So Alive (Ryan Adams song)

"So Alive"
Single by Ryan Adams
from the album Rock n Roll
Released2004
GenreRock
LabelLost Highway Records
Songwriter(s)Ryan Adams / Johnny T. Yerington
Producer(s)James Barber
Ryan Adams singles chronology
"Nuclear"
(2002) 		"So Alive"
(2004) 		"This Is It"
(2004)
Music video
"So Alive" on YouTube

"So Alive" is a song by singer-songwriter Ryan Adams from his 2003 album Rock n Roll. The song was co-written with Johnny T. Yerington[1] and was released as a single in 2004.[2]

In a 2003 interview with VH1, Adams talked about the song's background: "It was the last song [on the album] to have lyrics. It was the last day of making the record. I got up... walked down to Stuyvesant City Cove and watched the boats go by... I wanted to write a song about how romantic I was feeling. [The song] has a super big falsetto. I don't know where the hell that came from."[3]

The song was Adams' biggest hit overseas, reaching No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.

Music video

A music video for "So Alive", shot by Doug Aitken, was produced in late 2003.[4] The video features Adams performing the song as he wanders through a surreal desert dreamscape characterized by snakes, giant spider webs, scraggly bushes and overall desolation. It was the subject of a behind-the-scenes "Making The Video" special on MTV2, shot at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles. In the special, Adams refers to the "nightmare scenarios" depicted in the video, while producer/first assistant director Peter Murray calls it "a journey of the mind". Throughout the shoot Adams is seen clowning around, cracking jokes with the crew and generally having a good time.[5]

B-Sides

The various "So Alive" singles contain several Rock n Roll outtakes as b-sides, including "Ah, Life", "Don't Even Know Her Name", "I'm Coming Over", and "Luxury".[6]

"Ah, Life", "Don't Even Know Her Name", and "I'm Coming Over" were also released on the Moroccan Role EP in 2004.[7]

Additionally, a limited edition 7" vinyl single was released with a 4-track recording of "Come Pick Me Up" as the b-side.[8]

Track listings

So Alive CD1
Lost Highway 986 1610

  1. "So Alive" (LP version)
  2. "Ah, Life" (non-album track)
  3. "Don't Even Know Her Name" (non-album track)
  4. "So Alive" (music video)

So Alive CD2
Lost Highway 986 1611

  1. "So Alive" (LP version)
  2. "I'm Coming Over" (non-album track)

So Alive Promo CD
Lost Highway RYANCPD5

  1. "So Alive" (radio edit)
  2. "So Alive" (LP version)

7" Vinyl Single
Lost Highway B394947-D1

  1. "So Alive" (LP version)
  2. "Luxury" (non-album track)

Limited Edition 7" Vinyl Single
Lost Highway MRNR-02487-7

  1. "So Alive" (LP version)
  2. "Come Pick Me Up" (original 4-track version)

Personnel & Production Credits

  • Ryan Adams — guitar, bass, vocals, and almost all instruments
  • Johnny T. Yerington — drums
  • Produced by James Barber

"Ah, Life" / "Don't Even Know Her Name" / "I'm Coming Over" / "Luxury"

"Come Pick Me Up (Original 4-Track Version, Jacksonville, NC)"

  • Produced by Allen Midgett

Chart performance

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[9] 38
Netherlands (Dutch Single Top 100)[10] 97
UK Singles Chart[11] 21

References

  1. ^ Rock n Roll (Media notes). Ryan Adams. Universal City, CA: UMG Recordings, Inc. 2003. B0001376-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "So Alive (Canada CD) - Ryan Adams: Allmusic". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  3. ^ Ives, Brian; Bottomley, C. (2003-10-30). "VH1.com: Ryan Adams: Spouting Off About Rock 'n' Roll". VH1.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2003. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  4. ^ Team Retail (2003). "Retail: Points of Impact". CMJ New Music Report. 78 (841). College Media, Inc.: 36. Archived from the original on 1998-02-20. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  5. ^ Making The Video: Ryan Adams: So Alive (Television Special). MTV Productions. 2003.
  6. ^ "The Rock N Roll Sessions". AnsweringBell.com. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  7. ^ "Lost Highway Records: Ryan Adams". Lost Highway Records. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  8. ^ So Alive (Media notes). Ryan Adams. Nashville, TN: Lost Highway Records. MRNR-02487-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Irish singles archive". IRMA. Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  10. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Iron Maiden - Wasted Years". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart".