Hope

Album: Hot Shot (1999)
Charted: 19
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Shaggy wrote this based on his personal experiences. Raised by a single mother in Jamaica, they didn't have much, but they always had hope. Looking back on his success, he realizes how valuable those experiences were.
  • "Hope" first appeared in 1999 in the Kevin Costner movie For Love Of The Game. Shaggy had recently been dropped by Virgin Records and picked up by MCA, which did the movie's soundtrack and had him contribute the song to it. It was released as a single but went nowhere; neither did the soundtrack despite Jonny Lang's cover of "Paint It Black" and tracks from Steely Dan, Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett.

    But Shaggy didn't give up "Hope," including it on his 2000 album Hot Shot, which in 2001 was outsold in America only by Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory. It included two #1 hits: "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel."
  • In the UK, this was released as a double-A-side single with "Dance And Shout" and reached #19 in 2001.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.