Who Wrote Here I Go Again by Whitesnake?

For other uses, see Here I Go Again (disambiguation).

"Here I Go Again"
File:WhitesnakeHereIGoAgain.jpg
Song by Whitesnake
from the album Saints & Sinners
B-side"Bloody Luxury"
Released15 November 1982
Recorded1982
GenreHard rock[1]
Length5:09
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)David Coverdale
Bernie Marsden
Producer(s)Martin Birch
"Here I Go Again"
File:Hereigoagain.jpg
Song by Whitesnake
from the album Whitesnake
B-side"Guilty of Love"
ReleasedOctober 1987
Recorded1985–1986
GenreHeavy metal, hard rock
Length4:36 (Album Version)
3:54 (Radio Edit Mix)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden
Producer(s)Mike Stone, Keith Olsen

"Here I Go Again" is a song by British rock band Whitesnake. Originally released on their 1982 album, Saints & Sinners, the song was re-recorded for their eponymous 1987 album Whitesnake. The song was re-recorded again that year in a new "radio-mix" version. The 1987 album version hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 10 October 1987,[2] and number nine on the UK Singles Chart on 28 November 1987. The 1987 version also hit number one on the Canadian Singles Chart on 24 October 1987. In 2006, the 1987 version was ranked number 17 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.[3]

Background and writing

The song was written by the lead singer, David Coverdale, and former Whitesnake guitarist, Bernie Marsden. The most notable differences between the original and re-recorded versions are a slight change in the lyrics. The chorus of the original version features the lines:

"An' here I go again on my ownGoin' down the only road I've ever knownLike a hobo I was born to walk alone"

In an interview, Coverdale explained that "hobo" was changed to "drifter" in the re-recorded version to ensure that it would not be misheard as "homo."[4]

Composition

The Song is Composed in the Key of G Major and a Tempo of 91 BPM. Source:https://www.audiokeychain.com/track/yV/whitesnake-here-i-go-again

Music video

The first music video was made for the original 1982 version. It starts with Coverdale sitting in a concert hall seat and singing the first verses. The video continues as a lip synced "live" video showing the 1982 line-up (Ian Paice who was drumming for the recording is replaced by Cozy Powell) of Whitesnake performing the song.

The music video for the re-recorded version was directed by Marty Callner,[5] who directed most of Whitesnake's videos in the 1980s. In the video actress Tawny Kitaen is seen posing on the hoods of two Jaguar XJs and seducing Coverdale while he is driving. Kitaen and Coverdale would later marry.

Due to Coverdale firing the other members of the band before the album was released, he is the only Whitesnake member present on both the recording and in the music video; this was the case for all music videos released for songs from the 1987 album.[citation needed]

Single versions

There are several different versions of the song, all recorded officially by Whitesnake. They are:

  • The original version from the 1982 Saints & Sinners album with Jon Lord on Hammond organ and Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody on guitar (5:03)[6]
  • The re-recorded version which appears on the Whitesnake (aka 1987) album with John Sykes on guitar (solo by Adrian Vandenberg) (4:36)[citation needed]
  • A 1987 "radio-mix" version, which was released as a U.S. single with Denny Carmassi on drums and Dann Huff on guitar, who also provided the new arrangement. This version also appeared on the Whitesnake's Greatest Hits album in 1994 (3:54)[citation needed]
  • A 1997 acoustic version recorded for the Starkers in Tokyo album with Adrian Vandenberg on guitar.[citation needed]

In 1987, EMI released a limited Collectors Poster Edition 'USA Single Remix' 7" vinyl [EMP 35], the B-side of which consists of an engraved signature version, and the sleeve of which unfolds into a poster of the band.[citation needed]

While the 1987 album version and the "Radio" version (released on Whitesnake's Greatest Hits) of the tune are fairly similar, there are several significant differences. The original 1987 version (the one used for the video) has a long and slow keyboard and vocal intro, whereas the other kicks straight in with the band. One was recorded for the album 1987, the other for a U.S single release the same year. They contain two very different guitar solos, Adrian Vandenberg plays the album and video solo, and Dann Huff plays on the radio edit version. The album version has a different rhythm in the chorus, with a syncopated kick drum beat that is not in the single version. Of the two versions, the one most widely referred to is the remastered version released in the self-titled 1987 album, although both receive significant airplay today.[citation needed]

