Foolish Lullaby

Last updated

"Foolish Lullaby" is a song by Laura Branigan from her fourth studio album, Hold Me (1985). It was written by Jack White and Mark Spiro, and produced by White. It was later covered by Paul Anka and titled "It's Hard to Say Goodbye".

Contents

Paul Anka versions

"It's Hard to Say Goodbye"
It's Hard to Say Goodbye.jpg
Promotional single by Paul Anka and Celine Dion
from the album A Body of Work
ReleasedJanuary 1999 (1999-01)
Genre Pop
Length4:31
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Audio
"It's Hard to Say Goodbye" on YouTube

Paul Anka 1993 versions

In 1993, Paul Anka rewrote "Foolish Lullaby" and recorded it as "It's Hard to Say Goodbye". It was produced by C+C Music Factory. This solo version was included on his 1993 album, Face in the Mirror. He also recorded it as a duet with Filipino singer Regine Velasquez, which was featured on the Asian edition of Face in the Mirror and also on Velasquez's 1993 album, Reason Enough. [1]

Paul Anka and Celine Dion versions

In 1996, Anka and Celine Dion recorded a bilingual version of "It's Hard to Say Goodbye", in which Dion sings in Spanish and Anka in English. The Spanish lyrics were written by Adrian Posse and Humberto Gatica, and the track was produced by David Foster. Entitled "Mejor Decir Adiós", the song was included on Anka's Amigos album, released on July 30, 1996.

In 1998, Anka and Dion recorded "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" as a duet in English. This version was produced by Foster and Gatica, and included on Anka's A Body of Work album, issued on September 22, 1998. "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" was released as a promotional single for US adult contemporary radio stations in January 1999. [2] It included a short radio version of the song lasting four minutes and sixteen seconds. [3]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor from Billboard magazine praised the track in his review and compared it to Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond's duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". [3]

Commercial performance

In March 1999, Fred Bronson from Billboard wondered if with "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" Dion could soon have three duets on the Adult Contempotrary chart, as she was already charting with "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer". [4] Eventually, "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" did not enter Billboard's Adult Contemporary top 25 chart, but it reached number 26 on the Radio & Records ' Adult Contemporary top 30 chart. [5]

Charts

Chart (1999)Peak
position
US Adult Contemporary ( Radio & Records ) [5] 26

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Anka</span> Canadian and American singer and actor (born 1941)

Paul Albert Anka is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including "Diana", “You Are My Destiny", “Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby".

<i>A New Day Has Come</i> 2002 studio album by Celine Dion

A New Day Has Come is the eighteenth studio album and seventh English-language album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released by Sony Music on 25 March 2002. It was her first new studio album since her 1998 Christmas album These Are Special Times. Dion returned to the music scene after a two-year hiatus when she gave birth to her first child in 2001. She collaborated on A New Day Has Come with various producers, including Anders Bagge and Peer Åström for the first time.

<i>Miracle</i> (Celine Dion album) 2004 studio album by Celine Dion

Miracle is the twenty-first studio album and ninth English-language album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released by Sony Music on 11 October 2004. It is a concept album credited to Dion and Australian photographer Anne Geddes. The songs were produced by David Foster. Miracle topped the chart in Canada and Wallonia (Belgium) and reached top five in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. It was certified Platinum in the US, and Gold in various countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Your Angel</span> 1998 single by Celine Dion and R. Kelly

"I'm Your Angel" is a duet by Celine Dion and R. Kelly from Dion's These Are Special Times album and Kelly's R. album. It was released on 13 October 1998. The song was written and produced by R. Kelly. The single was very successful, reaching number one in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The single also reached the top five in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When I Fall in Love</span> Song from One Minute to Zero

"When I Fall in Love" is a popular song, written by Victor Young (music) and Edward Heyman (lyrics). It was introduced in Howard Hughes' last film One Minute to Zero as the instrumental titled "Theme from One Minute to Zero". Jeri Southern sang on the first vocal recording released in April 1952 with the song's composer, Victor Young, handling the arranging and conducting duties. The song has become a standard, with many artists recording it; the first hit version was sung by Doris Day released in July 1952.

The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by Billboard magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to Billboard by stations that are members of the Adult Contemporary radio panel. The chart debuted in Billboard magazine on July 17, 1961. Over the years, the chart has undergone a series of name changes, being called Easy Listening(1961–1962; 1965–1979), Middle-Road Singles(1962–1964), Pop-Standard Singles(1964–1965), Hot Adult Contemporary(1984–1996) and Adult Contemporary(1979–1984, 1996–present). The current number-one song on the chart is "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman</span> 1967 song by Aretha Franklin

"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 song by American soul singer Aretha Franklin released as a single by the Atlantic label. The lyrics were written by Gerry Goffin from an idea by Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, and the music was composed by Carole King. Written for Franklin, the record reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of her signature songs. It made history on the UK Singles Chart a week after her death, finally becoming a hit almost 51 years after it was first released, entering at No. 79. Franklin also included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris in 1968.

