"It's Probably Me" is a song originally released in 1992 as a collaboration by Sting featuring Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen, and David Sanborn.[1] Released from the soundtrack to the action comedy film Lethal Weapon 3 in June 1992, the song reached number 20 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 12 on Canada's RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. It was more successful in Europe, peaking at number one in Italy, number four in France, and number six in the Netherlands.

"It's Probably Me"
Single by Sting and Eric Clapton
from the album Lethal Weapon 3
Released23 June 1992 (1992-06-23)
Length4:41
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Sting, Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen
Producer(s)Michael Kamen, Stephen McLaughlin
Sting singles chronology
"Why Should I Cry for You"
(1991)
"It's Probably Me"
(1992)
"If I Ever Lose My Faith in You"
(1993)
Eric Clapton singles chronology
"Tears in Heaven"
(1992)
"It's Probably Me"
(1992)
"Runaway Train"
(1992)
Music video
"Sting - It's Probably Me (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

Background and release

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The song uses leitmotifs that were first used on the soundtrack for the original Lethal Weapon film, released five years earlier. It was released as a single and on the Lethal Weapon 3 movie soundtrack. It also appears on the Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994 international edition compilation album released in 1994, and on Sting's Duets album released in 2021. Sting rerecorded the song in 1993 for his Ten Summoner's Tales album without any of the other musicians.[2]

Music video

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A music video was released in mid 1992 featuring Sting, Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen and David Sanborn performing the track together while a few scenes of Lethal Weapon 3 are shown. The video snippets in where the quartet performs the song are shot in black and white. Clapton is also seen smoking a cigarette in the video and using his Zippo petrol lighter to create the opening rhythm instead of a drum set or programme.[3][4]

Reception

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Clapton, Sting and Kamen were nominated for a Grammy Award at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television in 1993. At the 1993 MTV Movie Awards Sting and Clapton were both nominated for the Best Movie Song.[5] The American music website AllMusic retrospectively rated the release with two out of five possible stars.[6]

Track listings

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US CD and 7-inch single[6]
No.TitleLength
1."It's Probably Me" (edit)4:41
2."It's Probably Me" (album version)6:30
US maxi-CD single[7]
No.TitleLength
1."It's Probably Me" (soundtrack album version)6:21
2."It's Probably Me"5:01

Personnel

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Musicians

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] Gold 35,000^
Italy (FIMI)[35] Gold 25,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 23 June 1992 CD A&M [14]
Japan 17 July 1992 Mini-CD [36]
United Kingdom 17 August 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[37]

References

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  1. ^ ""It's Probably Me" – Release Details – Official Website". Sting.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  2. ^ King, Alex P. (2004). Hit-parade — 20 ans de tubes (in French). Paris: Pascal. p. 339. ISBN 2-35019-009-9.
  3. ^ "Sting - It's Probably Me (feat. Eric Clapton)". YouTube.com. 6 December 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Click and Burn: a sonic history of the Zippo lighter". 27 June 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Lethal Weapon 3 – Awards – IMDb". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  6. ^ a b "It's Probably Me – Sting | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Sting With Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me (CD Maxi Single)". MusicStack.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Radio2 Top 30 Artiest: Sting". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1966." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 43. 24 October 1992. p. 31. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's Probably Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 35. 29 August 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 34. 22 August 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  22. ^ "Sting with Eric Clapton – It's Probably Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Sting Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  25. ^ "Sting Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  26. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2009). ARIA Chart Book 1988-2008. Top 100 Singles. p. 23.
  27. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1992" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  28. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. 19 December 1992. p. 8. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  29. ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. 19 December 1992. p. 17. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Hits 1992 Deutschland – Single-Charts" (in German). Chartsurfer.de. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  31. ^ "Top 40 Jaargang 28, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  32. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Hits 1992 Schweiz – Single-Charts" (in German). Chartsurfer.de. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  34. ^ "The ARIA Chart" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 November 1992. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  35. ^ Armani, Luciano (September 2008). Premi della FIMI italiana [FIMI certifications] (in Italian). Milan, Italy. pp. 23–29.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  36. ^ "イッツ・プロバブリー・ミー | スティング&エリック・クラプトン" [It's Probably Me | Sting & Eric Clapton] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  37. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 15 August 1992. p. 21.