I can see clearly now remains one of the most enduring lines in pop and reggae history, surfacing again in headlines after the death of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff on November 24, 2025. Cliff, 81, who recorded a well-known cover of the song for the 1993 film Cool Runnings, died following a seizure that led to pneumonia. His passing has renewed attention on the song’s long cultural life — from Johnny Nash’s 1972 original to covers, soundtracks and recent remixes.
A quick timeline of the song’s milestones
- 1972 — Johnny Nash releases the original I Can See Clearly Now, which hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
- 1993 — Jimmy Cliff’s cover appears on the Cool Runnings soundtrack and reintroduces the song to a new generation.
- 2025 — A modern remix release and renewed streaming interest keep the track in public conversation following Cliff’s death.
Why the phrase still matters
The phrase “I can see clearly now” functions as both a literal lyric and a cultural shorthand for optimism and recovery. Johnny Nash’s original married pop-soul and reggae influences and became a global hit. Jimmy Cliff’s version, associated with a popular family film, helped tile the song into mainstream American pop culture in the 1990s. Now, the song’s lifecycle includes contemporary remixes and steady streaming, proving its cross-generational appeal.
Jimmy Cliff’s role in the song’s legacy
Jimmy Cliff’s career spanned six decades, and he did more than cover familiar songs — he helped carry reggae from Jamaica to the global stage through his music and his starring role in the 1972 film The Harder They Come. Cliff’s rendition of I Can See Clearly Now reached wide audiences through the Cool Runnings soundtrack; that placement is one reason many U.S. listeners associate the song with the early ’90s comedy about the Jamaican bobsled team. His death on November 24, 2025, after a seizure and subsequent pneumonia, has prompted tributes emphasizing both his landmark recordings and his influence across music and film.
The song’s origins and chart history
Johnny Nash wrote and recorded I Can See Clearly Now and released it as the title track of his 1972 album. The original spent several weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned gold certification. Nash’s mix of pop sensibility with reggae rhythms, influenced by his connections to Jamaican musicians, gave the song a breezy optimism that still resonates in playlists and radio rotations.
Recent developments keeping the song in the news
- Streaming metrics and media coverage spiked after news of Jimmy Cliff’s death, as listeners revisited both Cliff’s and Nash’s recordings.
- A 2025 remix of I Can See Clearly Now by artist Frank Valentino was released in January 2025, bringing the song into contemporary pop and club contexts and demonstrating how legacy songs get refreshed for new listeners.
- Catalog certifications and anniversary reissues periodically boost attention, and the song’s use in film and television continues to reintroduce it to younger audiences.
Cultural impact and modern usage
The lyric has been used beyond music: marketers, filmmakers and content creators borrow the phrase for themes of recovery, clarity and hope. It appears frequently in playlists tied to mental well-being, road-trip mixes, and feel-good movie soundtracks. That cultural footprint helps explain why news about artists tied to the song — like Jimmy Cliff — triggers renewed interest.
What listeners are saying now
Social feeds and streaming-platform comment sections show a mix of reminiscence and celebration. Many listeners cite personal memories tied to Cliff’s Cool Runnings version, while others discover the song via the Frank Valentino remix or through curated classic-reggae playlists. The current wave of tributes emphasizes Cliff’s wider catalog — Many Rivers to Cross, You Can Get It If You Really Want and his role in The Harder They Come — but fans often point back to I Can See Clearly Now as a bridge between mainstream pop and reggae.
Quick facts
- Original writer and performer: Johnny Nash (1972).
- Notable cover: Jimmy Cliff for the Cool Runnings soundtrack (1993).
- Recent remix: Frank Valentino released a I Can See Clearly Now remix in January 2025.
- Cliff’s death: November 24, 2025; cause reported as a seizure followed by pneumonia; age 81.
Why this matters for U.S. audiences
For many Americans, the track is tied to film memory and radio nostalgia. It remains part of the soundtrack for college radios, streaming playlists and seasonal programming. The recent news cycle around Jimmy Cliff’s passing has pushed the song back into cultural conversation, reminding listeners that a simple phrase from a 1972 pop-reggae tune still carries emotional weight more than five decades on.
Listening guide
- For the original feel: listen to Johnny Nash’s 1972 recording.
- For the 1990s soundtrack vibe: try Jimmy Cliff’s Cool Runnings cover.
- For a contemporary spin: find Frank Valentino’s 2025 remix on major streaming platforms.
Final take
I Can See Clearly Now is more than one line in a chorus; it’s a cultural thread connecting eras, films and multiple generations of listeners. The song’s continued presence — through covers, remixes and renewed streaming — shows how certain songs never fully leave the public ear. As tributes to Jimmy Cliff demonstrate this week, the tune now sits in the shared memory of fans who first heard it on radio and those who found it in playlists decades later.
Share your memories or thoughts on “I can see clearly now” in the comments below — we’d love to hear which version moved you most.