Jump to content

All by Myself

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see All by Myself (disambiguation).

"All by Myself"
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Eric Carmen
from the album Eric Carmen
B-side"Everything"
ReleasedDecember 1975[1]
Recorded1975
Genre
Length
  • 7:10 (album version)
  • 4:22 (single edit)
LabelArista
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Eric Carmen[4]
Producer(s)Jimmy Ienner
Eric Carmen singles chronology
"All by Myself"
(1975) 		"Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"
(1976)
Audio video
"Eric Carmen - All by Myself (Audio)" on YouTube

"All by Myself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen, released by Arista in December 1975 as the first single from Carmen's debut album, Eric Carmen (1975). The verse is based on the second movement (Adagio sostenuto) of Sergei Rachmaninoff's 1900–1901 Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18. The chorus was taken from the song "Let's Pretend", which Carmen wrote and recorded with the Raspberries in 1972.[5] The slide guitar solo was performed by studio guitarist Hugh McCracken.[6]

Background and composition

[edit]

According to Carmen, he first wrote the solo part of the song, writing four bars at a time, eventually completed the interlude after two months.[7] He needed to put this into a song, and after listening to Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto, a piece famously used to underscore the 1945 British film Brief Encounter, he adapted the melody of its second movement to write the verse.[7] Rachmaninoff's music was in the public domain in the United States at that time, so Carmen thought no copyright existed on it, but it was still protected outside the U.S. subsequent to the release of the album. He was later contacted by the Rachmaninoff estate and informed that it was protected.[8] An agreement was reached in which the estate would receive 12 percent of the royalties from "All by Myself" as well as from "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", which was based on the third movement from Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2.[9][10]

Carmen stated that he also incorporated part of another melody into this song. The melody of the chorus was taken from his previous hit with the Raspberries, "Let's Pretend".[7]

Television performance

[edit]

Carmen performed "All by Myself" and his follow-up hit, "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", on The Midnight Special television program on July 23, 1976 (season 4, episode 37). The show was hosted by The Spinners.[11]

Release

[edit]

The power ballad[12] was the first single from Carmen's first solo LP after leaving the power pop group the Raspberries and was released in December 1975. Billboard described the song as "a superb rock ballad...faithfully capturing most of the good time feel in rock."[13] Cash Box said that Carmen "captures the vocal power of at least two of the three Bee Gees and seems also to have tapped the lyric capabilities of a Paul McCartney."[14] Record World said that Carmen "croons over a backdrop of cascading strings on this self-penned delight from his recent album."[15]

It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100; both "Love Machine" by The Miracles and "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" by The Four Seasons, kept the song from number one.[16] "All by Myself" did reach number one on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles and number three in Canada. The single sold more than one million copies in the United States and was certified gold by the RIAA in April 1976.[17] "All by Myself" was Carmen's first of eight US Top 40 hits. In the UK, however, this was his only Top 40 success, peaking at number 12. The song would be featured in an episode of the popular television series Friends during a scene of Chandler and Joey being depressed after Joey moves out.

Charts

[edit]

Celine Dion version

[edit]
"All by Myself"
Single by Celine Dion
from the album Falling into You
ReleasedDecember 9, 1996
Studio
GenreSoft rock[36]
Length
  • 5:09 (album version)
  • 4:30 (single version)
  • 3:54 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)David Foster
Celine Dion singles chronology
"The Power of the Dream"
(1996) 		"All by Myself"
(1996) 		"Call the Man"
(1997)
Music video
"All by Myself" on YouTube

The most notable cover version of "All by Myself" was recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion in 1996. It was the fourth (or third, depending on the country) hit single from her fourth English-language studio album, Falling into You (1996).[38] Produced by David Foster at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas, it was released on December 9, 1996, in the United Kingdom and on March 11, 1997, in the United States. Selected editions of the album and the single include a Spanish version of the song titled "Sola Otra Vez".[39]

The single became one of Dion's biggest hits in the United States, reaching number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (for three weeks) and the Latin Pop Airplay (two weeks). It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 (number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and number five on the Hot 100 Singles Sales). It was also a top 10 hit in France, United Kingdom, Wallonia in Belgium and the Republic of Ireland. In Canada, "All by Myself" was released as a promotional single only, hitting number one on the Adult Contemporary Chart. "All by Myself" was certified gold in the US (500,000) and in the UK (400,000) and silver in France (125,000).

