Song for the Lonely
"Song for the Lonely" | ||||
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Single by Cher | ||||
from the album Living Proof | ||||
Released | March 19, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 2001 | |||
Studio | Metrophonic Studios | |||
Venue | London, England | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length |
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Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Mark Taylor | |||
Cher singles chronology | ||||
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Licensed audio | ||||
"Song for the Lonely" on YouTube |
"Song for the Lonely" (originally titled "(This is) A Song for the Lonely")
"Song for the Lonely" was met with positive reviews, with
Background and release
Cher recorded "Song for the Lonely" in the summer of 2001 in London and intended to include it on her twenty-fourth studio album Living Proof (2001), and it immediately became her favorite song from the album.[2] However, after the September 11 attacks, she began thinking of it in a different way. In an interview with Larry King Live she said that after the attacks, she was listening to the album and when the track began, all of a sudden it took on a completely different meaning for her, especially because of the "when heroes fall in love and war, they live forever" lyric.[3] Cher commented that "Song for the Lonely" was one of the best tracks she has ever had the opportunity to sing, because according to her, "we still lived in a world of innocence" before the attacks.[2] According to the album liner notes, "Song for the Lonely" is "dedicated to the courageous people of New York especially the fire fighters, the police, Mayor Giuliani, Governor Pataki and my friend Liz".[3]
Since its release, the public's reaction to "Song for the Lonely" had been positive. James Lonten, manager of a
Composition
"Song for the Lonely" is a guitar-laden dance-pop song.[2] Mark Taylor and Paul Barry, who also worked on her previous hit single "Believe" (1998), wrote the track, "giving the song a frenetic, knee-bobbing urgency that will wash the gray out of any winter day", according to Billboard's Chuck Taylor.[7] The music commentator also noted that the lack of vocoder, which had become a signature on Cher's songs, allowed Cher to "foster a grin" with opening notes, until the song reaches the chorus – which Taylor said it was one of the cathiest since Hanson's "MMMBop" (1997) – and "explodes into a rhythmic tantrum".[7] When Cher recorded the track, she thought of it as a love song, but after the September 11 attacks, the singer felt the song was right for the occasion.[3] "Since the world has changed so dramatically, the lyrics have a different weight. They're heavier, yet they're comforting at the same time. Over the past month or so, I've had a number of people tell me that the song has helped them cope. What a humbling compliment", she commented.[2] Tony Peregrin from PopMatters noted that the song delivers "a message that is achingly emotional and somber".[8]
Critical reception
"Song for the Lonely" received generally positive reviews from music critics. While reviewing Living Proof, Billboard's Michael Paoletta commented that the song was "an empowering jam that deserves to rock the world just as 'Believe' did".[9] In a separate review for the single, Chuck Taylor from the same magazine opined that "anyone who thought 'Believe' was merely a stroke of good fortune on Cher's mile-long scorecard will be singing a different tune after one spin of the life-affirming '(This Is) A Song for the Lonely [sic]'", because "this track is so good, in fact, that it's up for debate as to whether it actually tops that previous winner". He finished his review by writing that "Boy, is "Song for the Lonely" ever an elixir for whatever ails you, a joyous romp with such mass appeal that its destination at the top of the charts seems a given".[7]
Kerry L. Smith from AllMusic praised the song, saying, "Cher takes a brief break from her inquisitiveness about love to dedicate the bold, heartfelt opening track, in honor of the September 11th tragedy, 'Song for the Lonely'".[10] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone also agreed by writing that it "clearly intends to evoke September 11th", adding that "coming from a willfully wiggy billion-dollar diva, this noble stuff feels calculated, particularly when it's presented in such a sparkling, showbizzy package".[11] Metro Weekly's Gordon Ashenhurst called it a "rousing lead single",[12] while Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine noted that it "wisely abandons such (otherwise welcomed) electronic shenanigans for a pure and impassioned performance".[13] Tony Peregrin of PopMatters deemed the song "an infectious, energetic track that rides the waves of predictable synth pads and pulsating beats".[8]
Commercial performance
In the United States, "Song for the Lonely" debuted at its peak of number 85 on the
Music video
The accompanying
Cher had done her own makeup, as her makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin was nowhere to be found due to his struggling with a terminal illness. At one point of the shooting, they needed to cover some parts of the streets with big, loud smoke machines. As the attacks were still a fresh and painful memory for the citizens, complaints about the smoke started coming in.[23] The police officer manning the intersection gave word that they would have to shut down their atmospheric effects, but they still had one more shot. The director solved this by taking Cher and the script supervisor's camera, and autographing a polaroid to the cop, to continue the last smoked-up shooting.[23]
The video starts in
Live performances
In order to promote the song and its accompanying album, Cher made a number of performances for "Song for the Lonely". She opened the 2002 American Music Awards on January 9, 2002 with a performance of the song, accompanied by dancers and wearing a blonde wig.
