| "Everywhere" | ||||
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| Single byMichelle Branch | ||||
| from the albumThe Spirit Room | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | July 10, 2001 (2001-07-10) | |||
| Recorded | January–February 2001 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | Maverick | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | John Shanks | |||
| Michelle Branch singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Everywhere" onYouTube | ||||
"Everywhere" is a song by American singer-songwriterMichelle Branch, co-written by Branch and American record producerJohn Shanks, who also produced the track. "Everywhere" is apop rock song with ambiguous lyrics about having a crush on someone, with severalmusic critics having compared the song's composition to works by Canadian singerAlanis Morissette. Branch originally wrote the song in a moreacoustic form, but at Shanks' suggestion, she recorded a more up-tempo version of the track in January and February 2001. "Everywhere" was released on July 10, 2001, in the United States as Branch's debut single and thelead single from her first major-label studio album,The Spirit Room (2001). The single was also released in Australia, Europe, and Japan throughout 2001 and 2002.
"Everywhere" received positive reviews from music critics, who called it a standout track fromThe Spirit Room due to its lively composition and catchy lyrics. The track has also aged well, with retrospective reviews giving similar praise to the song's composition and its chorus being ranked the 77th greatest of the 21st century byBillboard magazine in 2017. Commercially, "Everywhere" peaked at number 12 on the USBillboard Hot 100, reached the top 20 in Australia and the United Kingdom, and achieved top-five placings in the Netherlands and New Zealand. A music video directed byLiz Friedlander was also created for the single, featuring Branch stalking a man in an apartment building. The video won theViewer's Choice Award at the2002 MTV Video Music Awards. "Everywhere" remains Branch's most well-known song.
Living with her parents inSedona, Arizona,Michelle Branch wrote "Everywhere" when she was 15 years old, originally composing it as anacoustic love song.[2][3] After she turned 17, Danny Strick, the executiveA&R manager ofMaverick Records, saw her performing as an opening act for pop rock bandHanson. Noticing that the crowd responded well to her music, he decided to sign her to the label in July 2000. She then played the song forJohn Shanks, who agreed to produce the track, and they recorded it from January to February 2001 at three studios in Hollywood, California:Sunset Sound,Henson Recording Studios, and Ananda Studios.[4][5] Additional musicians who contributed to the song include keyboardistPatrick Warren and drummersKenny Aronoff andVinnie Colaiuta.[5]
Once Branch finished recording "Everywhere", Maverick promoted the track on UShot adult contemporary andcontemporary hit radio, where the song was officially serviced on July 10, 2001, eight days after Branch's 18th birthday.[6][7]The Spirit Room was released on August 14, 2001, on which the song appears as the opening track.[8][9] In Australia, "Everywhere" was released as aCD single on September 24, 2001, through Maverick andWarner Music Australia.[10] This CD contains acoustic versions of Branch's future singles "All You Wanted" and "Goodbye to You".[11] In Japan,Warner Music Japan released the song as adouble A-side with the original version of "All You Wanted" on January 23, 2002.[12][13] Three months later, on April 1, 2002, Maverick issued the single across Europe and in the United Kingdom.[14][15] In the UK, it was released on CD andcassette. The CD contains the acoustic versions of "All You Wanted" and "Everywhere" plus anenhanced element featuring the song's video, and the cassette contains the acoustic version of "Goodbye to You" only.[16][17] The European CD single features the same tracks as the UK cassette.[18]
The original version of "Everywhere" was written by Branch alone, while Shanks, who produced the track, provided additional writing for the final recording. A vocally fervent love song, the track is written incommon time with a moderate tempo of 98beats per minute and was composed in the key ofD♭ major.[22][23] According to Branch, she wrote the chorus ahalf step lower than the album version withfalsetto vocals, but Shanks convinced her to raise the tone and sing as vigorously as she could.[2] Stephanie Garr of online magazineThe Dowsers described the song's essence as a combination of "moodypost-grungerock and breezy Y2Kpop" and likened Branch's vocals to an optimisticAlanis Morissette, who was also signed to Maverick.[3][24]
The lyrical content of the song, described byBillboard as "ultra-romantic", was left intentionally ambiguous by Branch, who did not write the song from personal experience.[2][21] In 2001, Branch toldMTV that she prefers her songs having ambiguous themes so that anyone can relate to it without recalling specific events.[20] The song'shook was described by Patrick Crowley ofBillboard as a "beast of a glossypop-rock hook" and responsible for the song's catchiness.[19] Branch later commented that the she had written better refrains since then but remains proud of her work.[2] In retrospective comments, Branch said that the material of her first two albums, including "Everywhere", is "hopelessly romantic" compared with her later work and composed of "a lot of [...] teenage rhyme".[2][25]
