Here I Go Again
Encyclopedia
"Here I Go Again" is a #1 hit song recorded by Whitesnake
. Originally released on their 1982 album, Saints & Sinners
, the song was re-recorded for their eponymous 1987 album Whitesnake
. The song was re-recorded yet another time that year in a new "radio-mix" version. The 1987 album version hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
chart on October 10, 1987, and number nine on the UK Singles Chart
on November 28, 1987. The 1987 version also hit number one on the Canadian Singles Chart
on October 24, 1987. In 2006, the 1987 version was named the 17th Greatest Song of the 1980s by VH1
.
, and former Whitesnake guitarist, Bernie Marsden
. The most notable differences between the original and revamped version are the style of the music (blues-rock versus hard rock) and a slight change in the lyrics. The chorus of the original version features the lines:
In an interview, Coverdale claimed he changed the lyric because he was afraid people would think he was saying "homo" instead of "hobo".
for the song was directed by Marty Callner
, who directed most of Whitesnake's videos in the 1980s. It became memorable due to actress Tawny Kitaen
's appearance wearing white lingerie. In the video she is seen prancing on the hood of Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale
's Jaguar XJ
and massaging him while he is trying in vain to concentrate on driving. Kitaen would later become Coverdale's wife for a brief period.
In 1987, EMI released a limited Collectors Poster Edition 'USA Single Remix' 7" vinyl [EMP 35], the B-side of which consists of an engraved signature version, and the sleeve of which unfolds into a poster of the band.
While the 1987 album version and the "Radio" version (released on the Greatest Hits album) of the tune are fairly similar, there are several significant differences. The original 1987 version has a long and slow keyboard and vocal intro, whereas the other kicks straight in with the band. One was recorded for the album 1987, the other for a U.S single release the same year. They contain two very different guitar solos, Adrian Vandenberg plays the album and video solo, and Dan Huff plays on the radio edit version. Of the two versions, the one most widely referred to is the remastered version released in the self-titled 1987 album, although both receive significant airplay today.
1987 version from Whitesnake
1987 Radio-mix version
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
. Originally released on their 1982 album, Saints & Sinners
Saints & Sinners (Whitesnake album)
-Personnel:* David Coverdale – Lead Vocals* Micky Moody - Guitars* Bernie Marsden – Guitars, Backing vocals* Jon Lord - Keyboards* Neil Murray – Bass* Ian Paice – Drums* Mel Galley – Backing vocals-Production notes:...
, the song was re-recorded for their eponymous 1987 album Whitesnake
Whitesnake (album)
Tracks 12-15 taken from Live: In the Shadow of the Blues-20th Anniversary Edition DVD:-Singles:*"Here I Go Again" *"Is This Love"*"Still of the Night"*"Crying in the Rain" *"Give Me All Your Love"-Personnel:...
. The song was re-recorded yet another time that year in a new "radio-mix" version. The 1987 album version hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart on October 10, 1987, and number nine on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on November 28, 1987. The 1987 version also hit number one on the Canadian Singles Chart
Canadian Singles Chart
The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....
on October 24, 1987. In 2006, the 1987 version was named the 17th Greatest Song of the 1980s by VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
Background and writing
The song was written by lead singer, David CoverdaleDavid Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, and former Whitesnake guitarist, Bernie Marsden
Bernie Marsden
-External links:*...
. The most notable differences between the original and revamped version are the style of the music (blues-rock versus hard rock) and a slight change in the lyrics. The chorus of the original version features the lines:
- "An' here I go again on my own
- Goin' down the only road I've ever known
- Like a hobo I was born to walk alone"
In an interview, Coverdale claimed he changed the lyric because he was afraid people would think he was saying "homo" instead of "hobo".
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was directed by Marty Callner
Marty Callner
Marty Callner is a director. His primary work is with music videos. Marty has directed work from such popular artists as Cher, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith and has work recorded back as far as 1977 and as recent as 2009. He has been nominated for 7 Emmys, 3 DGAs, and 1 CableACE Award...
, who directed most of Whitesnake's videos in the 1980s. It became memorable due to actress Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen
Julie "Tawny" Kitaen is an American actress and media personality. She became famous in the 1980s for appearing in several hard rock videos for the band Whitesnake, including the hit "Here I Go Again". Kitaen was married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale from 1989–1991...
