Francais | English | Espanõl

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a song written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for their 1945 musical, Carousel . It was sung in the original show by Christine Johnson and later Jan Clayton with chorus. It is sung in the movie by Claramae Turner (although the weeping Shirley Jones first tries to sing it, but cannot), and later reprised by Ms. Jones and a chorus.

In the musical, the song is sung after the death of the lead, Billy Bigelow, to give courage to Julie Jordan, pregnant with child at the time, and is reprised in the final scene to encourage a graduation class of which Louise (their daughter) is a member. As a result, it has become a standard, sung by graduation classes in the United States.

The song's popularity arose during the original Broadway production because of World War II, where many members of the audience had husbands, brothers, boyfriends, or fiancés at war overseas, which led to solace in the song's message.

The song was recorded by many artists, first charting in 1945 in a version by Frank Sinatra (#9 on the Billboard charts). Patti LaBelle and the BlueBelles had a #34 charting version in 1964. Elvis Presley's version got to #90 in 1968.

In England, the song's most famous outing was recorded in the early 1960s by Liverpool group Gerry & the Pacemakers, and reached #1 in the UK charts on the 26th October 1963 where it stayed for 4 weeks. It immediately became the club anthem of Liverpool Football Club <ref>You’ll Never Walk Alone, LiverpoolFC.tv</ref> and is invariably sung by its supporters moments before the start of the game. <ref>YNWA, Google Video, Liverpool against Chelsea, 2005</ref> The words You'll Never Walk Alone feature in the club crest. In recent years the fans of various rival clubs have attempted to claim that they sang it first. It would appear however that "Liverpool have the much stronger claims."<ref>Liverpool or Celtic: who Walked Alone first?. The Guardian (2003-03-12). Retrieved on 2006-08-09.</ref>

The last song of the album Hollywood and Broadway of Richard Clayderman also features this song

The Pink Floyd song "Fearless", from their 1971 Meddle album, includes a recording of the Liverpool Kop singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the end of the track.

The song is also sung by other association football crowds, where it is sung variably, such as:

• England: Ipswich Town
• Scotland: Celtic F.C.
• Netherlands: Feyenoord Rotterdam, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Twente.
• Germany: Borussia Dortmund, Alemannia Aachen, FC St. Pauli.
• Greece: AEK Athens FC (AEK fans adopted a Greek version of the song}
• Japan: F.C. Tokyo.
• Italy: AC Milan

Before the first leg of the 2002/2003 UEFA Cup tie between Celtic and Liverpool at Celtic Park in Glasgow, all the fans were led in the singing of "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry & The Pacemakers frontman Gerry Marsden, who became entangled in his microphone lead. Marsden was to do the same at the return leg at Anfield, but was unable due to a scheduling conflict. Another memorable night during which a rendition of the song was sung was Ian Rush's testimonial at Anfield in 1994.

The song also reached #1 in the UK charts in June 1985 for 2 weeks, a charity record, following the Valley Parade fire at Bradford City on 11 May 1985 (not the Heysel Stadium disaster of 29 May, a common misconception^{[citation needed]}). The song was performed by The Crowd (including Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney and Rolf Harris). <ref>Bradford remembers fire disaster, BBC Sport, 11 May 2005.</ref> Four years later, when Liverpool F.C was afflicted by the Hillsborough disaster, Ferry Cross the Mersey was the charity single, because the previous release of You'll Never Walk Alone was so recent. Nevertheless, it was the latter Liverpool fans sang, led by Gerry Marsden, at an emotional FA Cup Final. In the days following the disaster John Peel played the song as sung by Aretha Franklin on his 19:00BST starting BBC Radio 1 programme breaking into tears following its playing.

The song reached #1 in the UK charts for a third time when it was released by Robson and Jerome. The song reached number one on the November 3 1996 and remained there for two weeks selling in excess of 300,000 copies. The song was released as a single along with What Becomes of the Broken Hearted and Saturday Night at the Movies.

An operatic version by José Carreras, Plácido Domingo & Luciano Pavarotti with Mehta, reached number 21 in the UK charts in July 1998.

The song was sung in the BBC radio show The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Eddie, the shipboard computer.

It is also the corps song of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and is sung by Jerry Lewis at the end of his annual telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The piece is also played by the University of North Texas Green Brigade Marching Band at the end of every football game. The lights within Fouts Field are cut to total darkness as the players and fans walk onto the field and stand in front of the band. The song's title has become a saying on the campus, representing the togetherness of not only the band, but of the fans and students of the university.

