Song for the Lonely

Single infobox
Name = Song for the Lonely


Artist = Cher
from Album = Living Proof
Released = March 19 2002
Recorded = 2001
Genre = Pop/Rock/Dance
Length = 4:01
Label = Warner Bros. Records / WEA
Writer = Mark Taylor
Paul Barry
Steve Torch
Producer = Rob Dickens
Certification =
Reviews =
Misc =Extra chronology
Artist = Cher
Type = North American singles
Last single = "Dov'è L'Amore"
(1999)
This single = "Song for the Lonely"
(2002)
Next single = "A Different Kind of Love Song/
The Music's No Good Without You"
(2002)Extra album cover
Upper caption =
Background =


Lower caption = Cover of the European promo CD "Song for the Lonely" is a pop/rock-dance song recorded by American singer/actress Cher for her thirty-third album "Living Proof". The song was written by Paul Barry and Steve Torch, whom collaborated earlier with the song Believe, and Mark Taylor who co-wrote the songs All or Nothing, Strong Enough and Dov'è L'Amore.

ong information

Song for the Lonely served as the first American single, second Canadian single and was meant to follow Alive Again as the third European single, but it was dropped due to complications with Cher's record company. The song however was released as a promo CD only which was meant to be sent to European radio stations. The song was a hit, although only peaking at #85 on the Hot 100, it managed top 40 on nearly every U.S chart. It has sold nearly a million copies in the U.S.

According to Cher's official web site and 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'. [ [http://www.cher.com/ Dedications] ]

Song for the Lonely received neutral reviews from critics including one, whom critic Beth Massa claims that, "there are brief moments where the track riffs on U2's euphoric "Beautiful Day." [ [http://www.cherworld.com/albums/20.shtml Critic review] ]

When the American version of Living Proof was released in 2002 the track name, which was originally '(This Is) A Song for the Lonely' on European pressings of 'Living Proof', had been changed to simply 'Song for the Lonely'. Later US pressings of the album aslo substituted the radio edit of the song for the longer album version.

In June 2002 Song for the Lonely was added to Cher's setlist and was sung for the first four legs of the tour. After dropping it for five legs the song was re-added only on the last show where it was used as tour finale.

In 2005, Song for the Lonely was used internationally in television advertisements for Weight Watchers. However, the choice of song, sugesting that the overweight were desperate, lonely and unloved, raised complaints and the advert was soon edited to include only and instrumental of the song.

Music video

The music video for 'Song for the Lonely' was directed by The Orphanage

The video features Cher walking around the streets of New York City. While the setting for the start of the video is in the 1800s, Cher is dressed in modern day clothes. The video is also in cepia. The video progresses to black and white and then to colour as the times for the setting of the video change to the 1900s through various eras to the present day. As the timeline changes we see buildings around New York being constructed. The video is intercept with shots of Cher dressed in white as an Angel or God-like figure which is overlaid in some shots, as well as shots of New York from the air. People from each stage of the development of New york join Cher as she walks the streets until at the end there is a large crowd of people from all eras.

The popularity of 'Song for the Lonely' in the clubs proved to be very successful and because of this two remix video were created by Dan-O-Rama, one for the almighty remix and one for the thunderpuss remix. The remix videos only use footage of the 'white' Angel/God Cher, overlayed with visual effects, clouds and photos and graphics from the 'Living Proof' artwork as well as silloetes of 2 dancers

The video projection screen during the performance of 'Song for the Lonely' on Cher's Farewell Tour included elements from both the original and remix videos. Elements were also incorporated intop the projection for the 'Love Medley' which replaced 'Song for the Lonely' on the European leg of the tour.

In 2002, the video was released on VHS to serve as promotion for the United States. [ [http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=208588 Video single release] ]

The video for 'Song For The Lonely' was included on the DVD 'The Very Best OF Cher - Video Collection'. The ending of this video is slightly different to the one previously released. The video ends with a shot of New York from above. In the video on the DVD collection, Cher is superimposed on top of this shot - this was not the case in the original version.

Formats and track listings

Song for the Lonely US CD Maxi-Single
# Song for the Lonely (Almighty Mix)
# Song for the Lonely (Illicit Vocal Mix)
# Song for the Lonely (Thunderpuss Club Mix)
# Song for the Lonely (Thunderpuss Sunrise Mix)
# Song for the Lonely (Almighty Radio Edit)
# Song for the Lonely (Illicit Radio)
# Song for the Lonely (Thunderpuss Club Mix Radio Edit)

Song for the Lonely US Promo CD
# Song for the Lonely (Radio Edit)
# Song for the Lonely (Album Version)

(This Is) A Song for the Lonely European Promo CD
# (This Is) A Song for the Lonely (European Radio Edit)
# (This Is) A Song for the Lonely (Album Version)

Official Mixes

Album Mixes
#Album Version
#Radio Edit
#Radio Edit (fade out)
#Long Version
#Live version (from The Very Best Of Cher Special Edition)

Almighty Mixes
#Almighty Definitive Mix
#Almighty Definitive Dub
#Almighty Radio Edit
#Almighty PA Mix
#Almighty PA Edit
#Almighty 7"

Thunderpuss Remixes
#Thunderpuss Club Mix
#Thunderpuss Club Dub
#Thunderpuss Club Radio Edit
#Thunderpuss Club Radio Edit Instrumental
#Thunderpuss Club Mixshow
#Thunderpuss Video Edit
#Thunderpuss TV Track
#Thunderpuss Anthem
#Thunderpuss Sunrise Club Mix
#Thunderpuss Sunrise Radio
#Thunderpuss Sunrise Radio Edit 2
#Thunderpuss Sunrise Radio Instrumental
#Thunderpuss Sunrise Mixshow
#Thunderpuss Dirty Club Mix
#Thunderpuss Dirty Dub
#ThunderDUB
#TribeApella
#Beats of Thunderpuss

Illicit Mixes
#Illicit Vocal
#Illicit Edit
#Illicit Vocal Dub
#Illicit Instrumental Dub
#Illicit Alternate Vocal
#Illicit Alternate Edit
#Illicit Acapella

Metro Mixes
#Metro Club Mix
#Metro Radio Edit

Rapino Mixes
#Rapino/Rapino Carrera Mix
#Rapino/Rapino Carrera 7" Edit

Charts

ong for the Lonely

References