's appearance wearing white lingerie. In the video she is seen prancing on the hood of Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
's Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
and massaging him while he is trying in vain to concentrate on driving. Kitaen would later become Coverdale's wife for a brief period.
Single versions
There are several different versions of the song, all recorded officially by Whitesnake. They are:- The original version from the 1982 Saints & Sinners album with Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody on guitar (5:03)
- The re-recorded version which appears on the Whitesnake (aka "1987") album with John Sykes on guitar (solo by Adrian Vandenberg) (4:36)
- A 1987 "radio-mix" version, which was released as a U.S. single with Denny CarmassiDenny CarmassiDenny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also...
on drums and Dan Huff on guitar, who also provided the new arrangement. This version also appeared on Whitesnake's Greatest Hits album in 1994 (3:54)
- A 1997 acoustic version recorded for the Starkers in TokyoStarkers In TokyoStarkers in Tokyo is a live acoustic album by Whitesnake released only in Japan on September 9, 1997. It is performed in the style of the Unplugged series and simply features David Coverdale on vocals and Adrian Vandenberg on acoustic guitar. The performance was recorded at the EMI studios in...
album with Adrian Vandenberg on guitar.
In 1987, EMI released a limited Collectors Poster Edition 'USA Single Remix' 7" vinyl [EMP 35], the B-side of which consists of an engraved signature version, and the sleeve of which unfolds into a poster of the band.
While the 1987 album version and the "Radio" version (released on the Greatest Hits album) of the tune are fairly similar, there are several significant differences. The original 1987 version has a long and slow keyboard and vocal intro, whereas the other kicks straight in with the band. One was recorded for the album 1987, the other for a U.S single release the same year. They contain two very different guitar solos, Adrian Vandenberg plays the album and video solo, and Dan Huff plays on the radio edit version. Of the two versions, the one most widely referred to is the remastered version released in the self-titled 1987 album, although both receive significant airplay today.
Personnel
Original 1982 version from Saints & SinnersSaints & Sinners (Whitesnake album)
-Personnel:* David Coverdale – Lead Vocals* Micky Moody - Guitars* Bernie Marsden – Guitars, Backing vocals* Jon Lord - Keyboards* Neil Murray – Bass* Ian Paice – Drums* Mel Galley – Backing vocals-Production notes:...
- David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
- lead vocals - Bernie MarsdenBernie Marsden-External links:*...
- guitar, backing vocals - Micky MoodyMicky MoodyMichael Joseph "Micky" Moody is an English guitarist, and a former member of the rock bands Juicy Lucy and Whitesnake. He was also a founder-member of Snafu. Together with his former Whitesnake colleague Bernie Marsden he founded the Moody Marsden Band, and later, The Snakes...
- guitar - Neil MurrayNeil Murray (British musician)Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
- bass - Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
- keyboards - Ian PaiceIan PaiceIan Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
- drums
1987 version from Whitesnake
Whitesnake (album)
Tracks 12-15 taken from Live: In the Shadow of the Blues-20th Anniversary Edition DVD:-Singles:*"Here I Go Again" *"Is This Love"*"Still of the Night"*"Crying in the Rain" *"Give Me All Your Love"-Personnel:...
- David Coverdale - lead vocals
- John SykesJohn SykesJohn James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
- guitar, backing vocals - Adrian VandenbergAdrian VandenbergAdrian van den Berg is a Dutch rock guitarist, best known for his tenure as one of the guitarists in Whitesnake during their successful late 1980s period.-Early years:...
- guitar solo - Neil Murray - bass
- Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
- keyboards - Bill Cuomo - keyboards
- Aynsley DunbarAynsley DunbarAynsley Thomas Dunbar is an English drummer. He has worked with some of the top names in rock, including Eric Burdon, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, Jefferson Starship, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, UFO, and Journey...
- drums
1987 Radio-mix version
- David Coverdale - lead vocals
- Dann HuffDann HuffDann Huff is an American musician, session musician, singer-songwriter and producer. For his work as a producer in the Country music genre he has won several awards including the Musician of the Year award in 2001 and 2004 at the Country Music Association Awards and the Producer of the Year award...