Usage in media
In 2005, "Song for the Lonely" was used internationally in television advertisements for Weight Watchers showing overweight women. However, the choice of song, suggesting that the overweight women were desperate, lonely and unloved, raised complaints, and the advert was soon edited to include only the instrumental of the song.[33] "Song for the Lonely" was also included in the jukebox musical The Cher Show (2018).[34] A recording of the song appears in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
Track listing
US CD maxi single[35]
- "Song for the Lonely" (Almighty mix) – 8:46
- "Song for the Lonely" (Illicitvocal mix) – 8:09
- "Song for the Lonely" (Thunderpuss club mix) – 8:43
- "Song for the Lonely" (Thunderpuss Sunrise mix) – 8:25
- "Song for the Lonely" (Almighty radio mix) – 3:34
- "Song for the Lonely" (Illicit radio edit) – 3:51
- "Song for the Lonely" (Thunderpuss radio edit) – 4:06
- Digital download[36]
- "Song for the Lonely" (Almighty radio mix) – 3:34
- "Song for the Lonely" (Illicit radio edit) – 3:51
- "Song for the Lonely" (Thunderpuss radio edit) – 4:06
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Living Proof and CD maxi single liner notes.[35][6]
- Cher – vocals
- Mark Taylor – songwriter, producer, mixing
- Paul Barry – songwriter, guitar
- Steve Torch – songwriter
- Tracer Ackerman – background vocals
- Adam Phillips – guitar
- Jong uk Yoon – assistant
- Christian Saint Val – assistant
- Neil Tucker – assistant
- SMOG Design, Inc. – art direction, design
- Barrie Goshko – art direction
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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See also
- List of number-one dance singles of 2002 (U.S.)
References
- ^ Living Proof (CD liner notes). Cher. Warner Music UK Ltd. 2001.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Cable News Network. September 11, 2002. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Larocque 2013, p. 268
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (July 13, 2002). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 28. p. 30. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Living Proof (European release liner notes). Cher. WEA. 2001. 0927 42463 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Peregrin, Tony (February 25, 2002). "Cher: Living Proof". PopMatters. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ Paoletta, Michael (March 2, 2002). "Living Proof". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Kerry L. "Living Proof - Cher". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Walters, Barry (February 28, 2002). "Living Proof". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Ashenhurst, Gordon (February 3, 2016). "Cher: Her 10 Best Albums". Metro Weekly. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (January 21, 2002). "Cher: Living Proof". Slant Magazine. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Song For The Lonely Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cher Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "Arhiva romanian top 100". SC Vento Consultanta. Archived from the original on May 14, 2005. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c d e Maschwitz, Stu (September 13, 2011). "A Song For The Lonely". Prolost. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Song for the Lonely (US promo VHS liner notes). Cher. Warner Music Vision. 2002. 208588.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection (European DVD liner notes). Cher. Warner Music Vision. 2004. 0349 70184-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ISBN 9781300888581. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ "Cher's New Video and Single 'Song For The Lonely'". PR Newswire. February 18, 2002. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Smith, Liz (May 1, 2002). "Excite - Liz Smith". Excite. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Schumacher-Rasmussen, Eric (May 24, 2002). "Celine Does AC/DC, Blige Brings Drama To 2002". MTV News. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Fuoco, Christina (June 17, 2002). "Cher Rides Chandelier, Puppet Elephant At Past-Glorifying Michigan Show". MTV News. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the originalon December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ Peterson, Kristen (August 14, 2008). "They're few — but fervent —fans". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ISBN 9781300888581. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ^ Di Nunzio, Miriam (June 29, 2018). "'The Cher Show' turns back time to capture essence of star". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Song for the Lonely (US CD maxi single liner notes). Cher. Warner Bros. Records. 2002. 9 42422-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Song for the Lonely by Cher". Apple Music. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda - Pro týden" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on April 5, 2002. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). March 23, 2002. p. 19. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002 (Part 2)". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004.
- ^ "2002 Year End Charts – Hot Dance Music/Club Play Titles". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- Larocque, Jason (2013). You Haven't Seen The Last of Me. ISBN 978-1-300-88858-1.