During an interview on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Dion revealed that the famous high note (F5) leading into the key change had not been planned but David Foster surprised her with it when she appeared for recording. When Dion asked why the surprise, Foster told her that if she couldn't sing it, other singers would, which prompted Dion to prove to Foster that she could sing it.[40]

Critical reception

[edit]

Dion's cover received positive reviews from most music critics. Bill Lamb from About.com placed it at number nine in their ranking of "Top 10 Celine Dion Songs".[41] Entertainment Weekly editor Chuck Eddy said, "But only in her desolate cover of Eric Carmen's 'All by Myself' does she truly crash through the glass ceiling of passion".[42] Pip Ellwood-Hughes from Entertainment Focus called it "incredible" and "one of the best recorded vocals ever captured." He added that "listening to Dion reach the highs she does on that song is magical and it sends goosebumps down your spine look (sic) nothing else can."[43] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented, "Demand by both programmers and the public for this rendition of Eric Carmen's 1976 smash made it the obvious choice to be the third single lifted off Celine's multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated album, Falling into You".[44] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times said, "It's probably a good thing that Celine is all by herself people in the room with her might have their eardrums shattered by her climactic, over the top delivery."[45]

A reviewer from Music Week gave it top score with five out of five, stating that "Dion does a great job with the Eric Carmen power ballad and this one could be in for a long run given its guaranteed appeal to once-a-year record buyers. A contender for the top spot."[46] The magazine's Alan Jones noted that "it's handled with consummate ease by Dion".[47] Music.uk.launch.yahoo.com editor Dan Leroy wrote, "Trying to out-emote Eric Carmen was almost crazy enough to work".[48] The New York Times editor Stephen Holden stated that the cover, along with "Because You Loved Me", "are the strongest cuts on an album crammed with formulaic romantic bombast".[49] A reviewer from People said Dion "knocks herself out trying to match the classic bombast that Eric Carmen dished out on 'All By Myself'."[50] Geoff Edgers from Salon described it as a "dog-ear-shattering remake".[51] Christopher Smith from TalkAboutPopMusic wrote,

Only a few vocalists could possibly attempt to do justice to Eric Carmen's 1975 classic, but with her out-of-this-world voice, Celine is one of them and perhaps the only one big enough to lift the song's long and emotional chords at the end. Celine shatters glass and blows ear drums as she reaches that final "anymore". Bring on the orchestra, drums and guitar as they prove no match for Celine as she repeats the song's central line again and again "don't wanna be, all by myself". Earth shattering and epic are the words and it was hardly surprising that it wouldn't be released as a single in due course either.[52]

Music video

[edit]

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Nigel Dick.[53] It contains fragments from Dion's photo session for the Falling into You album cover and some scenes from her Live à Paris concert. In between, there are also sepia toned footage showing an apparently lonely and sad Dion. The video was later made available on Dion's official YouTube channel in 2012 and had generated more than 63 million views as of October 2023.[54] A video of the Spanish version was added on the channel in 2021.[55]

Track listings and formats

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[94] Silver 125,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[95] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[96] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom December 9, 1996
  • CD
  • cassette
 Epic [97]
Japan January 22, 1997 Mini CD SMEJ [98]
United States March 11, 1997
  • CD
  • cassette
  • 7-inch
[99][unreliable source?]

Other covers

[edit]

In 1994, "All by Myself" was covered by New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich. Her version reached number 100 in Australia in November 1994,[100] and number 26 in New Zealand in March 1995.[101]

In 2018, a cover by Ghian Wright, renamed to "I'm All Alone (Belter Version)", was used in the science fiction television series The Expanse, in the episode of season 3 "Delta-V".[102] The lyrics of the song were rewritten in the mix of English and Belter Creole, a constructed language made for the TV series by Nick Farmer, that was used in the show by Belters, the inhabitants of the asteroid belt and outer planets.[103][104] The lyrics were additionally adjusted to fit the in-universe setting[104] The full version of the song was later placed on The Collector's Edition version of the TV series soundtrack, that was released on December 13, 2019.[102]

Usage in media

[edit]

The first Disney Channel original movie Under Wraps featured the original Eric Carmen song as a major plot point. The character of Harold the Mummy becomes entranced with the song as it reminds him of his lover.

The 1999 film Me Myself I (Australia, France) directed by Pip Karmel, contains cover of this song, performed by Maggie McKinney. The film contains this song in its first part, where the woman protagonist taking a bubble bath and dissatisfied with her lonely life unknowingly or unintentionally wants to shoot herself in the head with a hair dryer.

In Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist television series, the 1st episode ("Pilot" / "Zoey's Extraordinary Power") of 1st Season (2020) contains "All by Myself" performed on a street by strangers, in fact this is the first song of "The Playlist".

