| So Alive | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Ryan Adams |
| Album: | Rock n Roll |
| Released: | 2004 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Label: | Lost Highway Records |
| Producer: | James Barber |
| Chronology: | Ryan Adams |
| Prev Title: | Nuclear |
| Prev Year: | 2002 |
| Next Title: | This Is It |
| Next Year: | 2004 |
"So Alive" is a song by singer-songwriter Ryan Adams from his 2003 album Rock n Roll. The song was co-written with Johnny T. Yerington[1] and was released as a single in 2004.[2]
In a 2003 interview with VH1, Adams talked about the song's background: "It was the last song [on the album] to have lyrics. It was the last day of making the record. I got up... walked down to Stuyvesant City Cove and watched the boats go by... I wanted to write a song about how romantic I was feeling. [The song] has a super big falsetto. I don't know where the hell that came from."[3]
The song was Adams' biggest hit overseas, reaching No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart.
A music video for "So Alive", shot by Doug Aitken, was produced in late 2003.[4] The video features Adams performing the song as he wanders through a surreal desert dreamscape characterized by snakes, giant spider webs, scraggly bushes and overall desolation. It was the subject of a behind-the-scenes "Making The Video" special on MTV2, shot at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles. In the special, Adams refers to the "nightmare scenarios" depicted in the video, while producer/first assistant director Peter Murray calls it "a journey of the mind". Throughout the shoot Adams is seen clowning around, cracking jokes with the crew and generally having a good time.[5]
The various "So Alive" singles contain several Rock n Roll outtakes as b-sides, including "Ah, Life", "Don't Even Know Her Name", "I'm Coming Over", and "Luxury".[6]
"Ah, Life", "Don't Even Know Her Name", and "I'm Coming Over" were also released on the Moroccan Role EP in 2004.[7]
Additionally, a limited edition 7" vinyl single was released with a 4-track recording of "Come Pick Me Up" as the b-side.[8]
So Alive CD1
Lost Highway 986 1610
So Alive CD2
Lost Highway 986 1611
So Alive Promo CD
Lost Highway RYANCPD5
7" Vinyl Single
Lost Highway B394947-D1
Limited Edition 7" Vinyl Single
Lost Highway MRNR-02487-7
"Ah, Life" / "Don't Even Know Her Name" / "I'm Coming Over" / "Luxury"
"Come Pick Me Up (Original 4-Track Version, Jacksonville, NC)"
| Chart (2004) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart[9] | 38 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Single Top 100)[10] | 97 | |
| UK Singles Chart[11] | 21 |