I Don't Want to Miss a Thing Introduction
In a Nutshell
In 1998, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" gave Aerosmith the one prize that had eluded the band for 28 years: a #1 hit. Recorded as part of the soundtrack for the film—correction: the cinematic masterpiece—Armageddon, the song reached the top of the charts in the U.S. and a half dozen other countries.Some were surprised that the Bad Boys from Boston would record such a sentimental and richly orchestrated song, but they shouldn't have been; Aerosmith may have invented the power ballad when they recorded "Dream On" in 1973. Others were more surprised that the hard-living rockers were still alive and kicking after building a staggering reputation for alcohol and drug excess. But again, they shouldn't have been; the members of Aerosmith proved as resilient during the 1980s as they were self-destructive in the 1970s, going through rehab and re-tooling themselves for the new world of MTV rock and roll.
So, how exactly did Aerosmith move from the mean streets of Beantown to the Red Carpets of Hollywood? Read on—that is, if you don't want to miss a thing.
About the Song
| Artist | Aerosmith | Musician(s) | Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Brad Whitford (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) |
| Album | Armageddon - The Album | ||
| Year | 1998 | ||
| Label | Columbia/Hollywood/Epic | ||
| Writer(s) | Diane Warren | ||
| Producer(s) | Matt Serletic | ||
|
Learn to play: Chords Buy this song: Amazon iTunes |
Try Listen and Learn (BETA) | ||
Shmoop Connections
Inspired by the British blues scene, pioneers of the power ballad Steven Tyler and Aerosmith have lived a lot of rock and roll's history.But to survive as long as they have, the band has needed to overcome drug addiction and adjust to the changing structure of the music industry, including the introduction of MTV.
On the Charts
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was Aerosmith's first #1 song in their 28-year history when it topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts in September 1998. The song was also #1 in Italy, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, the Netherlands, and Australia.Aerosmith also received a Best Song Academy Award nomination for the hit. The music video won a Best Video Award at the Boston Music Awards, and (most importantly) it also won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.