<i>These Are Special Times</i> 1998 studio album by Celine Dion

These Are Special Times is the seventeenth studio album and sixth English-language album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, and also her first English-language Christmas album. It was first released in Europe on 30 October 1998, by Columbia Records. In the United States, it was released on 3 November 1998 through Epic Records. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas songs and original material, including "I'm Your Angel" and "The Prayer". Dion worked with David Foster and Ric Wake, who produced most of the album. These Are Special Times was released after two of Dion's most successful third and fourth English albums, Falling into You (1996) and Let's Talk About Love (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Power of Love (Jennifer Rush song)</span> 1984 single by Jennifer Rush

"The Power of Love" is a pop song co-written and originally recorded by American singer-songwriter Jennifer Rush in 1984. It was released in December 1984 by CBS Records as the fifth single from her debut album, Jennifer Rush (1984), and has since been covered by Air Supply, Laura Branigan, and Celine Dion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Because You Loved Me</span> 1996 single by Celine Dion

"Because You Loved Me" is a song performed by Canadian singer Celine Dion on her fourth English-language studio album, Falling into You (1996). It was released on 19 February 1996 as the first single in North America, and as the second single in the United Kingdom on 20 May 1996. "Because You Loved Me" was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, and served as the theme song from the 1996 film Up Close & Personal, starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer. Billboard ranked it as the 14th "Top Love Song of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli song)</span> 1999 single by Céline Dion and Andrea Bocelli

"The Prayer" is a song performed by Canadian singer Celine Dion and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. It was written by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager, Tony Renis and Alberto Testa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foolish Games</span> 1997 single by Jewel

"Foolish Games" is a song by American singer-songwriter Jewel from her debut studio album, Pieces of You (1995). It was also the third single to be lifted from the Batman & Robin motion-picture soundtrack. Jewel re-recorded the single for the soundtrack to produce a more radio-friendly version, similar to her other singles "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "You Were Meant for Me". This version is shorter than the album version by one verse. The song details the frustration and agony of knowing that the intensity of one's love is not reciprocated by one's lover.

"Alone" is a song composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who recorded it under the name i-Ten on their 1983 album Taking a Cold Look. It was later recorded by actress Valerie Stevenson and actor John Stamos on the original soundtrack of the CBS sitcom Dreams in 1984. American rock band Heart covered it on their 1987 album Bad Animals, and this version reached number one in the US and Canada. In 2007 Celine Dion recorded it for her album Taking Chances. In 2010 Alyssa Reid used the music and lyrics for the chorus of her song "Alone Again".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Con te partirò</span> 1995 song by Andrea Bocelli

"Con te partirò", also known as "Por ti Volare", is an Italian song written by Francesco Sartori (music) and Lucio Quarantotto (lyrics). It was first performed by Andrea Bocelli at the 1995 Sanremo Music Festival and recorded on his album of the same year, Bocelli. The single was first released as an A-side single with "Vivere" in 1995, topping the charts, first in France, where it became one of the best-selling singles of all-time, and then in Belgium, breaking the all-time record sales there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stand by Your Side</span> 2003 promotional single by Celine Dion

"Stand by Your Side" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, from her eight English studio album, One Heart (2003). It was written by Paul Barry, Mark Taylor, and produced by Taylor and Humberto Gatica. The moving ballad sees Dion promising to someone who has been deeply wounded that she will comfort and support it. It was released on 15 September 2003 as the third single from the album, in the United States. "Stand by Your Side" reached number 17 on the US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye's (The Saddest Word)</span> 2002 single by Celine Dion

"Goodbye's (The Saddest Word)" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion for her seventh English-language album A New Day Has Come (2002). The song was written and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, while Lange and his then-wife, country singer Shania Twain did the backing vocals. Lyrically, the song speaks about motherly love and fear of losing one's mother. It was released as the album's third and last commercial single on 18 November 2002 by Columbia Records and Epic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Send Me a Lover</span> 1993 single by Taylor Dayne

"Send Me a Lover" is a song by American singer-songwriter and actress Taylor Dayne. It was written by Rick Hahn and George Thatcher, and released on September 6, 1993 by Arista Records, as the second single from her third album, Soul Dancing (1993). In the United States, it peaked at numbers 50 and 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and number 19 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. In Canada, "Send Me a Lover" reached number 24 on the Top Singles chart and number eight on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song was originally recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion in 1992, but her version remained unreleased until 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overjoyed (Stevie Wonder song)</span> 1985 single by Stevie Wonder

"Overjoyed" is a hit single written and performed by American R&B singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label from his 1985 album In Square Circle. The single peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1986, remaining in the Top 40 for six weeks. In addition, "Overjoyed" was a No. 1 hit on the adult contemporary chart, the eighth of his career. An alternate single release featured an instrumental version on the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home (Michael Bublé song)</span> 2005 Michael Bublé song

"Home" is a song by Canadian singer Michael Bublé, and released on January 24, 2005, as the first single from his fourth studio album, It's Time. The song was written by Bublé, along with co-writers Alan Chang and Amy Foster-Gillies. Bublé's version was a number-one single on the Adult Contemporary chart formats of both Canada and the United States, in addition to certifying platinum in both countries as well as finding chart success internationally. Following his original version in 2005, two cover versions were successful by other artists: one by Irish group Westlife in 2007, and one by American singer Blake Shelton in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Can I Help You Say Goodbye</span>

"How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" is a song written by Karen Taylor-Good and Burton Banks Collins. It was first recorded by American country music singer Patty Loveless for her 1993 album, Only What I Feel and released in March 1994 as the fourth single. A version by American singer, songwriter, and actress Laura Branigan was released later the same year on her final studio album, Over My Heart, also being released as a single. The song was later included on Branigan's 1995 greatest hits album, The Best of Branigan.

References

  1. "Paul Anka - Face in the Mirror". Discogs. 1993. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  2. "AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records . February 5, 1999. p. 76. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Chuck Taylor (February 27, 1999). "Reviews and Previews: AC" (PDF). Billboard . p. 25. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  4. Fred Bronson (March 20, 1999). "Chart Beat: Patsy's Popularity Won't De-Cline" (PDF). Billboard. p. 94. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. March 5, 1999. p. 74. Retrieved October 28, 2019.