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When the Stars Go Blue

"When the Stars Go Blue" is a popular alternative country song composed and originally recorded by solo artist and former Whiskeytown band member Ryan Adams. It was first released on his album Gold on September 25, 2001, and has been described as the "most gorgeous ballad" on that album.[1] "When the Stars Go Blue" has been covered by many artists, including Irish band the Corrs (featuring Bono of U2), country music singer Tim McGraw, and Norwegian artists Venke Knutson and Kurt Nilsen as a duo.

"When the Stars Go Blue"

Ryan Adams - vocals, acoustic guitar

Richard Causon - piano

Ethan Johns - 12 string guitar, harmonium, electric piano, mandocello, Chamberlain strings, drums

- background vocals

Julianna Raye

"When the Stars Go Blue"

April 15, 2002 (2002-04-15)

4:19

Mitchell Froom

March 6, 2006

  • 3:55
  • 3:28 (single version)

February 2006

2005

Other versions[edit]

Irish/British girlband Wonderland performed the track for their debut performance on television in Ireland. The recorded studio version was included the band's debut album Wonderland.


It was also featured in One Tree Hill as a hit song by fictional characters Haley James Scott and Chris Keller (real life singers Bethany Joy Lenz and Tyler Hilton) and features on the One Tree Hill Soundtrack.[20]


The song was performed by Blake Lewis on American Idol Season 6, originally airing on April 17, 2007.[21] His cover of the song made it to #92 of the pop charts in 2007.[22]


On July 16, 2006, Phil Lesh covered the song in the first set of a show at Charter One Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. The show was made available for purchase via compact disc by Phil Lesh and Friends. On April 5, 2014, Lesh covered the song in the first set of a show at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.

In popular culture[edit]

The song inspired a novel of the same name.