Personnel

Original 1982 version from Saints & Sinners

  • David Coverdale - lead vocals
  • Bernie Marsden - guitar
  • Micky Moody - guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray - bass
  • Jon Lord - keyboards
  • Ian Paice - drums
  • Mel Galley - backing vocals

1987 version from Whitesnake

  • David Coverdale - lead vocals
  • John Sykes - guitar, backing vocals
  • Neil Murray - bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar - drums
  • Adrian Vandenberg - guitar solo
  • Don Airey - keyboards
  • Bill Cuomo - keyboards

1987 Radio-mix version

  • David Coverdale - lead vocals
  • Dann Huff - guitar
  • Mark Andes - bass
  • Denny Carmassi - drums
  • Don Airey - keyboards
  • Bill Cuomo - keyboards

Chart performance

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 53
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 34
Chart (1987–88) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 24
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 17
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 34
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 9
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 1
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 4
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 17
1987 Year-End Chart Position
Canadian RPM Top Singles[16] 16
Dutch Top 40[17] 68
U.K. Singles Chart[18] 100
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 7
U.S. Cashbox Top 100[19] 6

Cover versions

  • A dance cover version by Frash was a minor hit in the UK in 1995, reaching number 69.
  • In 2004 "Here I Go Again" was rendered anew as the debut single by Polish dance/pop singer Mandaryna. Remixed by Groove Coverage, the song was a smash hit in Poland, Europe and Asia, peaking at #2 on the Polish Singles Chart.
  • The song was also frequently performed by Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody in their post-Whitesnake collaborations, appearing on the Moody Marsden Band albums Never Turn Our Back on the Blues and Live in Hell (Unplugged), the Snakes Live in Europe, the Company of Snakes live album Here They Go Again, and M3 Classic Whitesnake's Classic Snake Live and Rough and Ready albums. It also appears on Marsden's solo live album Big Boy Blue...Live (also known as Live at the Granary). The version usually played was the 1987 radio-mix arrangement, in spite of neither Moody nor Marsden actually playing on that release, although 1987 keyboard player Don Airey appears on several of the releases.
  • The song is featured as the act one finale to the musical Rock of Ages.
  • The song is featured in Uncle Kracker's song "Livin' the Dream" from the album Happy Hour in 2009.

References

  1. Mike DeGagne. "Here I Go Again - Whitesnake - Listen, Appearances, Song Review - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. "Allmusic (Whitesnake charts and awards) Billboard singles".
  3. "VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  4. "David Coverdale's bio". Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  5. "Whitesnake - "Here I go again"". Mvdbase.com. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  6. "Whitesnake - Here I Go Again / Bloody Luxury (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Whitesnake – Here I Go Again (1987)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  10. "Musicline.de – Whitesnake Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  11. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Whitesnake" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  13. "Charts.nz – Whitesnake – Here I Go Again". Top 40 Singles.
  14. "Whitesnake - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  15. "Norwegiancharts.com – Whitesnake – Here I Go Again". VG-lista.
  16. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  17. "SINGLE TOP 1OO OVER 1987" (PDF). Top40.nl. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  18. "UK Top 100 Singles & Albums of 1987". Moopy.org.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  19. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1987". Cashboxcountdowns.com. 26 December 1987. Retrieved 17 October 2012.

Preceded by
"So Emotional" by Whitney Houston
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (1987 versions)
10 October 1987
Succeeded by
"Lost in Emotion" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
Preceded by
"La Bamba" by Los Lobos
Canadian number-one single (1987 versions)
24 October 1987
Succeeded by
"Mony Mony" by Billy Idol

Template:Whitesnake

Who wrote the Whitesnake song Here I Go Again?

The 1987 version also hit number one on the Canadian Singles Chart on 24 October 1987. ... Here I Go Again..

What is white snakes most famous song?

1: Here I Go Again (from 'Whitesnake', 1987) Whichever version you prefer, the grandstanding Here I Go Again remains forever synonymous with David Coverdale, and it easily tops our list of the 20 Best Whitesnake songs.

Why did the lyrics change in Here I Go Again?

More videos on YouTube Coverdale displaced this confusion in an interview, stating “he changed the lyric” from “hobo” to “drifter,” because “he was afraid people would think he was saying homo instead of hobo.”

Which Whitesnake song was written for Tina Turner?

David Coverdale explains in a new video on Whitesnake's YouTube page that “Is This Love” was actually written for Turner. “My friends and associates at EMI Records were looking for songs to follow up Tina's astonishing success story,” recalls Coverdale.