Constant Craving

"Constant Craving" is a song written by k.d. lang and Ben Mink, and performed by k.d. lang on her album Ingénue.[1][2] The song first made the charts in 1992, and won her the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1993[3] and an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video.

"Constant Craving"
Single by k.d. Lang
from the album Ingénue
Released
  • 1992 (original release)
  • 1993 (re-release)
Recorded1991
Genre
Length4:38
LabelSire Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
K.d. Lang singles chronology
"Trail of Broken Hearts"
(1990)		 "Constant Craving"
(1992)		 "Miss Chatelaine"
(1992)
Music video
"Constant Craving" on YouTube

"Constant Craving" peaked at number eight on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart and number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Lang her only US top-40 hit to date. It also reached number two on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. In the United Kingdom, the song was initially a modest hit when released in 1992, but following a reissue in 1993 in the wake of its American success, it reached a new peak of number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

Song information

The Rolling Stones used a refrain very similar to that of "Constant Craving" in their 1997 single "Anybody Seen My Baby?." They later gave writing credits on that song to k.d. lang and Mink, shared with the original authors Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.[4]

Critical reception

Mark Deming from AllMusic noted that "the emotional core" of songs like "Constant Craving", "was obvious even when their surfaces were evasive."[5] Larry Flick from Billboard said "there is no denying the rootsy, down-home quality of this wonderfully produced tune. Lang's distinctive voice is woven into spiraling multitracked harmonies, wafting over a base of acoustic guitar strumming and subtle accordian and xylophone interludes."[6] Cashbox picked it as a "standout" cut from the Ingénue album.[7] Daily Mirror described it as "haunting".[8] The Daily Vault's Jason Warburg called it a "dynamite single", that "manages to meld the spiritual with the physical while conveying a feverish desire for both kinds of fulfillment." He also noted it as "upbeat", "expansive and full of simmering appeal".[9] Gavin Report commented, "k.d.'s foresaken country for a straight pop format that will finally win her the mass audience she's deserved. This track showcases her wonderful voice in solo and multi-part harmonies."[10] Music & Media wrote, "Tales from the new west. La lang has changed her position on horseback for a more comfortable seat on the coach. In mind, she's singing in some Paris café in the decadent '20s."[11]

Music video

The music video for the song was filmed in black-and-white. It presents a fanciful recreation of the premiere of Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot in Paris, 1953. Here, she is depicted singing backstage while the actors perform. The director, Mark Romanek, says the song's lyrics of desperation and waiting fit well with the themes of Beckett's play.[12] Much to Lang's surprise, the video won Best Female Video at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.

Charts

Cover versions
"Constant Craving"
Single by Abigail
from the album Feel Good
B-side"Don't Tell Me Why"
Released1993
GenreHi-NRG[27]
Length4:06 (radio version)
LabelKlone Records
Songwriter(s)
Abigail singles chronology
"Could It Be Magic"
(1992)		 "Constant Craving"
(1993)		 "Losing My Religion"
(1993)
"Constant Craving"
Single by Abigail
from the album Feel Good
B-side"What Goes Around Comes Around"
Released1993, 1995
GenreHi-NRG
Length4:04 (radio edit)
LabelZYX Music
Songwriter(s)
Abigail singles chronology
"Don't You Wanna Know?"
(1992)		 "Constant Craving"
(1993)		 "Night Moves"
(1993)

Track listings (Abigail version)

12-inch vinyl single (Klone Records – 1993)

  1. "Constant Craving" (Vocal Version)
  2. "Constant Craving" (Instrumental)
  3. "Don't Tell Me Why" (Vocal Version)
  4. "Don't Tell Me Why" (Instrumental)

CD maxi-single (Klone Records – 1993)

  1. "Constant Craving" (Radio Version) – 4:06
  2. "Constant Craving" (Original Mix) – 6:24
  3. "Constant Craving" (Trade Mix) – 9:34
  4. "Don't Tell Me Why" – 4:50

12-inch vinyl single (ZYX Music – 1995) (title was changed to Constant Craving '95)

  1. "Constant Craving '95" (Illusive Mix) – 8:01
  2. "Constant Craving '95" (Gailforce Mix) – 8:01
  3. "Constant Craving '95" (Original Mix)
  4. "What Goes Around Comes Around" (Ace Mix) – 6:03

CD maxi-single (ZYX Music – 1995)

  1. "Constant Craving '95" (Radio Edit) – 4:04
  2. "Constant Craving '95" (Illusive Mix) – 8:01
  3. "Constant Craving '95" (Gailforce Mix) – 8:01
  4. "What Goes Around Comes Around" (Ace Mix) – 6:03

References
  1. Blair Jackson. "Classic Track: “Constant Craving,” k.d. lang" – MixOnline.com – Aug 1, 2013.
  2. Simpson, Dave (26 September 2017). "kd lang and Ben Mink: how we made Constant Craving". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  3. "Past Winners Search | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  4. Richards, Keith. Life. New York: Little, Brown & Co., 2010. p. 457.
  5. Deming, Mark. "k.d. lang – Ingénue". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. Flick, Larry (2 May 1992). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 84. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  7. "Music Reviews: Albums - Pick Of The Week" (PDF). Cashbox. 11 April 1992. p. 5. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  8. Daily Mirror. 15 March 1993. p. 9. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. Warburg, Jason (13 February 2008). "Ingenue – k.d. lang". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. "A/C: Reviews" (PDF). Gavin Report. 17 April 1992. p. 36. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  11. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 May 1992. p. 11. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  12. Director's commentary on The Work of Director Mark Romanek DVD.
  13. "Australian-charts.com – k.d. lang – Constant Craving". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  14. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2144." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  15. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2138." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 14. 3 April 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – k.d. lang – Constant Craving". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  18. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.–25. mars)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 March 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Constant Craving". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  22. "k.d. lang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  23. "k.d. lang Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  24. "k.d. lang Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  25. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56 no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  26. "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  27. Flick, Larry (18 May 1996). "Brutally Honest Ngedéocello Says A Mouthful". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 108 (20): 26. ISSN 0006-2510.
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