It is also played by the Western Illinois University Marching Leathernecks at the end of every performance. The band faces each other in a large circle with a quartet in center. The members play and sing "Never Walk" as reminder of the strength of the bond between members. This tradition was started by the late Dale Hopper during the 1970's.

In 1999, it was performed by John Farnham, who made his first release of the song in 1972, at the Tour Of Duty Concert in Dili, East Timor, for the Australian peace-keeping troops.

The Mario Lanza version is also played during the closing credits of the Peter Jackson film "Heavenly Creatures".

The song is sung by the members of the Desert Vista Thunder Marching Band after every performance. The late Eric Holden (Band Director 1996-2002) started this tradition.

[edit] Recorded versions

101 Strings Orchestra Andre Hazes Andy Williams Aretha Franklin Babelsberg Pöbelz Barbara Cook Barbra Streisand Barry Manilow and Cilla Black duet Bernadette Peters Bill & Gloria Gaither Bill Medley Billy Eckstine Billy Preston Blue Haze Boots Randolph Brett Mitchell Bryn Terfel Byrdie Green Celtic F.C. Celtic F.C. Fans Chet Atkins Claramae Turner Colin Pryce-Jones Conway Twitty Czech Symphony Orchestra Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Daniel O'Donnell Daniel Rodriguez Die Toten Hosen Doris Day Dorothy Squires Dottie West Ed Ames Eddie Chamblee Eileen Farrell Elvis Presley Engelbert Humperdinck Enrique Chia Enzo Stuarti Eric Reed Ferlin Husky Ferrante & Teicher Finbar Wright Fiona Kimm Florida Boys Frank Patterson Frank Sinatra Frankie Vaughan Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians G4 Gene Ammons Gene Vincent Gerry & The Pacemakers Glen Campbell Glenn Yarborough

Gordon Turner Grady Tate Guy & Ralna Imaginations J.D. Sumner Jackie Wilson James Williams Jan Clayton Jane Froman Jerry Reed Jim Nabors Jimmy Durante Jo Stafford Joanna Riding Joe Augustine John Arpin John Farnham John Gary John MacNally John Raitt Johnny "Hammond" Smith Johnny Cash Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge Johnny Preston Jon Jang Joni James José Carreras Judy Garland Kamahl Kate Smith Keely Smith Kevin Rowland Kevin Williams Kiri Te Kanawa Lee Greenwood Lee Towers Lesley Garrett Liverpool F.C. London Theatre Orchestra Louis Armstrong Mahalia Jackson Malcolm Vaughan Mario Lanza Martin Nievera Melodie Michael Ball Michael Crawford Michael Junior Mike Pender Mormon Tabernacle Choir Muriel Dickinson Myron Floren Nettie Fowler Nina Simone

Nonoy Zuniga Norma Zimmer Olivia Newton-John Papa Bue's Viking Jazzband Pat Boone Patti LaBelle Paul Freeman Paul Smith and the Shit Shufflers Perry Como Peter Pan Kids Plácido Domingo Ray Charles Ray Conniff Regine Velasquez Renée Fleming Rev. Cleophus Robinson Richard Clayderman Robin S. Robson & Jerome Rodgers & Hammerstein Roger Williams Ronan Tynan Roy Hamilton Sam Harris Sergio Franchi Shirley Bassey Shirley Jones Shirley Verrett Simon Estes Slade Smoking Popes Starsound Orchestra Stephen Jackson & The Juggernauts Tammy Wynette The Adicts The Bachelors The Blind Boys Of Alabama The Drury Land Theatre Orchestra The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama The Flamingos The Imperials The Knickerbockers The Lennon Sisters The Lettermen The Mighty Clouds Of Joy The O'Neal Twins The Oak Ridge Boys The Righteous Brothers The Sentimental Strings The Starlite Orchestra The Voices of Liberty Tom Jones Tom Netherton Tony Sandler Vern Jackson Wayne Gratz Women's Chorus Of Dallas

[edit] References

Preceded by: "Do You Love Me" by Brian Poole & The Tremeloes

UK number one single October 31 1963

Succeeded by: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles

Preceded by: "19" by Paul Hardcastle

UK number one single June 9 1985

Succeeded by: "Frankie" by Sister Sledge

Preceded by: "Say You'll Be There" by Spice Girls

UK number one single November 3 1996

Succeeded by: "Breathe" by The Prodigy

de:You’ll Never Walk Alone

ko:You'll Never Walk Alone no:You'll Never Walk Alone pl:You'll Never Walk Alone pt:You'll Never Walk Alone