Key Facts
- First recorded by
- Wynonna Judd
- Clapton's version released
- 1996
- Songwriters
- Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims, Wayne Kirkpatrick
- Judd's album
- Revelations
- Weeks at No. 1
- 13 weeks
- Consecutive weeks in Top 20 AC
- 81 weeks
Background
In 1996, Eric Clapton released 'Change The World' as part of the soundtrack for the film 'Phenomenon,' starring John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, and Forest Whitaker. The song became a No. 1 hit and remains one of Clapton's most popular songs.
However, Clapton was not the first to record the song. Wynonna Judd recorded 'Change The World' for her third studio album, 'Revelations,' before Clapton's version. Judd's version was never released as a single.
The song was written by Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims, and Wayne Kirkpatrick. It was written five years before either Judd or Clapton recorded it, originally intended to secure a record deal for the writers, which initially did not happen.
Current Situation
According to Kennedy, after the writers were passed over for a record deal, they felt they had failed. When Wynonna Judd recorded the song, they were told for two and a half years that it would be a single, but her label released three other singles instead, and 'Change The World' was not among them.
Kennedy told American Songwriter that they again thought they had failed. However, five years after the song idea was introduced and four years after the demo was completed, Eric Clapton recorded it.
Clapton's version spent 13 weeks at No. 1 and a record 81 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 AC charts in Billboard, according to Kennedy. It also won the Grammy for Song of the Year.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Weeks at No. 1 | 13 weeks |
| Consecutive weeks in Top 20 AC | 81 weeks |
Impacts
The success of Clapton's version transformed the lives of the songwriters, who had initially faced rejection. The song's popularity brought significant recognition to Kennedy, Sims, and Kirkpatrick.
For Wynonna Judd, her recording of 'Change The World' remains a notable part of her album 'Revelations,' even though it was not a single. The song's later success may have brought renewed attention to her version.
The song's journey from a rejected demo to a Grammy-winning hit illustrates the unpredictable nature of the music industry, where timing and artist interpretation can dramatically alter a song's fate.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If 'Change The World' continues to be streamed and covered, it may further cement its status as a classic, potentially leading to renewed interest in Wynonna Judd's original version.
Should the songwriters share more stories about the song's creation, it could provide deeper insight into the creative process and the challenges of pitching songs in the music industry.
The song's legacy may also inspire other songwriters who face initial rejection, as its success demonstrates that a song can find its audience years later under different circumstances.
Source: americansongwriter.com
