More Than Words Can Say
Encyclopedia
" More Than Words Can Say" is a power ballad by Canadian
rock
band Alias
. It became a #2 hit in the United States
, and reached #1 in Canada in 1990.
The actual name of this song is "More Than Words Can Say", but many thought the name of this song is "I Need You Now" because this phrase is repeated many times in the chorus. There is also a lot of misinformation about which band this song belongs to; some lyrics websites credit it "Firehouse" or "Winger".
BMI
presented the lead vocalist / songwriter Freddy Curci
with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI’s web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.
Audio and video performances of the song can be found on the official Alias website.
vocalist Freddy Curci
and guitarist Steve DeMarchi
. At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "When I'm With You
", and the other band members had refused to come back together. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-Heart
members, guitarist Roger Fisher
, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was a result.
's "Love Takes Time
". It also peaked at number two on the adult contemporary chart and at number 13 on the Mainstream rock
chart.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Alias
Alias (band)
Alias was a Canadian album-oriented rock/hard rock supergroup band, formed in 1988 by vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi of the Canadian arena rock band Sheriff , along with Heart founding members Roger Fisher, Steve Fossen, and Mike DeRosier.The band released its self-titled debut...
. It became a #2 hit in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and reached #1 in Canada in 1990.
The actual name of this song is "More Than Words Can Say", but many thought the name of this song is "I Need You Now" because this phrase is repeated many times in the chorus. There is also a lot of misinformation about which band this song belongs to; some lyrics websites credit it "Firehouse" or "Winger".
BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
presented the lead vocalist / songwriter Freddy Curci
Freddy Curci
Freddy Curci is a Canadian AOR rock vocalist and songwriter best known for his stints in Alias and Sheriff.Curci has a multi-octave vocal range and holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Note Held in a pop song, for 30 seconds, timed and submitted by University of Houston, for the ending note...
with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI’s web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.
Audio and video performances of the song can be found on the official Alias website.
Composition and inspiration
"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged and co-produced by former SheriffSheriff (band)
Sheriff was a Canadian rock band in the early 1980s, best known for their hit song "When I'm with You".-Biography:The band was formed in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario and consisted of vocalist Freddy Curci, guitarist Steve DeMarchi, keyboardist Arnold Lanni, bassist Wolf Hassel and drummer Rob...
vocalist Freddy Curci
Freddy Curci
Freddy Curci is a Canadian AOR rock vocalist and songwriter best known for his stints in Alias and Sheriff.Curci has a multi-octave vocal range and holds the Guinness World Record for Longest Note Held in a pop song, for 30 seconds, timed and submitted by University of Houston, for the ending note...
and guitarist Steve DeMarchi
Steve DeMarchi
Steve DeMarchi is a Canadian guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the bands Sheriff and Alias...
. At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "When I'm With You
When I'm with You
"When I'm with You" is a power ballad by Canadian arena rock band Sheriff. It hit number one in the United States in 1989, four years after the band separated....
", and the other band members had refused to come back together. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
members, guitarist Roger Fisher
Roger Fisher (guitarist)
Roger Fisher is a guitarist primarily known as one of the founding members of the band Heart. His tenure lasted from 1967 until 1980.-Career:...
, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was a result.
Chart performance
"More Than Words Can Say" was released as the first single of Alias' self-titled debut album. It entered the Hot 100 at #84 and reached the Top Ten four weeks later. On November 24, 1990, it peaked at number two, kept from the top spot by Mariah CareyMariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
's "Love Takes Time
Love Takes Time
"Love Takes Time" is a song written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, and produced by Walter Afanasieff for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey . It was released as the album's second single in the third quarter of 1990...
". It also peaked at number two on the adult contemporary chart and at number 13 on the Mainstream rock
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart.
Charts
| Chart (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 13 |
| RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Canadian Top 100 |
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