In 1999, the band from Washington, D.C., released this lead single from the album of the same name. Vertical Horizon's first two releases had very little success, but the third time was the charm. Everything You Want hit #40 on the Hot 200, and the single hit #1 on July 15th, 2000. I was lucky to work at 92KISS FM in Chicago at the time, and we were a total CHR station. During this time, bands like Train, Nine Days, and Guster all got airplay on the format. I remember all the times I played this #1 from Vertical Horizon, and I never got sick of it once; the others burned very quickly.
Everything You Want is an emotional journey through the search for love. I remember sitting in the studio singing the hook at the top of my lungs. I was this song every time I played it. The song starts from the point of view of the love interest's idea of the perfect someone and ends with Matt Scannell's passion-filled vocals screaming from the mountain, "I AM EVERYTHING YOU WANT, I AM EVERYTHING YOU NEED."
This song never gets old; while writing this, I feel like I did in 1999 when I first played the track. "I mean nothing to you, and I don't know why." What a powerful lyric. I don't know why!
This was Vertical Horizon's only #1 and biggest hit. I still remember seeing them with my now wife at the House of Blues in Chicago during the tour for their fourth album, GO. I recommend checking it out. If you are out there searching, stay positive, stay you! You are EVERYTHING to someone.