- guitar - Neil Murray - bass
- Don Airey - keyboards
- Bill Cuomo - keyboards
- Denny CarmassiDenny CarmassiDenny Carmassi is an American drummer.Carmassi was a member of the first four line-ups of the band Montrose. After Montrose, he played with his former Montrose bandmate Sammy Hagar as a solo artist, and with his former Montrose bandmates Ronnie Montrose and Jim Alcivar in the band Gamma.He also...
- drums
Films
The song has appeared in various movies including:- the 1998 film I Still Know What You Did Last SummerI Still Know What You Did Last SummerI Still Know What You Did Last Summer is a 1998 slasher film and sequel to the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer. The screenplay was written by Trey Callaway, based on characters originally created in a popular novel by Lois Duncan. Callaway's script was published in an edited "young adult"...
- the 2003 comedy Old SchoolOld School (film)Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks SKG and directed by Todd Phillips, director of the documentary Frat House. The story was written by Court Crandall, and the film was written by Phillips and Scot Armstrong...
- the 2008 film AdventurelandAdventureland (film)Adventureland is a 2009 Retro comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Margarita Levieva, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.-Plot:...
- the credits of the 2009 film Fired UpFired Up (film)Fired Up! is a 2009 teen comedy film produced and directed by Will Gluck and written by Freedom Jones. The main plot revolves around two popular high school football players who create their lie to attend cheerleading camp for the summer and get close to its female cheerleaders.-Plot:Nick Brady...
- the 2010 film Barry MundayBarry MundayBarry Munday is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Chris D'Arienzo; it is based on the novel Life is a Strange Place by Frank Turner Hollon. The film stars Patrick Wilson as the titular character, as well as Judy Greer, Malcolm McDowell, Chloë Sevigny, Cybill Shepherd, Billy Dee Williams,...
- the 2010 film The FighterThe FighterThe Fighter is a 2010 biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams. The film centers on the life of professional boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his older half-brother Dicky Eklund . The film also stars Amy Adams as...
Video games
- The song appears as a cover in the game Karaoke Revolution Party.
- The song is played during the final cutscene of the 2007 real-time strategy video game World in ConflictWorld in ConflictWorld in Conflict, or WiC, is a real-time tactical video game developed by the Swedish video game company Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows. The game was released in September 2007...
. - The 1987 version of the song is a playable track in the 2010 rhythm game Rock Band 3Rock Band 3Rock Band 3 is a music video game, developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, with Mad Catz taking over both roles a year later. It is the third main game in the Rock Band series...
.
Cover versions
- In 2004 "Here I Go Again" was rendered anew as the debut single by Polish dance/pop singer MandarynaMandarynaMarta Katarzyna Wiktoria Wiśniewska a.k.a. Mandaryna, born in Łódź 12 March 1978 as Marta Mandrykiewicz is a Polish singer, dancer and actress.- Career :...
. Remixed by Groove CoverageGroove CoverageGroove Coverage is a German Euro-dance band. The Groove Coverage project consists of Axel Konrad, DJ Novus, Melanie Munch, better known as Mell , and Verena Rehm . The band has had hits around the world, especially in Germany, and have had radio play in North America, notably with the song, "Poison"...
, the song was a smash hit in PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, peaking at #2 on the Polish Singles Chart. - Dan Maxwell & His Band recorded the song for the 2008 cover compilation: Hair Apparent - the Main Man Records Tribute to Hair Bands.
- Eurotrance group Topmodelz covered the song on their 2008 album, Time 2 Rock, and released two remixes of their cover.
- The song was featured in the Broadway musical Rock of AgesRock of Ages (musical)Rock of Ages is a rock/jukebox musical, with a book by Chris D'Arienzo, built around classic rock hits from the 1980s, especially from the famous glam metal bands of the decade. The musical features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Asia, among...
, which opened on 7 April 2009 at the Brooks Atkinson TheatreBrooks Atkinson TheatreThe Brooks Atkinson Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 256 West 47th Street in Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, it was constructed as the Mansfield Theatre by the Chanin brothers in 1926. After 1933, the theatre fell into relative disuse until 1945, when Michael Myerberg...
