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Lonely (Akon song)

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"Lonely"
Single by Akon
from the album Trouble
Released February 21, 2005
Format CD single
Recorded 2003-2004
Genre R&B, hip hop soul, hip hop
Length 3:55 (Album Version)
3:33 (UK Radio Edit)
Label SRC, Universal
Writer(s) Akon, Bobby Vinton and Gene Allen
Producer Disco D
Certification Platinum (RIAA)
Platinum - ABPD[1]
Akon singles chronology
"Ghetto"
(2004)		 "Lonely"
(2005)		 "Belly Dancer (Bananza)"
(2005)
Music video
"Lonely" on YouTube
Alternative cover
European cover

"Lonely" (also known as "Mr. Lonely") is a single by Senegalese-American singer Akon, it appears on his debut album, Trouble. The single was released in 2005 and was his first worldwide hit. It reached number one in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany (where it stayed there for eight weeks), and Australia. It was also highly popular in France where it reached number two, and in the United States it peaked at #4. An edited version is on Radio Disney's playlist and on Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 8.

Contents

Background

When 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.[2] On hearing the demo track he had said, "This kid is official - this is a huge record."[2] 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.[2] 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."[2]

Writing and inspiration

The song makes use of a sped-up samples from Bobby Vinton's composition "Mr. Lonely", providing a vocal sound similar to Alvin and the Chipmunks, made famous by producers such as the RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, Newcleus and Kanye West. The song is written by Gene Allen, Bobby Vinton, and Akon. Another version with a faster pace exists that is about 3 minutes and 45 seconds long. The lyrics are sung primarily by Akon as well as Bobby Vinton doing parts of the choruses.

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single. The video was directed by Gil Green. Actress Katerina Graham starred in the video as Akon's love partner. Also a lucky competition winner, Daniel Ellwood, starred in the video.

Tracklisting

UK CD1[3]
  1. "Lonely" (Clean Version) - 3:58
  2. "Trouble Nobody" (Explicit) - 3:21
UK CD2[4]
  1. "Lonely" (UK Radio Edit) - 3:33
  2. "Trouble Nobody" (Clean) - 3:21
  3. "Kill The Dance (Got Something For Ya)" (Feat. Kardinal Offshall) - 2:54
  4. "Lonely" (Video) - 3:58
US CD Single[5]
  1. "Lonely" (Clean Version) - 3:58
  2. "Lonely" (Instrumental Version) - 3:58
  3. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (Snippet) - 1:31

Charts

The song was a #1 hit in several countries including Australia, Austria, Denmark, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium and Switzerland. The song reached #2 in France, Norway and Sweden. The song also reached #19 in Finland.[6]

Chart positions

Chart (2005) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[8] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[10] 2
Czech Republic (IFPI)[11] 57
Denmark (Tracklisten)[12] 1
European Hot 100 Singles[13] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[14] 19
France (SNEP)[15] 1
Germany (Media Control AG)[16] 1
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[17] 15
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[18] 21
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 1
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[20] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[21] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[22] 2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 4
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[27] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 57

Year-end charts

End of year chart (2005) Position
German Singles Chart[29] 3
UK Singles Chart[30] 7

Decade-end charts

(2000–2009) Position
German Singles Chart[31] 55

Certifications

Country Certification Sales
Australia 2xPlatinum[32] 140,000+
USA Platinum[33] 1,000,000+

Chart possession and succession

Preceded by
"Is This the Way to Amarillo" by Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay		 Irish Singles Chart number-one single
May 5, 2005 – May 26, 2005		 Succeeded by
"Axel F" by Crazy Frog
UK Singles Chart number-one single
May 8, 2005 – May 15, 2005		 Succeeded by
"Lyla" by Oasis
Preceded by
"Don't Phunk with My Heart" by The Black Eyed Peas		 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
June 13, 2005 – July 11, 2005		 Succeeded by
"Axel F" by Crazy Frog
Preceded by
"We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey		 Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single
July 10, 2005 – July 17, 2005
Preceded by
"Axel F" by Crazy Frog		 Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single
August 14, 2005		 Succeeded by
"Ghetto Gospel" by 2Pac featuring Elton John

References

  1. ^ http://www.abpd.org.br/certificados_interna.asp?sArtista=50 Cent
  2. ^ a b c d "Interview With Knobody". HitQuarters. Sep 27, 2005. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_JeromeFoster.html. Retrieved Jul 1, 2010. 
  3. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0009F2CBG
  4. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0009F2CB6
  5. ^ http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=888028
  6. ^ Lonely @ Australian-charts.com Retrieved June 2009
  7. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Akon – Lonely". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
  8. ^ "Akon – Lonely – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  9. ^ "Ultratop.be – Akon – Lonely" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Akon – Lonely" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  11. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200601 into search.
  12. ^ "Danishcharts.com – Akon – Lonely". Tracklisten. Hung Medien.
  13. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" European Hot 100 for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
  14. ^ "Finnishcharts.com – Akon – Lonely". Suomen virallinen lista. Hung Medien.
  15. ^ "Lescharts.com – Akon – Lonely" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  18. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  19. ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
  20. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Akon – Lonely" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  21. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Akon – Lonely". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
  22. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Akon – Lonely". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  23. ^ "Chart Stats – Akon – Lonely" UK Singles Chart. Chart Stats.
  24. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Akon – Lonely". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  25. ^ "Akon – Lonely – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  26. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
  27. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
  28. ^ "Akon Album & Song Chart History" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Akon. Prometheus Global Media.
  29. ^ http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2005
  30. ^ http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2005.pdf
  31. ^ http://www.rtl.de/cms/unterhaltung/tv-programm/show/die-ultimative-chartshow/hits-neue-jahrtausend-download.html
  32. ^ http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2005.htm
  33. ^ RIAA Certifications

External links

Akon
Albums
Singles
Featured singles
Promotional singles
Other songs

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