Try a Little Tenderness

Ever heard of Try a Little Tenderness? It’s not just a classic song it’s also the name of a personalization program for Windows, developed by Microsoft. Yep, totally free, and it falls under the “Personalization” category with a focus on themes. So if you’re looking to give your desktop a fresh, emotional vibe (maybe even inspired by the song itself), this might be just what you need.

Speaking of the song man, what a timeless piece. Written back in the early 1930s by Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, “Try a Little Tenderness” climbed all the way to no. 25 on the US Billboard charts and has been covered by legends ever since. Rolling Stone even ranked it no. 204 on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. While there have been some incredible renditions over the years Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and even Three Dog Night took a swing Otis Redding’s soulful, raw version is the one that really steals the show.

Fun fact: even though Otis made it iconic, the song wasn’t originally his. It was penned by Campbell, Connelly, and Harry M. Woods. British orchestras were the first to record it in 1932, and it quickly became a waltz time classic. Lyrically, it’s all about love, tenderness, and finding happiness through compassion both for others and yourself. Deep, right?

These days, you’re as likely to hear “Try a Little Tenderness” in a movie scene or a commercial as you are on a throwback playlist. It’s one of those rare tunes that just doesn’t age. And if you’re using the Windows theme named after it, well you’re blending tech with a little piece of music history. Not a bad combo.