| I Walk Alone | |
| Cover: | Cher - I Walk Alone.png |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Cher |
| Album: | Closer to the Truth |
| Recorded: | 2012 |
| Label: | Warner Bros. |
| Prev Title: | Take It Like a Man |
| Prev Year: | 2013 |
| Next Title: | Ooga Boo |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
I Walk Alone is a song by American recording artist Cher and the fourth single from her twenty-fifth studio album, Closer to the Truth. Written by fellow pop singer Pink, who also contributed backing vocals, it was produced for the album by Billy Mann and MachoPsycho. "I Walk Alone" was sent to UK pop radio stations in early 2014 as a promotional single. Simultaneously to the start of Cher's Dressed to Kill Tour, the song got serviced to US dance clubs and radio stations, and an extended play featuring nine dance remixes of "I Walk Alone" was released to digital retailers on April 25, 2014.[1]
The song has been praised for its lyrical depth, exploring themes such as self-empowerment and independence. Musically, it showcases a rather experimental sound, mixing elements of both country and dance-pop with instruments such as a banjo alongside EDM beats.[2] It reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Cher first mentioned a collaboration with Pink on June 18, 2012, revealing on her official Twitter that "Alecia wrote two great songs" for her new album, later adding that "Pink is definitely my girl. She's talent. Luv it." Describing "I Walk Alone," she stated that it was both rock and dance and "kicks much ass;" the second song being titled "Lie to Me."[3] On April 8, 2012, Pink confirmed she had written a song for Cher's album, and revealed the title to be "I Walk Alone." She further described the contribution as an "honor," and said "I finally feel like a songwriter. And I'm such a fan."[4]
Around the album's release on September 24, 2013, Cher talked about the two songs written by Pink in an interview with online music magazine Radio.com: "These songs, I just loved from five seconds into them. (...) I understood them, and when you hear them, you'll understand why I understood them. They're so personal, but they work for both of us."[5] The album's title is derived from a lyric in the song. In it, Cher sings "There's a gypsy in me that keeps on roaming, and there's an anger as I get closer to the truth."[6]
On March 14, 2014, Tracy Young's "Ferosh Reconstruction Remix" of "I Walk Alone" premiered on Billboard magazine's official website, being serviced to dance clubs and DJs the following week. According to Young, who had previously remixed Cher's "Woman's World," she was excited about the project for three reasons: "One, stating the obvious, working with Cher again. Secondly, I relate to this song lyrically because it echoes where I am at this moment in my life. Lastly, it was so refreshing because I felt this song is in a perfect tempo and it's also one of my favorites on the album."[7]
"I Walk Alone" has received general critical acclaim. John Hamilton from Idolator praised the song for showcasing "a depth that has always made the best of Cher's work so compelling. Without losing energy or the beat, Cher asserts herself as a thinking independent, and experienced character who hasn't been beaten down by an all-too-cruel world."[8]