Mr. Lonely
Encyclopedia
"Mr. Lonely" is a song co-written and recorded by Bobby Vinton
. The song originally appeared on Vinton's album Roses Are Red
in 1962. Later that year, Buddy Greco
recorded a version of the song using a very similar musical arrangement as Vinton's version. Greco's single
release reached #64 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in November, 1962. Vinton's recording was included on his Greatest Hits
album in fall 1964 and concurrently issued as a single, reaching #1 on the Billboard chart in December of that year.
The song describes a soldier who is sent overseas and has no communication with his home; the singer laments his condition and wishes for someone to talk with. The single of Vinton's recording was released just as the Vietnam War
was escalating, and since many soldiers and draftees were experiencing a very similar situation, the situation had a positive impact on the song's popularity. In 1966, Vinton and Gene Allan re-teamed to pen a sequel song, "Coming Home Soldier", which reached #11 on the Billboard chart.
In 1967, former Yugoslav beat
band Zlatni Dečaci
recorded a Serbian language
cover of the song, entitled "Sam".
Philippine
singer Victor Wood
made a bilingual version of the song, alternating the original lyrics with Filipino
ones. This particular cover became popular in the Philippines and gave some fame to the entertainer.
In 2005, Senegalese
singer Akon
sampled
this single for Lonely
and it was featured on his album Trouble
. This song uses a sped-up sample of the earlier song.
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
. The song originally appeared on Vinton's album Roses Are Red
Roses Are Red (album)
Roses Are Red was Bobby Vinton's third studio album, released in 1962. After Vinton's hit "Roses Are Red " reached #1 , the eponymous album was released and made its way up to #5 on the Billboard Hot 200...
in 1962. Later that year, Buddy Greco
Buddy Greco
-Biography:He was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Greco began playing piano at the age of four. His first professional work was playing with Benny Goodman's band. Most of Greco's work has been in the jazz and pop genres...
recorded a version of the song using a very similar musical arrangement as Vinton's version. Greco's single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release reached #64 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 in November, 1962. Vinton's recording was included on his Greatest Hits
Bobby Vinton's Greatest Hits
Bobby Vinton's Greatest Hits is a 12-track collection that contains the first 12 singles by Bobby Vinton; it was released in 1964, two months after his album Tell Me Why...
album in fall 1964 and concurrently issued as a single, reaching #1 on the Billboard chart in December of that year.
The song describes a soldier who is sent overseas and has no communication with his home; the singer laments his condition and wishes for someone to talk with. The single of Vinton's recording was released just as the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was escalating, and since many soldiers and draftees were experiencing a very similar situation, the situation had a positive impact on the song's popularity. In 1966, Vinton and Gene Allan re-teamed to pen a sequel song, "Coming Home Soldier", which reached #11 on the Billboard chart.
In 1967, former Yugoslav beat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
band Zlatni Dečaci
Zlatni Dečaci
Zlatni Dečaci were a former Yugoslav rock band from Belgrade, notable as one of the pioneers of the former Yugoslav rock scene.- History :...
recorded a Serbian language
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
cover of the song, entitled "Sam".
Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
singer Victor Wood
Victor Wood
Victor "Vic" Wood is a singer, actor and politician. His voice earned him various titles, including "Jukebox King" and "Plaka King"....
made a bilingual version of the song, alternating the original lyrics with Filipino
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
ones. This particular cover became popular in the Philippines and gave some fame to the entertainer.
In 2005, Senegalese
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
singer Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
this single for Lonely
Lonely (Akon song)
"Lonely" is a single by Senegalese-American singer Akon, it appears on his debut album, Trouble. The single was released in 2005 and was his first worldwide hit. It reached number one in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany , and Australia...
and it was featured on his album Trouble
Trouble (Akon album)
-Chart positions:-Certifications:- Chart prossesion and succession :...
. This song uses a sped-up sample of the earlier song.
Cultural references
- It appears in the animated movie Flushed AwayFlushed AwayFlushed Away is a 2006 computer animated British film directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell. It is a partnership between Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame, and DreamWorks Animation, and is Aardman's first completely computer-animated feature as opposed to the usual stop-motion.The film...
, where singing slugs perform it for the main character, Roddy, as he is left alone. - It is featured in an episode of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-AirThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
where Carlton (Alfonso RibeiroAlfonso RibeiroAlfonso Lincoln Ribeiro is an American actor, director, dancer, game show host, and comedian. While he received attention for his performance in the title role of the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid and his appearance as a dancer in a Pepsi commercial featuring Michael Jackson, Ribeiro is best...
) plays the song while dancing with Jackie (Tyra BanksTyra BanksTyra Lynne Banks is an American model, media personality, actress, occasional singer, author and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough...
). - The character Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-ilKim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
sings a similar-sounding song in the film Team America: World PoliceTeam America: World PoliceTeam America: World Police, often referred to as simply Team America, is a 2004 action comedy film written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady and directed by Parker, all of whom are also known for the popular animated television series South Park...
. - The song was used as the title of the 2007 Harmony KorineHarmony KorineThe story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
film, Mister LonelyMister LonelyMister Lonely is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine, and co-written with his brother Avi Korine.-Plot:A young American man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Michael Jackson look-alike, dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows. During a show in...
. - In a commercial for Premium Crackers, the song is played alternating with "Rock You Like a HurricaneRock You Like a Hurricane"Rock You Like a Hurricane" a song by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The song was released as the second track of their 1984 album Love at First Sting.-Description:...
" by ScorpionsScorpions (band)Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...