Alone

Alone

I was watching American Idol the other day and Carrie Underwood performed a belting version of the song Alone. I had only faint memories of the song from way back, but it intrigued me as a challenge. It switches from a talky intro to a power ballad chorus. I soon discovered it had been recorded by Heart in 1987 and had reached number 1. I decided to learn it. Celine Dion had also recorded a version of it in 2007, so you know what kind of vocal feats it requires. As it turns out, the song was written and performed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly in 1983. Anyway, I set about learning the lyrics and working on the vocals. For the talky part you have to create a gloomy atmosphere and emotional tension (“No answer on the telephone”, “The night goes by so very slow”), ending with “Alone”. Then, suddenly, the chorus hits at full volume: “Till now, I always got by on my own/I never really cared until I met you”. Then back to a quiet meditative part: “You’ll never know how much I wanted to touch your lips and hold you tight”, but “The secret is still my own”. This is followed again by the screaming hysterical chorus, the song ending with two high-pitched prolonged shrieks of “Alone”. It’s a great song to tax your vocal powers. After a week I had it down and was happily singing duets of it with Celine. I have made it my own, as the saying goes. How many philosophers can say this?