"If I Have to Stand Alone" is a song by American

Hi-NRG Hi-NRG (pronounced "high energy") is a genre of uptempo disco or electronic dance music (EDM) that originated in the United States during the late 1970s and early 1980s. As a music genre, typified by fast tempo, staccato hi-hat rhythms (and the ...

and

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

singer

Lonnie Gordon Lonnie Gordon (born November 8, 1965, Philadelphia) is an American female dance, pop and Contemporary R&B, R&B singer and songwriter. She scored several record chart, chart hit record, hits during the 1990s, most notably for her 1990 United King ...

, released in November 1990 as the fourth and last single from her debut album by the same name (1990). Like the other tracks, it was written and produced by English songwriting and record producing trio

Stock Aitken & Waterman Stock Aitken Waterman (abbreviated as SAW) are an English songwriting and record production trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s. SAW is considered ...

, and a black-and-white

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

was produced to promote the single. In spite of good critical reception, "If I Have to Stand Alone" did not manage to become a hit, remaining at the bottom of the charts in the countries where it was released.

Critical reception

A reviewer from ''

Music & Media ''Music & Media'' was a pan-European magazine for radio, music and entertainment. It was published for the first time in 1984 as ''Eurotipsheet'', but in 1986 it changed name to ''Music & Media''. It was originally based in Amsterdam, but later ...

'' commented, "Clearly inspired by 70s

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

and bearing the trademark

SAW A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood, though sometimes metal or stone. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the material and mo ...

production imprint. A nice little tune with loads of violins and a stampeding drum computer." Nick Robinson from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' wrote, "Written, arranged and produced by SAW, this sticks to a winning formula.

The Supremes The Supremes were an American girl group and a premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s. Founded as the Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful ...

-meets-

Gloria Gaynor Gloria Gaynor ( née Fowles; born September 7, 1943) is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits "I Will Survive" (1978), " Let Me Know (I Have a Right)" (1979), " I Am What I Am" (1983), and her version of "Never Can Say Goodbye" ( ...

vocals are coaxed along by that familiar chugging rhythm and vibrant backing". A review published in 2021 on the ''Pop Rescue'' site said that "If I Have to Stand Alone" "bursts this 11 track album right open with some wonderful bleeping synths, before instantly screaming Stock/Aitken/Waterman's late 80's synth-pop style", and expressed sadeness about the single failure on the UK single chart.

Chart performance

"If I Have to Stand Alone" debuted at a peak of number 68 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

on the chart edition of 17 November 1990, then dropped to number 85 and fell off the chart the next week. In February 1991, it also reached number 147 on the Australian Singles chart where it charted for four weeks.

Track listing

* 7" single, UK #"If I Have to Stand Alone" #"If I Have to Stand Alone (Senza Voce)" * 12" single, UK #"If I Have to Stand Alone" (Club Mix) #"If I Have to Stand Alone" (Dub Mix) * CD maxi, UK #"If I Have to Stand Alone" (12" Version) – 6:12 #"If I Have to Stand Alone" (12" Dub Version) – 4:20 #"If I Have to Stand Alone" (7" Version) – 3:25 #"If I Have to Stand Alone (Senza Voce)" – 3:16

Charts

References

{{authority control 1990 songs 1990 singles Lonnie Gordon songs Eurodance songs Supreme Records singles Songs written by Pete Waterman Songs written by Matt Aitken Songs written by Mike Stock (musician) Black-and-white music videos