"Lonely" is a song by Senegalese-American singer-songwriter Akon; it appears on his debut album, Trouble. Featuring a prominent, high-pitched sample of the 1964 song "Mr. Lonely" by Bobby Vinton,[4] the single was released on February 22, 2005. "Lonely" reached number one in several countries, including in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany, where it stayed for eight weeks. It also entered the top five in France, where it reached number two, and in the United States, where it peaked at number four.
"Lonely" | ||||
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Single by Akon | ||||
from the album Trouble | ||||
Released | February 22, 2005 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:55 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Akon singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Background
editWhen Akon was signed by Universal imprint SRC Records it was "Lonely" that had immediately caught the attention of SRC A&R Jerome Foster and convinced him of Akon's talents.[5] On hearing the demo track he had said, "This kid is official - this is a huge record."[5] Despite offering the album's best option in terms of commercial breakthrough, SRC Records chose "Locked Up" over "Lonely" as the first single because SRC wanted to break Akon in the streets first and work towards a cross-over.[5] According to Foster in an interview with HitQuarters, ""Locked Up" is a street record. I thought that was the place for us to start to get a fan-base knowing that we had a record like "Lonely", which was more commercial, to follow it."[5]
The song was written by Akon, Bobby Vinton, and Gene Allan. The lyrics are sung mainly by Akon as well as Bobby Vinton doing parts of the choruses, with Vinton's voice sped up reminiscent of Alvin and the Chipmunks.[6] The song's tempo is 90 beats per minute in common time. "Lonely" is written in the key of C major.[7]
Music video
editA music video was produced to promote the single. The video was mostly filmed inside and in front of the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. The video was directed by Gil Green. Actress Katerina Graham starred in the video as Akon's love partner. A competition winner from Blackpool, Daniel Ellwood, also starred in the video.[citation needed]
Track listings
editUK CD1[8]
- "Lonely" (clean version) – 3:58
- "Trouble Nobody" (explicit) – 3:21
UK CD2[9]
- "Lonely" (UK radio edit) – 3:33
- "Trouble Nobody" (clean) – 3:21
- "Kill the Dance (Got Something for Ya)" (featuring Kardinal Offishall) – 2:54
- "Lonely" (video) – 3:58
US CD single
- "Lonely" (clean version) – 3:58
- "Lonely" (instrumental version) – 3:58
- "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (snippet) – 1:31
Charts
editThe song was a number-one hit in several countries, including Australia, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium, and Switzerland. The song reached number two in France, Norway, and Sweden. The song also reached number 19 in Finland.[10]
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
Decade-end chartsedit
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Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[62] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[63] | Gold | 15,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[64] | Gold | 25,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[65] DMS |
Platinum | 60,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[66] | Diamond | 250,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[67] | Gold | 4,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[68] | Gold | 150,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[69] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] | Gold | 5,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF)[72] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[73] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[75] | Platinum | 450,000[74] |
United States (RIAA)[76] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[76] Mastertone |
Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | February 22, 2005 | [77] | ||
April 4, 2005 | Urban radio | [78] | ||
United Kingdom | May 2, 2005 |
|
[79] | |
Australia | July 4, 2005 | CD | [80] |
References
edit- ^ Breihan, Tom (February 22, 2023). "The Number Ones: Akon's "I Wanna Love You" (Feat. Snoop Dog)". Stereogum. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "A Brief History Of The Chipmunk Vocal Sample". HNHH. May 1, 2024.
- ^ ""Gotta Get Thru This": Dom Passantino's Survey of the New Millenium's UK #1 Singles". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on June 24, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
...Akon don't deal in petty sports field petulance and spit, he deals in cloying R&B....
- ^ Hayes, John (March 10, 2005). "Bobby Vinton back on charts -- in a rap". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Interview With Knobody". HitQuarters. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ Darel, Jevens (April 4, 2005). "EW chats with Bobby Vinton about his squeaky new voice". EW.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
- ^ Aliaune "Akon", Thiam; Bobby, Vinton; Gene, Allen; Akon (May 31, 2005). "Lonely". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ "Lonely: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ "Lonely: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ a b "Akon – Lonely". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Issue 832" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ "Akon – Lonely" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Akon – Lonely" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Akon – Lonely" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1605. May 6, 2005. p. 29. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
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- ^ "Akon – Lonely". Tracklisten.
- ^ "Hits of the World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 23. June 4, 2005. p. 71.
- ^ "Akon: Lonely" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "Akon – Lonely" (in French). Les classement single.
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- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lonely". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
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- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
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- ^ "ARIA Chart Sales – ARIA End of Decade Singles/Top 100" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Gratis: 'Hits des neuen Jahrtausend'-Liste" [Free: 'Hits of the New Millennium' List] (in German). RTL. 2010. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Akon – Lonely" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2005". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Akon – Lonely" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Akon – Lonely" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "Guld Og Platin November/December/Januar". Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Akon; 'Lonely')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Akon – Lonely" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Akon – Lonely". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – Akon – Lonely". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2005" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Lonely')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
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- ^ a b "American single certifications – Akon – Lonely". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
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