Alone (Heart song)

"Alone" is a song composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who recorded it under the name i-Ten on their 1983 album 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 covered it on their 1987 album Bad Animals, and this version reached number one in the US and Canada. In 2007 Celine Dion recorded it for her album Taking Chances. In 2010 Alyssa Reid used the music and lyrics for the chorus of her song Alone Again.

Heart version
"Alone"
Single by Heart
from the album Bad Animals
B-side"Barracuda" (live)
ReleasedMay 16, 1987
Recorded1987
GenreHard rock
Length3:39
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ron Nevison
Heart singles chronology
"If Looks Could Kill"
(1986)		 "Alone"
(1987)		 "Who Will You Run To"
(1987)

Heart released the song as the first single from their ninth studio album, Bad Animals, in May 1987. Their version is a power ballad[1] that begins with a piano line and a subdued vocal from Ann Wilson, leading to a synth-led hard-rock chorus. Tom Kelly, the song's coauthor and himself an experienced session singer, provided the high harmony parts on the record.[2]

"Alone" is Heart's biggest hit to date, spending three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in July 1987. It ranked No. 2 on the Billboard Year-End Top Pop Singles of 1987, behind "Walk Like An Egyptian" by The Bangles. It is also Heart's most successful single in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in June. It is the band's only song to peak inside the UK Top 5.

The song was also a global hit, reaching No. 1 in Canada, the top five in Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland, the top ten in Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as the top twenty in Germany. An "unplugged" version of the song later appeared on Heart's 1995 album The Road Home. An extended version of "Alone" (5:30 long) was included on the Japanese 3" mini-CD of Heart's third single from Bad Animals, "There's the Girl".[3]

Music video

The video for the song was directed by Marty Callner, and was released in June 1987. It starts with Ann at the top of a balcony singing to Nancy, who is at the bottom (similar to the famous "Romeo & Juliet" scene). Ann is then seen in all black, including a funeral veil and gown. The two sisters are then seen performing the refrain to an audience on stage, when Nancy's piano collapses at the first bang of the chorus. During the second verse, a broken-down and dilapidated set is seen, with Nancy playing the piano within it. Nancy is then seen riding atop a black horse and jumping out on stage with her guitar as the instrumental section kicks in. It then shows Ann, in the all-black outfit within the broken set and thereby resembling a witch, before cutting directly back to the stage performance as the song reaches its climax. As the song fades out, a shot of Ann and Nancy together is shown, with each one looking directly into each other's eyes, before finally finishing with a quick shot of Ann's face as the screen goes black.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Celine Dion version
"Alone"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Taking Chances
ReleasedMay 5, 2008 (2008-05-05)
RecordedJanuary 2007 Conway Studios, Studio at the Palms
GenrePop rock
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ben Moody
Celine Dion singles chronology
"The Prayer"
(2008)		 "Alone"
(2008)		 "My Love"
(2008)

Celine Dion covered "Alone" for her tenth 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 in 2008. Produced by Ben Moody, ex-member of Evanescence, the song divided music critics. While some picked it as one of the best tracks on Taking Chances, others thought that the cover was too similar with the original.

Background and release

Dion covered "Alone" in 2007 for her tenth English studio album, Taking Chances, released that year. The version was produced by Ben Moody, former member of rock band Evanescence.[33] Dion's version features tinkling pianos and enveloping strings.[33] 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.[34] In October 2008, "Alone" was included on the European version of My Love: Essential Collection.[35] A live version was included in the Taking Chances World Tour: The Concert CD/DVD.[36]

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".[37] 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".[38]

Toronto Star editor Ashante Infantry called this song "sentimental, cringe-worthy diva track". Chuck Taylor of Billboard called it "a rowdy cover".[39] 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".[40]

Commercial performance

The song debuted on November 24, 2007 at No. 85 on the UK Singles Chart.[41] It spent two weeks on the chart.[41] 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.[42]

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.[43] 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".[44] 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.[36]

Formats and track listings

UK digital single

  1. "Alone" – 3:23

Charts

Release history
Country Date Format
United Kingdom[54] May 5, 2008 Digital download
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References
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  38. Rodman, Sarah (November 13, 2007) Dion takes few risks on 'Chances' The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
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