I Think We're Alone Now

"I Think We're Alone Now" is a song written by Ritchie Cordell. It was initially a 1967 hit for American recording artists Tommy James & the Shondells, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 during a 17-week stay. The recording was produced by Cordell and Bo Gentry.

Rock critic Lester Bangs called the single "the bubblegum apotheosis". Cordell wrote or co-wrote many songs for James, including "Run, Run, Baby, Run" (the B-side to "I Think We're Alone Now"), the follow-up single "Mirage," and 1968's "Mony Mony."

"I Think We're Alone Now" has since been covered on numerous occasions. In 1987, a version by Tiffany reached #1 in the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. Several other cover versions have charted as well, including those by The Rubinoos (#45 US, 1977) and Girls Aloud (#4 UK, 2006).

Tiffany version

Infobox Single
Name = I Think We're Alone Now


Artist = Tiffany
from Album = Tiffany
B-side = "No Rules"
Released = November 10,1987
Format = 7" single, 12" single, CD single
Recorded = 1987
Genre = Synth-pop
Length = 3:47
Label = MCA Records
Writer = Ritchie Cordell
Producer = George Tobin
Last single = "Danny"
(1987)
This single = "I Think We're Alone Now"
(1987)
Next single = "Could've Been"
(1988)Twenty years later, the song was re-popularized when American singer Tiffany covered the song for her first album "Tiffany" (1987). The song spent two weeks at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 (and was unusually followed on the top spot by another Tommy James & the Shondells cover, "Mony Mony" by Billy Idol) and three weeks at number-one on the UK Singles Chart. The Tiffany version went quadruple platinum in the US in a thirteen week chart run. The video was shot in a shopping mall which echoed the way her early career had been promoted.

When George Tobin, Tiffany's manager, gave Tiffany the cassette of the original version by Tommy James & the Shondells, Tiffany hated the idea of recording a version of her own for her album mostly because she thought the song wasn't modern or hip enough. It turned out to be her biggest hit once she recorded it.

"I Think We're Alone Now" was not the first single off Tiffany's debut album. The first single was "Danny", but radio started picking up "I Think We're Alone Now", another track on the album. It became a runaway number-one hit and was the eighteenth highest selling single for 1987 [http://www.80sxchange.com/80s_charts/1987.htm "The Top 100 Pop Singles of 1987"] . "80sxchange.com". Retrieved June 4 2007.] and the thirty-second highest selling single in Australia for 1988 [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-50-singles-1988.htm "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Singles 1988"] . "ARIACharts". Retrieved June 4 2007.] .

This version is referenced in the alternative group Weezer's song "Heart Songs" on the band's 2008 "Red Album" but in the song it is mentioned that it was sung by Debbie Gibson, another teen idol who was around at the same time as Tiffany. When Rivers Cuomo wrote the song, he had noticed the oversight on his part and that he knew that the song was recorded by Tiffany but he left the part in the song where he mentions Debbie Gibson singing the song.

Track listings and formats

;7"/CD single
# "I Think We're Alone Now" — 3:47
# "No Rules" — 4:05

;12" vinyl single
# "I Think We're Alone Now" (extended version) — 6:35
# "I Think We're Alone Now" (single version) — 4:25
# "I Think We're Alone Now" (dub version) — 6:35

Charts

"Jingle Bell Rock"This song was featured in the Full House eppisode "Joey Gets Tough" when Stephanie(Jodie Sweeten) and D.J (Canadance Bergen) bribe Joey (DaveCoulier ) to watch a Tiffany concert special that aired after their bedtime.

Charts

It was released in mid-December 2006 in order to compete for the coveted Christmas number one single spot, but eventually peaked at number four Christmas week, being beaten by Leona Lewis' "A Moment Like This".

Live Performances

The band performed the song at the following events:

* G-A-Y
* Strictly Come Dancing
* Popworld
*

Other cover versions

The song has been covered by a number of artists including 70's power pop band The Rubinoos, eurodance artist Playhouse, The Spinto Band, The Turtles, Lene Lovich, Pascal featuring Karen Parry, The Click Five, The Birthday Massacre, Comadre, The Pipettes, Snuff, Screeching Weasel, The Monkees, The Crimea and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. The song has also been covered by Bel's Boys on their debut album "People Let's Go".

The song was spoofed by "Weird Al" Yankovic on his 1988 album, "Even Worse", as "I Think I'm a Clone Now". Dave Garr, who wrote a good deal of song parodies about computers, covered this as "I Think We're a Clone Now". The parody dealt with the licensing of the Macintosh from Apple Computer to other companies during the short period in which Macintosh clones were made. The video was recorded in 1995 at Apple's headquarters and features the building and its landmarks of the day, references to former Apple CEOs Mike Spindler and John Sculley, and some vintage Macintosh computers including a Macintosh Classic and an Apple Lisa. The latest cover of the song was recently released by The Birthday Massacre on their Looking Glass EP.

References