. - Uncle KrackerUncle KrackerMatthew Shafer is an American rock musician known as Uncle Kracker. His singles include "Follow Me", "Smile", and "Drift Away". His music was more rap rock-based at the start of his career before turning in a more rock and Top 40 style music direction on later releases.-Biography:Shafer was born...
released his new album, Happy HourHappy Hour (Uncle Kracker album)Happy Hour is Uncle Kracker's fourth studio album. It was released on September 15, 2009 under Atlantic Records. The album includes the single "Smile"...
in 2009 with the track "Livin' The Dream" featuring the chorus of "Here I Go Again" in the song. - MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
acousticAcoustic musicAcoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
/reggaeReggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band Lucky Uke recorded a cover of the song for their 2010 debut album. A sample can be heard on the band's official website.
Live cover performances
- MacedonianRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
singer Tose ProeskiToše ProeskiTodor Toše Proeski was a Macedonian multi-genre singer, songwriter and actor. He was popular across the entire Balkan area and all around Eastern Europe, and locally he was considered a top act of the Macedonian music scene...
covered this song during his concerts. It was also included on his final album, So Ljubav Ot Tose, in 2011.
Parodies
- Parody glam metal band Steel Panther released a track on their debut album, "Feel The Steel", entitled "Fat Girl (Thar She Blows)"-- the song has clear homage to "Here I Go Again," with similar guitar progression and rhythm.
- Christian rock parody band, ApologetiXApologetiXApologetiX is a Christian parody band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The band was founded in 1992, and since then, has played in 44 states, released 17 studio albums, and built up a fan club that includes 45,000 people. The band is currently composed of J...
, released a parody of the song titled "Here I Go (Against All I've Known)" on their 2006 studio album, WordplayWordplay (album)Wordplay is the 11th studio album & 13th album overall by Christian parody band ApologetiX. It was their 1st album of entirely new music since 2003's Adam Up.-Track listing:# "Somebody Sold Me" – 3:18#* Parody of "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers...
. - The music video was parodied in the O.C.The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
episode "The Summer Bummer", the American Dad!American Dad!American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
episode "Dungeons and Wagons", as well as the films Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky BobbyTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky BobbyTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is a 2006 American comedy film, directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The film also features John C. Reilly, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Amy Adams, Gary Cole, Jane Lynch, and Sacha Baron Cohen. Various Saturday Night Live alumni also...
and Death ProofDeath ProofDeath Proof is a 2007 American action thriller film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film centers on a psychopathic stunt man who stalks young women before murdering them in staged car accidents using his "death-proof" stunt car...
. It was also featured a number of times in the Frat PackFrat PackThe "Frat Pack" is a nickname given to a group of male Hollywood comedy actors who have appeared together in many of the highest grossing comedy movies since the late 1990s...
film Old SchoolOld School (film)Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks SKG and directed by Todd Phillips, director of the documentary Frat House. The story was written by Court Crandall, and the film was written by Phillips and Scot Armstrong...
. It was featured being sung by Nicholas D'AgostoNicholas D'Agosto- Early life :D'Agosto was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Deanna Rae and Alen D'Agosto, who own several Arby's in Omaha. His father is Italian and his mother is of Dutch and English descent. He was raised Catholic and selected Genesius of Rome, the patron saint of actors, as his confirmation...
and Eric Christian OlsenEric Christian OlsenEric Christian Olsen is an American actor. He currently portrays Detective Marty Deeks on the CBS television series NCIS: Los Angeles.-Early life:...
during the credits of Fired Up! - The music video was also referenced in Bowling for SoupBowling for SoupBowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
's "19851985 (song)"1985" is a song best known for its performance in 2004 by the pop punk band Bowling for Soup which reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" music video. Originally recorded by SR-71SR-71 (band)SR-71 is an American rock band that was formed in Baltimore, Maryland. They are best known for their 2000 single "Right Now", their 2002 single "Tomorrow", and as the authors of Bowling for Soup's 2004 hit "1985" . The name of the band came from SR-71 Blackbird, a supersonic surveillance aircraft...
, the song itself contains further references with the lyrics "She was gonna shake her ass/On the hood of Whitesnake's car".