara – violin
  • Evan Wilson – viola
  • John Wittenberg – violin
  • Margaret Wooten – violin
  • Cynthia Wyatt – harp
  • Jonathan Yudkin – mandolin, cello, bazouki
Production credits
  • Producer: Faith Hill, Marti Frederiksen, Byron Gallimore, Dann Huff, David May
  • Engineers: Jeff Balding, Jeremy Blair, Steve Churchyard, Ricky Cobble, Dennis Davis, Allen Ditto, Jason Gantt, Mark Hagen, Julian King, Erik Lutkins, Michael McCoy, Brian Paturalski
  • Mixing: Serban Ghenea, Mick Guzauski, Tom Lord-Alge, Mark O'Donoughue, Tim Palmer, Andy Wallace
  • Mixing assistant: Tim Roberts
  • Remixing: Elliot Scheiner
  • Mastering: Robert Hadley, Tom Lord-Alge, Bob Ludwig, Doug Sax
  • A&R: Jeffrey Aldrich, Danny Kee
  • Assistants: Jeff Balding, Tom Bender, Greg Burns, Eric Gallimore, Jed Hackett, Femio Hernández, Judy Kirschner, Brett Patrick, Dennis Rivadeneira, Tim Roberts, Jaime Sickora, Steve Sisco, Matt Snedecor, Dann Thompson, Alex Uychocde, Patrick Woodward, Mike Zinczenko
  • Digital editing: Ricky Cobble, Dennis Davis, Marti Frederiksen, Jason Gantt, Erik Lutkins, Chris Rowe, Josh Wilbur
  • Authoring: Spencer Chrislu, David Dieckmann
  • Production coordination: Ann Callis, Mike "Frog" Griffith
  • Drum programming: Vinnie Colaiuta, Frank Macek
  • Keyboard programming: Eric Carter
  • Programming: Dann Huff, David Lyndon Huff, Chris McHugh, Tedd Tjornhom
  • Overdubs: Byron Gallimore
  • Sequencing: Byron Gallimore
  • String arrangements: Paul Buckmaster, David Campbell, Jim Cox
  • Orchestra manager: Suzie Katayama
Visual and imagery
  • Art administration: Sandra Westerman
  • Graphic coordinator: Raena Winscott
  • Librarian: David Horn
  • Hair stylist: Serge Normant

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[39] Platinum 100,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[40] Gold 100,000^
Portugal (AFP)[41] Gold 20,000^
United States (RIAA)[42] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year Winner Category
2002 "Cry" Best Female Country Vocal Performance

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Critic reviews for Cry". Metacritic. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Dukes, Billy (October 15, 2012). "Faith Hill's 'Cry' Turns 10". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Billboard (Vol. 117, No. 30 ed.). Prometheus Global Media. July 23, 2005. p. 26. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Faith Hill Has A Good 'Cry'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 9, 2002. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Robert L. Doerschuk. "Cry – Faith Hill". Allmusic. All Media Network. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Faith Hill: Cry". Billboard. October 26, 2002. Archived from the original on October 19, 2002. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  7. 1 2 Willman, Chris (October 18, 2002). "Cry Review". Entertainment Weekly. Wenner Media. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Hilburn, Robert (October 13, 2002). "Nice try, Faith, but go back to the studio". Los Angeles Times. tronc. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Walters, Barry (October 8, 2002). "Faith Hill: Cry : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (April 22, 2003). "Not Hop, Stomp". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  11. ↑ Gilbert, Calvin (October 25, 2002). "Faith Hill's Cry Dominates Album Charts". CMT. Viacom. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Report (Issue 660)" (PDF). ARIA. October 21, 2002. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2002-11-06. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Faith Hill – Cry" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Faith Hill Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  17. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. November 16, 2002. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Charts.nz – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Faith Hill – Cry". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Faith Hill | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Faith Hill Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Faith Hill Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  28. ↑ "ARIA Report (Issue 670)" (PDF). ARIA. December 30, 2002. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-01-06. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Top 100 country albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums: Year End 2002". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Country Albums: Year End 2002". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2002" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ "ARIA Report (End of Year 2003)" (PDF). ARIA. December 29, 2002. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-01-06. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums: Year End 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Country Albums: Year End 2003". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  37. ↑ Billboard (Vol. 121, No. 39 ed.). Prometheus Global Media. October 3, 2009. p. 164. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  38. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Faith Hill – Cry". Music Canada. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Faith Hill – Cry" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2002年10月 on the drop-down menu
  41. ↑ "Portuguese album certifications – Faith Hill – Cry" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  42. ↑ "American album certifications – Faith Hill – Cry". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
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