"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song by Americanhard rock bandAerosmith that served as the theme song for the 1998 science fiction disaster filmArmageddon, in which lead singerSteven Tyler's daughterLiv starred. It is one of four songs performed by the band for the film, the other three being "What Kind of Love Are You On", "Come Together", and "Sweet Emotion". Thepower ballad[3] was co-written byDiane Warren, who originally envisioned it would be performed by "Celine Dion or somebody like that".[4] The song received its airplay premiere on May 12, 1998, and was officially added to radio a week later.[5]
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was first released in Japan on July 29, 1998. In the United States, it was originally supposed to be a radio-only single fromArmageddon: The Album, but due to popular demand,Columbia Records issued the song commercially in August 1998.[6][7] It subsequently debuted at number one on theBillboard Hot 100, giving the band their first and only number-one single in their home country, remaining at the top for four weeks. The song also peaked at number one for multiple weeks in several other countries, including Australia, Ireland, and Norway. In the United Kingdom, it sold over two million copies and reached number four on theUK Singles Chart. The song was nominated for anOscar asBest Original Song at the71st Academy Awards of 1998, but lost to "When You Believe" fromThe Prince of Egypt.[8]
In 1997,Diane Warren was watchingBarbara Walters interviewJames Brolin andBarbra Streisand. Brolin said he missed Streisand when they were asleep, and Warren wrote down the words "I don't want to miss a thing", before there was even a song.[9] "When I first heard it," recalled drummerJoey Kramer, "it was just a demo with piano and singing. It was difficult to imagine what kind of touch Aerosmith could put on it and make it our own… As soon as we began playing it as a band, then it instantly became an Aerosmith song."[10]
The song received generally positive reviews from critics.Billboard wrote, "If you're among the many who adore Aerosmith when it indulges in power balladry à la "Angel", then you're in for a real treat. This tune from the imminent soundtrack to"Armageddon" shows the enduring rock troupe happily giving in to the romance of superstar tunesmithDiane Warren's sweet tune—but with an appropriate dash of guitar-juiced melodrama.Steven Tyler's signature belting is so intensely over the top that he frequently seems to be shrieking. It's a high-voltage performance that is matched by a collision of rock-styled instrumentation and grand, faux-classical orchestration. It's a recipe that will prove irresistible to programmers at top 40 andAC formats."[11]
Birmingham Evening Mail commented, "Songwriter Diane Warren weaves her magic again with a bombasticpower ballad from the 'Armageddon' movie soundtrack. It perfectly suits Steven Tyler's sleazy vocals as the track moves towards its strings-soaked conclusion."[12]Daily Record called it an "epic ballad which has Steve Tyler impersonating ofBryan Adams".[13] They also noted it as an "end-of-the-nightdisco favourite".[14]
The music video was shot at theMinneapolis Armory in May 1998 and features scenes from the film along with a cameo byLiv Tyler in her role as Grace Stamper.[citation needed] While the band plays with an orchestra backing them in a studio filled with giant banners ofNASA, the banners fall in the second chorus, revealing the studio to be the launchpad of Space Shuttle Freedom from the film, whileF-15 andT-38 fighter jets fly in formation overhead.
This song was Aerosmith's biggest hit, debuting at number one on the USBillboard Hot 100, where it stayed for four weeks in from September 5 to October 3, 1998, and reaching number one around the world, including Australia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It helped introduce Aerosmith to a new generation[15] and remains a slow dance staple.[16]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Chesnutt chose to cover the song through the suggestion of his record producerMark Wright, who had heard the Aerosmith version on his car radio. According to Wright, he and Chesnutt only listened to Aerosmith's rendition twice before recording, in order to allow Chesnutt to come up with a rendition that was "his". Because the two thought that his version had potential as a single, his labelDecca Records withdrew his then-current single "Wherever You Are" in late 1998 and began promotion of "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" instead.[119] Chesnutt also said that he chose to do the song because he thought that it would help revive his then-flagging album sales and chart performance.[120]
Despite showing favor toward the cover at the time, Chesnutt remarked in 2016 that he "didn't want to cut it" and that, even though his version topped the country music charts and was successful on radio, sales were poor for both the single and the corresponding album. He also noted that soon afterward, he exited his label after refusing their offer to cover another pop song.[121]
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (US cassette single sleeve). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. 38T 78952.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (UK CD1 liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666408 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (UK CD2 liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666408 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (UK limited 7-inch picture disc sleeve). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666408 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (European CD single liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. COL 666032 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. COL 666032 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Australian CD single liner notes). Aerosmith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666095 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (Japanese CD single liner notes). Aerosmith.Sony. 1998. SRCS 8630.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Armageddon: The Album (US CD album liner notes). Columbia Records, Sony Music Soundtrax. 1998. CK 69440.
^"History" (in Italian).FIMI. RetrievedJune 2, 2022. With "Ricerca per" set on "Titolo", search "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" and then click "Classifiche".
