Alone (Heart song)
"Alone" | ||||
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Single by Heart | ||||
from the album Bad Animals | ||||
B-side | "Barracuda" (live) | |||
Released | May 16, 1987 | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Length | 3:39 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Writer(s) | Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly | |||
Producer(s) | Ron Nevison | |||
Heart singles chronology | ||||
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"Alone" is a song composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. It first appeared via Steinberg and Kelly's 1983 pet project, I-Ten, on Taking a Cold Look. It was later recorded by Valerie Stevenson and John Stamos in their roles as Lisa Copley and Gino Minelli, on the original soundtrack of the CBS sitcom Dreams in 1984. American rock band Heart made it a number-one US and Canadian hit in 1987. Twenty years later, Celine Dion recorded it for her album Taking Chances.
Contents
Heart version
The song was sold to Heart and released as the first single from their ninth studio album Bad Animals in May 1987. Heart's version is a power ballad that begins with a piano line and a subdued vocal from Ann Wilson before exploding into an amplified hard rock, albeit heavily synth-led chorus. The song has been covered numerous times on American Idol. According to a Songfacts interview with Steinberg, Kelly (an experienced session singer) provided the high harmony parts on the record.[1] "Alone" is Heart's biggest hit, spending three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 that July. It ranked No. 2 on the Billboard Year-End Top Pop Singles of 1987. It is also their most successful single in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, so far as the band's only ever song to peak inside the UK Top 5; it is also one out of three UK Top 10 singles by the band. The song was also a huge global hit, reaching No. 1 in Canada, the top five in Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland, the top ten in Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Poland as well as the top twenty in Germany. The song's popular video featured the band in a synched live performance. An "unplugged" version of the song later appeared on Heart's 1995 album The Road Home.
Extended version
An extended version of "Alone" clocking in at 5:30 was released in Japan as the B-side to Heart's third single from Bad Animals, "There's the Girl". This "Long Version" is exclusive to this 3" mini-CD single, and not found on any other release.[2]
Chart performance
Original release
Chart (1987) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[3] | 6 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] | 22 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] | 8 |
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[6] | 1 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] | 1 |
Dutch Singles Chart[8] | 6 |
France (SNEP)[9] | 88 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[10] | 18 |
Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 3 |
Norway (VG-lista)[12] | 5 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] | 4 |
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[14] | 3 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[15] | 1 |
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart[16] | 2 |
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart[17] | 3 |
Year-end charts
End of year chart (1987) | Position |
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Australian Kent Music Report[18] | 37 |
Belgian VRT Top 30[19] | 59 |
Canadian RPM Top 100[20] | 11 |
Dutch Megacharts[21] | 52 |
Dutch Top 40[22] | 56 |
Swiss Singles Chart[23] | 18 |
U.K. Singles Chart[24] | 34 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
U.S. Cashbox Top 100[25] | 9 |
2009
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
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Canadian Hot Digital Singles Chart[17] | 69 |
UK Single Chart[26] | 199 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Singles Chart[27] | 44 |
2010
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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UK Single Chart[26] | 170 |
2012
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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UK Single Chart[28] | 94 |
"Alone" | ||||
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Single by Celine Dion | ||||
from the album Taking Chances | ||||
Released | May 5, 2008 | |||
Format | Music download | |||
Recorded | January 2007 Conway Studios, Studio at the Palms | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 3:24 | |||
Label | Columbia, Epic | |||
Writer(s) | Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly | |||
Producer(s) | Ben Moody | |||
Celine Dion singles chronology | ||||
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Celine Dion version
Celine Dion covered "Alone" for her ninth English-language studio album Taking Chances (2007). It was released as the second single in Europe and North America, and third in the United Kingdom, while "Eyes on Me" was released as the second single in the United Kingdom instead. "Alone" was produced by Ben Moody, ex-member of Evanescence. The version received mixed reviews from music critics, who thought that the cover was too similar with the original, considering it a dull and carbon-copy version.
