'Alone' - Heart
From 'Bad Animals', Heart's ninth studio album.
Sister duo Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart generally favour a hard rock sound, but a brief dip into power ballads in the 80s produced this gem. Composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, (masterminds behind much-loved classics like ‘True Colours’ and ‘Eternal Flame’), this song endured a short stint on the soundtrack of 1984 CBS sitcom ‘Dreams’, before being picked up by girl-fronted, hair-rock band, Heart, in 1987, and catapulted into power ballad infamy.
Bursting at the seams with 80s melodrama, this classic was the group’s most successful single in both the U.K. and the U.S., (despite the video being choreographed by a certain Paula Abdul). Beginning with a haunting, reverberant piano melody and hushed vocals, it’s beautiful, but this is supposed to be a power ballad... where’s the drama? Where’s the power? Cue the guitars, exploding pianos and dramatic vocals, (and close ups of dramatic hair and dramatic eyeliner), perms never looked so good. Building to an epic instrumental crescendo, Anne belts out the chorus to Nancy’s typical, 80s, cock-rock guitar solo. Bands like Alice in Chains, R.E.M., and Pearl Jam cite these sisters as a source of inspiration and this song is frequently covered. Most recently by Kristin Chenoweth and Matthew Morrison on current FOX hit, ‘Glee’. Kristin’s dynamic, country-tinged vocals combine with the introduction of a male part to give it an interesting twist.
Chock-full of power-riffs and electro-synth, this illustrious love song is perfect for those moments when you fancy a bit of drama, well deserving it’s place on every ‘Best Of The 80s’, or ‘Car Karaoke’, album it graces.
By Beth Cook
Listen To It Here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxfdDrKO8uM
'Heart - Greatest Hits', released 10th July 2000, on EMI is available from online stores : http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=528732
Tour dates and ticket information : http://www.heart-music.com/tour/tour.asp