Billboard editorChuck Taylor likened the song to a "shot oftequila" when compared with other pop music of the time, praising its mood, lyrics, and production.[8] Chris Edge ofRaleigh-Durham radio stationWDCG said that the track conveys Branch's passion through its "incredible hook" and lyrics and praised its relatability.[4] InHasselt, Belgium, FM Limburg head of music Sandra Boussu labeled the track "cool and hip", comparing Branch to Morissette and Dutch singerSita.[14]AllMusic's Liana Jonas described the song "a lively and heartfelt song with electric-guitar power chords, spirited vocal delivery, and catchy chorus".[9] Sputnikmusic reviewed the song, calling it the album's standout track.[26]IGN Music called the song "definitely catchy".[27] Sean Richardson of theBoston Phoenix described the song's intro as "glossy", going on to label the chorus as "unforgettabledream-pop" and comparing the track toVanessa Carlton's debut single, "A Thousand Miles".[28] British chart commentatorJames Masterton wrote that the song charted in the UK on its own merits and noted Branch's "tremendous" voice as well as the "uplifting" lyrics.[29]
Retrospectively, in 2017,Billboard ranked the song's chorus as the 77th-best of the 21st century, referring to the second half as a "testament" to the entire refrain.[19] Garr noted that "Everywhere" marked the end of the "'90s angst" era and served as an influence for future female pop stars such asKelly Clarkson,KT Tunstall,Sara Bareilles, andHayley Williams ofParamore.[3] In September 2022, Emily Yahr ofThe Washington Post commented on the song'snostalgia factor, writing that it "transport[s] a significant portion of the population back to the simpler times of watching MTV after school, dramaticAIM away messages and piling friends into a car fresh off getting a driver's license and cranking up the radio".[30]
On the USBillboard Hot 100, "Everywhere" debuted at number 62 on September 1, 2001, becoming that week's highest-charting new song.[31] Ten weeks later, on November 10, the song peaked at number 12, giving Branch her first of four top-20 singles in the US. The song spent a total of 20 weeks on the Hot 100, last charting at number 63 on January 7, 2002.[32][33] On otherBillboard charts, the song achieved its highest position on theMainstream Top 40, where it peaked at number five and spent 26 weeks on the ranking.[34] The song also reached the top 10 on theAdult Top 40 andTop 40 Tracks listings, reaching numbers nine and six, respectively.[35][36] The track appeared on the Adult Top 40 year-end chart for 2001, ranking in at number 26.[37] In Canada, the song became a top-10 hit oncontemporary hit radio, peaking at number nine on theNielsen BDS chart.[38]
In Australia, "Everywhere" debuted at number 100 on theARIA Singles Chart in November 2001, rising into the top 50 on January 13, 2002.[39][40] In late March, the song rose into the top 20 and peaked at number 19, becoming Branch's highest-charting single in Australia and staying inside the top 50 for 15 weeks.[40] At the end of 2002, theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ranked the song at number 87 on their year-end chart.[41] In New Zealand, the single first appeared at number 45 on theRIANZ Singles Chart in November 2001. Over the next six weeks, the track rose up the top 50, eventually peaking at number two on December 16. Spending 16 weeks within the top 50, it remains Branch's highest-charting single in New Zealand.[42]Recorded Music NZ awarded the song a goldcertification in 2022 for sales and streams exceeding 15,000 units.[43]
"Everywhere" also charted in several European countries, achieving a peak of number 84 on theEurochart Hot 100 in April 2002.[44] In the United Kingdom, the single debuted and peaked at number 18 on theUK Singles Chart the same month, totaling six weeks in the top 100. It is Branch's second-highest-peaking single in the UK, after "The Game of Love", her collaboration with rock bandSantana.[45] On the Netherlands'Dutch Top 40 chart, "Everywhere" became a top-five hit, reaching number five in March 2002, while on the country'sSingle Top 100 chart, it reached number 28.[46][47] According to the Dutch Top 40, "Everywhere" was the Netherlands' 84th-best-performing hit of 2002.[48] In Italy, the track reached number 28 on theFIMI Singles Chart.[49] Elsewhere in Europe, the single peaked at number 46 in Switzerland and charted below the top 50 in France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland.[50][51]
The music video for "Everywhere" was directed byLiz Friedlander and was filmed after the song began broadcasting on radio.[25][53] The video shows Branch spying on a man in the opposite apartment building while she takes several photographs of him and plays her guitar in an empty room. The man also glimpses back at her, and at the end of the video, the two finally meet.[54] Branch was involved in the selection of the actor portraying her love interest; she told MTV in a 2001 interview that when the producers showed her a photo ofJake Muxworthy, she told them, "This is it. Hehas to be in it." Playing opposite Muxworthy proved to be difficult for Branch, who had a "little crush" on him.[20]
Branch would later describe her character as a "creep" and "stalker-y" and compared the video to the filmRear Window and "anUrban Outfitters commercial", but also commented, "I don't think I would change anything about that video."[52] The video aired onFox Family,Nickelodeon, andVH1 before its intended release date, and it was also popular onMTV'sTotal Request Live, where Branch performed the song live on August 24, 2001.[55] At the2002 MTV Video Music Awards, the video won theViewer's Choice Award.[56]
Australian maxi-CD single[11]
UK CD single[16]
UK cassette single and European CD single[17][18]
Japanese CD single – "All You Wanted" / "Everywhere"[12]
Credits are adapted fromThe Spirit Room album booklet.[5]
Studios
Personnel
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[43] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | July 10, 2001 | Contemporary hit radio | Maverick | [6] |
| Australia | September 24, 2001 | CD |
| [10] |
| Japan | January 23, 2002 | CD with "All You Wanted" | Warner Music Japan | [13] |
| Europe | April 1, 2002 | CD | Maverick | [14] |
| United Kingdom |
| [15] |
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