Background and release
Dion covered "Alone" for her ninth English studio album Taking Chances (2007). The version was produced by Ben Moody, former member of rock band Evanescence.[29] Dion's version features tinkling pianos and enveloping strings.[29] It was released as the second single in Europe and North America, and third in the United Kingdom. The digital single release in the UK on May 5, 2008 was coincided with the British leg of the Taking Chances World Tour.[30] In October 2008, "Alone" was included on the European version of My Love: Essential Collection.[31] A live version was included in the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert CD/DVD.[32]
Critical reception
Music critics were divided on "Alone." Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic picked the song as one of the best tracks on Taking Chances, and wrote that "Celine attempts to snatch Heart's 'Alone' from Carrie Underwood and cribs from Kelly Clarkson's operatic rock, two blatant thieveries that, when combined with the quartet of explicit changeups, gives Taking Chances a vaguely desperate vibe, as if Celine needs to prove that she still reigns supreme among all divas."[33] Sarah Rodman wrote for The Boston Globe that "Enlisting former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody adds little; in fact, the carbon-copy arrangement doesn't pack as much windswept melodramatic punch as Dion's own 'It's All Coming Back to Me Now.' Great vocal, terrific melody, a fine rendition, but 'Alone' is already indelibly stamped by Heart's Ann Wilson."[34] Toronto Star editor Ashante Infantry called this song "sentimental, cringe-worthy diva track." Chuck Taylor of Billboard called it "a rowdy cover."[35] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone gave the song a negative review, writing: "That's nothing compared to Dion shrieking the ten millionth version of Heart's 'Alone' (mad pitchy, dog!), produced by ex-Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody – Amy Lee, meet the fugliest bullet you ever dodged."[36]
Chart performance
The song debuted on November 24, 2007 at No. 85 on the UK Singles Chart.[37] It spent two weeks on the chart.[37] After selling 12,535 copies, it entered the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles at No. 24 and Canadian Hot 100 at No. 57. It entered the Swedish Singles Chart, due to strong digital sales, and peaked at No. 52.[38]
Music video and live performances
The music video was taken from Dion's CBS TV special That's Just the Woman in Me and released on March 8, 2008.[39] Dion promoted "Alone" at that time in France, performing it on Star Academy. On November 23, 2007, she went to the American talkshow The View to perform "Taking Chances" as well as "Alone."[40] Dion performed the song during most dates of her Taking Chances World Tour; the performance was included in the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert CD/DVD.[32]
Formats and track listings
UK digital single
- "Alone" – 3:23
Charts
Chart (2007–08) | Peak position |
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Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[41] | 57 |
Canada AC (Billboard)[42] | 7 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] | 52 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[44] | 85 |
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[45] | 24 |
US Digital Songs (Billboard)[46] | 81 |
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[47] | 86 |
Other notable versions
- 1987: Romanian rock singer Dida Drăgan, accompanied by new wave band Monolit (headed by Sorin Chifiriuc) in a version named "Singurătate"
- 1995: Australian singer Robert Forster on his album I Had a New York Girlfriend
- 2002: Finnish progressive metal band Warmen on the album Beyond Abilities; vocals provided by Kimberly Goss
- 2005–11: American Idol contestants Carrie Underwood (2005), Gina Glocksen (2007), Ramiele Malubay (2008), Allison Iraheta (2009) and Jacob Lusk (2011) sang this song on the show (all versions are available as downloads)
- 2006: Kim Sozzi recorded a dance-pop version of the song
- 2008: Becca covered the song as a b-side to her single "I'm Alive"
- 2009: Sampled by Ras Kass on his track "Gotten By On My Own" on his Quarterly mixtape
- 2010: The piano intro is used in Jason Derülo's "What If"
- 2011: Alyssa Reid had a hit with the single, "Alone Again" that samples the original song, while adding new lyrics and a rap verse; also released a partly French version called "Encore Seule" with rapper Dice B[48]
- 2012: The pop-operatic group Il Divo covered the song in Spanish, as "Solo (Alone)", on their album Il Divo: The Greatest Hits
- 2013: Australian artist Anthony Callea on his album Thirty
Appearances in other media
- 2006: At the end of the Cold Case season four episode "Lonely Hearts"
- 2009: Performed by Matthew Morrison and Kristin Chenoweth on the Glee episode "The Rhodes Not Taken"
- 2010: On Dancing With the Stars, Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy danced their freestyle to the song.
- 2011: In the season seven episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "Storm of the Century"; it appears in the season nine episode "The Gang Saves the Day" as a part of Dennis' fantasy
- 2012: The X Factor's Christopher Maloney performed the song
- 2013: The Voice's Sasha Allen performed it.
- 2013: X Factor Indonesia's Novita Dewi performed the song
- 2013: The Voice of the Philippines's Mitoy Yonting and Chien Berbana performed it during the Battle Rounds
- 2013: The Voice UK's Leanne Jarvis performed the song during the Battle Rounds
- 2013: America's Got Talent's Branden James performed the song
- 2013: A version of the song was used in the UK as backing music to a television advertisement for expensive loans at 1500% APR, aimed at the financially desperate or illiterate, playing on the pun "How can I get you a loan?" and were performed by an animated singing tangerine[49]
- 2015: the Heart version was used several times in the season two episode of The Goldbergs, "Happy Mom, Happy Life"
- 2015: Singer-actress Karla Estrada performed it in week eight of the first season of Your Face Sounds Familiar.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – {{{artist}}} – Alone" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – {{{artist}}} – Alone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone" (in French). Les classement single.
- ↑ "Officialcharts.de – {{{artist}}} – Alone". GfK Entertainment.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone". VG-lista.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://top100singles.blogspot.cz/2011/05/amr-top-singles-of-1987.html
- ↑ http://www.luckysdb.be/Jaren/1987.html
- ↑ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0920&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=81nr7870laqs92jmsu5t0vlcj7
- ↑ http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Heart&titel=Alone&cat=s
- ↑ http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-1987.pdf
- ↑ http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=1987
- ↑ http://everyhit.co.uk/
- ↑ http://www.cashboxcountdowns.com/archives/80s_files/1987YESP.html
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Erlewine, Stephen (November 17, 2007) Taking Chances - Review | Allmusic Allmusic - Rovi Corporation Retrieved 2011-02-28
- ↑ Rodman, Sarah (November 13, 2007) Dion takes few risks on 'Chances' The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-02-28
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Celine's "Alone" Music Video - Now Inside TeamCeline!. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Celine Dion: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Billboard Digital Songs for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-game/id640643522
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
Preceded by | US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single July 11, 1987 – July 25, 1987 |
Succeeded by "Shakedown" by Bob Seger |
Preceded by | Canadian RPM 100 number-one single August 8, 1987 |
Succeeded by "Funkytown" by Pseudo Echo |
- Singlechart called without artist
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- Heart (band) songs
- Warmen songs
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- 1983 songs
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- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- 1980s ballads
- Hard rock ballads
- Rock ballads
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Song recordings produced by Ron Nevison
- Songs about loneliness
- Songs written by Tom Kelly (musician)
- Songs written by Billy Steinberg
- Hard rock songs