#31

31. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Stats:

• #1 for 6 Weeks in 1972 (July - September)
• Replaced: Lean on Me - Bill Withers
• Interrputed by: Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
• Replaced by: Black and White - Three Dog Night
• Sample Headline from its Reign: Thomas Eagleton withdraws from the Vice Presidential spot due to prior mental illness.
• #2 Hits It Prevented from Reaching #1: Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) - The Hollies
• Top 200 #1 Hits 1955-2000 Rank: #25

It is hard to write good songs that are sad without being needlessly dramatic.  O'Sullivan's sole #1 manages this in spades because there is no overproduction here.  Simple drum and piano accompany a simple tale of woe.  First, he is jilted and this makes him suicidal.  I get that. This leads him to flashback to his parents' deaths and how all of this has left him alone.  And his loneliness is palpable because there's nothing left for him to grab on to.  The unwinding of the simple everyman (in a fortunately non-allegorical sense) is a story that's presented in a simple direct way without being flashy or even really pointing to its emotions.  Consequently, I too have cried listening to such simple pain played out over my speakers.

Coming up: #30 - "Are you happy, are you satisfied?"

Comments

[grannie elbow]

I've cried when listening to this song, but I always thought it was a little over the top. I'm surprised to see it this high on the list.

[Ken]

Sorry--I always thought it hit the insipid side of sentimentality!