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hogya, Bernie (2005). ""All by Myself" 30th Anniversary". EricCarmen.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  2. ^ Graff, Gary (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-7876-1037-1.
  3. ^ Bigna, Dan (2016). "Tuned In: Superb songwriting at the heart of David Bowie's musical legacy". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. January 21. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Robert Olen Butler (2010). Hell. Grove Press. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-0-8021-4509-3.
  5. ^ Pogoda, Gordon (1991). "An Interview with Eric Carmen". ericcarmen.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  6. ^ "Eric Carmen interview". 2005. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "An Interview with Eric Carmen". Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  8. ^ Rust, Victor (2010). The Cliff Richard Recording Catalogue 1958-2010. Victor Rust. ISBN 9780956738400. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  9. ^ Soeder, John. "One Lonely Song, But Many Voices Keep Eric Carmen's Tear-Jerker in Rotation" The Plain Dealer February 12, 2006: J1
  10. ^ Vandeventer, Mary. "Symphony Promises a Crowd Pleaser" The Beaumont Enterprise January 19, 2007
  11. ^ "The Midnight Special". TV.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  12. ^ February 2015, Classic Rock14 (February 14, 2015). "The 40 Greatest Power Ballads Playlist". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. December 13, 1975. p. 58. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 13, 1975. p. 16. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  15. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 20, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  16. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "RIAA - Gold and Platinum - Search Results - Eric Carmen singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012.
  18. ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1976". Kent Music Report. December 27, 1976. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
  19. ^ "Australian-charts.com - Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  20. ^ "Eric Carmen – All by Myself" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  21. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada.
  22. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie.
  24. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 14, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli", then search "Eric Carmen" under "Artista".
  25. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eric Carmen" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  26. ^ "Eric Carmen – All by Myself" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  27. ^ "Eric Carmen – All by Myself". Top 40 Singles.
  28. ^ "SA Charts 1965–1989". Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  29. ^ "Eric Carmen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  30. ^ "Eric Carmen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  31. ^ "Eric Carmen Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  32. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 3/13/76". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  33. ^ "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  34. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1976". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  35. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1976". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  36. ^ Roberts, Randall (June 11, 2014). "Alone in Las Vegas, man crafts clip for Celine Dion's 'All by Myself'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  37. ^ Georges-Hébert Germain (September 1998). Céline: The Authorized Biography of Céline Dion. Dundurn. pp. 235–. ISBN 978-1-55002-318-3.
  38. ^ Falling into You Archived September 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 31, 1996.
  39. ^ "Sola Otra Vez - Celine Dion: The Power of The Music". powerofthemusic.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  40. ^ "Of Course, David Foster Could Convince Céline Dion to Do This". Beyond Bravo. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  41. ^ Lamb, Bill (November 24, 2017). "Top 10 Celine Dion Songs". About.com. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  42. ^ Eddy, Chuck. "Falling Into You". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  43. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (October 11, 2018). "Celine Dion – Falling Into You vinyl review". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  44. ^ Sholin, Dave (January 24, 1997). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2140. p. 62. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  45. ^ Courtney, Kevin (December 20, 1996). "Single File". Irish Times.
  46. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 30, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  47. ^ Jones, Alan (November 23, 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  48. ^ Leroy, Dan. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  49. ^ Holden, Stephen (April 14, 1996). "New Releases". The New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  50. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Falling into You". People. March 18, 1996. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  51. ^ Edgers, Geoff (December 1, 1999). "Arts & Entertainment >> Music". Salon Magazine. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  52. ^ Smith, Christopher (November 2, 2019). "REVIEW: 'FALLING INTO YOU' – CELINE DION". TalkAboutPopMusic. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  53. ^ "Céline Dion: All by Myself - Original Version". IMDb. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  54. ^ "Céline Dion - All By Myself (Official Remastered HD Video)". YouTube. August 24, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  55. ^ CelineDionVEVO (May 5, 2021). Sola otra vez (All By Myself - Spanish Version) (Official Remastered HD Video). Retrieved September 13, 2024 – via YouTube.
  56. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  57. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  58. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  59. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  60. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3210." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  61. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3191." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  62. ^ Lwin, Nanda (1999). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
  63. ^ "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. December 28, 1996. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  64. ^ "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. January 25, 1997. p. 33. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  65. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Celine Dion". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 63. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  66. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  67. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  68. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. March 15, 1997. p. 23. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  69. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (23.01.1997 - 29.01.1997)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist. Retrieved February 5, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  70. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – All by Myself". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  71. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  72. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  73. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  74. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself". VG-lista. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  75. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  76. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  77. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  78. ^ "Céline Dion – All by Myself". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  79. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  80. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  81. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  82. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  83. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Hot Latin Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  84. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  85. ^ "Celine Dion Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  86. ^ "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  87. ^ "Tops de l'année - Top Singles 1996" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  88. ^ "RPM '97 Year End ...Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  89. ^ "RPM '97 Year End ...Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  90. ^ "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  91. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on September 22, 2005. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  92. ^ a b c "The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. December 27, 1997. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  93. ^ "1997: The Year in Charts" (PDF). Billboard Radio Monitor. December 28, 1997. p. 38. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  94. ^ "French single certifications – Celine Dion – All by Myself" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 9, 2021. Select CELINE DION and click OK. 
  95. ^ "British single certifications – Celine Dion – All by Myself". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  96. ^ "American single certifications – Celine Dion – All by Myself". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  97. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 7, 1996. p. 41. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  98. ^ "セリーヌ・ディオンの作品" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  99. ^ "Celine Dion – All by Myself". discogs. 1996. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  100. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  101. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart - The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  102. ^ a b "The Expanse - The Collector's Edition". amazon.com.
  103. ^ Dreyfuss, Emily. "That Cool Dialect on The Expanse Mashes Up 6 Languages". Wired.
  104. ^ a b Various Artists - Topic (December 12, 2019). "I'm All Alone (Belter Version)". youtube.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=All_by_Myself&oldid=1258830107#Celine_Dion_version"