Alone (Heart song)

"Alone"
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
"If Looks Could Kill"
(1986)		 "Alone"
(1987)		 "Who Will You Run To"
(1987)

"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.

Heart version

Heart released the song as the first single from their ninth studio album, Bad Animals, in May 1987. Their 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
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
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
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
UK Single Chart[26] 170

2012

Chart (2012) Peak
position
UK Single Chart[28] 94
"Alone"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Taking Chances
Released May 5, 2008 (2008-05-05)
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
"A World to Believe In"
(2008)		 "Alone"
(2008)		 "My Love"
(2008)

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

  1. "Alone" – 3:23

Charts

Chart (2007–08) Peak
position
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

=

References

  1. ↑ "Alone". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  2. ↑ "Japan 3" CD single". Discogs. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  4. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – {{{artist}}} – Alone" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – {{{artist}}} – Alone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  6. ↑ "Search Term(s): "Heart" and "Alone" and "Adult Contemporary"". RPM Weekly. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Search Term(s): "Heart" and "Alone" and "Top Singles"". RPM Weekly. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Heart - Alone". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  9. ↑ "Lescharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone" (in French). Les classement single.
  10. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – {{{artist}}} – Alone". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  11. ↑ Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  12. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone". VG-lista.
  13. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – {{{artist}}} – Alone". Swiss Singles Chart.
  14. ↑ "Heart - Alone". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  15. ↑ "Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  16. ↑ "Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  17. 1 2 "Heart". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  18. ↑ http://top100singles.blogspot.cz/2011/05/amr-top-singles-of-1987.html
  19. ↑ http://www.luckysdb.be/Jaren/1987.html
  20. ↑ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0920&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=81nr7870laqs92jmsu5t0vlcj7
  21. ↑ http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Heart&titel=Alone&cat=s
  22. ↑ http://www.top40.nl/pdf/top100/top100-1987.pdf
  23. ↑ http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=1987
  24. ↑ http://everyhit.co.uk/
  25. ↑ http://www.cashboxcountdowns.com/archives/80s_files/1987YESP.html
  26. 1 2 "Chart Log UK: H & Claire- Hysterix". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  27. ↑ "Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  28. ↑ "The Official Charts Company - Charts for 6 May 2013". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  29. 1 2 "Celine Dion / Ben Moody Collaboration". Idolator. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  30. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Alone - Single by Céline Dion". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  31. ↑ "The Essential" (in German). Exlibris.ch. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  32. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2012.
  33. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen (November 17, 2007) Taking Chances - Review | Allmusic Allmusic - Rovi Corporation Retrieved 2011-02-28
  34. ↑ Rodman, Sarah (November 13, 2007) Dion takes few risks on 'Chances' The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2011-02-28
  35. ↑ Taylor, Chuck. "Taking Chances - Billboard Review". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  36. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (December 13, 2007). "Celine Dion: Taking Chances : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  37. 1 2 "ChartArchive - Celine Dion - Alone". Chart Archive. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  38. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Swedish Singles Chart". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  39. ↑ Celine's "Alone" Music Video - Now Inside TeamCeline!. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  40. ↑ "Celine Performing on The View!". Celine Dion Web. November 22, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  42. ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  43. ↑ "Céline Dion - Alone (Song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  44. ↑ "Celine Dion: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  45. ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  46. ↑ "Celine Dion – Chart history" Billboard Digital Songs for Celine Dion. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  47. ↑ "Celine Dion Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  48. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-game/id640643522

External links

Preceded by
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston		 US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
July 11, 1987 – July 25, 1987 		Succeeded by
"Shakedown" by Bob Seger
Preceded by
"Shakedown" by Bob Seger		 Canadian RPM 100 number-one single
August 8, 1987 		Succeeded by
"Funkytown" by Pseudo Echo
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