Song for the Lonely
| "Song for the Lonely" | ||||||||
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| Single by Cher | ||||||||
| from the album Living Proof | ||||||||
| Released | March 19, 2002 | |||||||
| Recorded | 2001 | |||||||
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| Length | 4:01 | |||||||
| Label | Warner Bros/WEA | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Mark Taylor, Paul Barry, Steve Torch | |||||||
| Producer(s) | Mark Taylor | |||||||
| Cher singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Song for the Lonely" is a song recorded by American singer-actress Cher for her 24th studio album, Living Proof. It was released on March 19, 2002, as the second single from the album in Europe while in North America it was released as the lead single, by Warner Bros. and WEA. The song was performed in some American television programs and in her 2002–2005 Farewell Tour.
Cher recorded "Song for the Lonely" in Summer 2001 in London and was going to include it on her twenty-fourth studio album Living Proof, and it immediately became her favorite song. However, after the September 11 attacks, she began thinking of it in a different way. In an interview with Larry King Live, at the time, she thought of it as a love song, but after the attacks, she felt the song was right for the occasion. "After 9/11, I was listening to the album one day, and I started listening to that song, and all of a sudden it took on a completely different meaning because, when I listened to the words, oh, you know, when heroes fall in love and war, they live forever", she completed. Cher commented that "Song for the Lonely" was one of the best songs she has ever had the opportunity to sing, because before the attacks, "we still lived in a world of innocence [...] [and] since the world has changed so dramatically, the lyrics have a different weight. They're heavier, yet they're comforting at the same time. Over the past month or so, I've had a number of people tell me that the song has helped them cope. What a humbling compliment". 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'.
Since its release, public's reaction to "Song for the Lonely" had been positive. James Lonten, manager of a Borders Books & Music in New York, which has been stocking Living Proof since its European release, commented, "That goes without saying. We play the track in-store, and it literally stops people dead in their tracks. It's an instantly affecting, highly emotional song". John Boulos, senior vice-president of promotion at Warner Bros. Records, said: "Obviously, we're not exploiting [the September 11 events] as a selling point to the single, but it has undeniably drawn the interest of people. We simply feel that we have an incredible song by a truly legendary artist. That's a pretty potent combination to take it to the street". "Song for the Lonely" served as the first American single and second Canadian single from Living Proof, and was originally intended to follow "Alive Again" as the third European single, but it was dropped due to complications with Cher's record company. However, the song was released as a promo CD and sent to European radio stations.
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