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{{Infobox single |
{{Short description|1990 single by Alias}}
| Name = (I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say
{{About||the similarly titled song by Extreme|More Than Words|the album by Stevie Holland|More Than Words Can Say (album)}}
{{Infobox song
| Cover = CanSAAAAYY.jpg
⚫
| name = More Than Words Can Say
| Caption = Back row (L-to-R): [[Roger Fisher (guitarist)|Roger Fisher]]; Mike DeRosier; Steve Fossen<br>Front row (L-to-R): [[Freddy Curci]]; [[Steve DeMarchi]]
| Artist = [[Alias (band)|Alias]]
| cover = CanSAAAAYY.jpg
| alt =
| from Album = [[Alias (album)|Alias]]
| Released = 1990
| type = single
| Format = [[CD single]], [[cassette single]], [[Single (music)|7" single]]
| artist = [[Alias (band)|Alias]]
| Genre = [[Rock Music|Rock]], [[Arena rock]]
| album = [[Alias (album)|Alias]]
| Label = [[EMI]]
| released = September 8, 1990
| recorded = 1990
⚫
| Writer = [[Freddy Curci]]/[[Steve DeMarchi]]
| Producer = [[Rick Neigher]]
| studio =
| Last single = &mdash;
| venue =
| genre = [[Glam metal|Hair metal]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myweddingsongs.com/wedding-song-lists/best-hair-band-ballads/|title=Hair Band Ballads|first=Matthew|last=Campbell|website=My Wedding Songs|date=26 April 2024 }}</ref>
⚫
| This single = "More Than Words Can Say"<br>(1990)
| length = 3:54
| Next single = "Waiting For Love"<br>(1991)
| label = [[EMI Records|EMI]]
⚫
| writer = [[Freddy Curci]], [[Steve DeMarchi]]
| producer = Rick Neigher
| prev_title = Haunted Heart
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = [[Waiting for Love (Alias song)|Waiting for Love]]
| next_year = 1991
}}
}}
"'''More Than Words Can Say'''" (also known as "'''(I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say'''" for promotional purposes) is a song by Canadian [[rock music|rock]] band [[Alias (band)|Alias]]. It was released in September 1990 as the second single from their debut [[Alias (album)|eponymous album]]. The [[power ballad]] became a {{abbr|No.|Number}} 2 hit in the United States and reached No. 1 in Canada for four weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popdose.com/death-by-power-ballad-alias-more-than-words-can-say/|title=Death by Power Ballad: Alias, "More Than Words Can Say"|date=4 January 2010}}</ref>


⚫
[[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] presented Alias lead vocalist and songwriter [[Freddy Curci]] with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI's web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.<ref name=BMI>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/|title=Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)|website=BMI.com}}</ref>
"'''(I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say'''" is a [[power ballad]] by [[Canada|Canadian]] [[rock music|rock]] band [[Alias (band)|Alias]]. It became a #2 hit in the [[United States]], and reached #1 in Canada in 1990.


⚫
==Composition and inspiration==
The '''''actual''''' name of this song is "'''More Than Words Can Say'''", but many thought the name of this song is ''"I Need You Now"'' because this phrase is repeated many times in the chorus. There is also a lot of misinformation about which band this song belongs to; some lyrics websites credit it "[[FireHouse (band)|Firehouse]]" or "[[Winger (band)|Winger]]".
"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged, and co-produced by former [[Sheriff (band)|Sheriff]] vocalist [[Freddy Curci]] and guitarist [[Steve DeMarchi]]. DeMarchi's younger brother [[Denny DeMarchi|Denny]] played the keyboard and sang the backing vocals. Curci recorded the vocals in [[Denny DeMarchi]]'s bedroom at DeMarchi's family home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/rockizoid_fans|title=RockizoidFans Page (rockizoid_fans) on Myspace|website=Myspace}}</ref>


⚫
At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "[[When I'm with You (Sheriff song)|When I'm with You]]" the previous year, and the other band members had refused to reunite. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-[[Heart (band)|Heart]] members guitarist [[Roger Fisher (guitarist)|Roger Fisher]], bassist [[Steve Fossen]], and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was the result.<ref name="Music Legends">{{cite web|publisher=Music Legends|url=http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/roger-fisher-interview/|title=Roger Fisher Interview|accessdate=7 May 2013|date=15 March 2012|last=Saulnier|first=Jason}}</ref>
⚫
[[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI]] presented the lead vocalist / songwriter [[Freddy Curci]] with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI’s web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.<ref name=BMI>[http://www.bmi.com BMI Website]</ref>


⚫
==Chart performance==
Audio and video performances of the song can be found on the official Alias website.<ref>[http://www.myspace.com/theofficialalias Official ALIAS website]</ref>
"More Than Words Can Say" was released as the second single of Alias' self-titled debut album. It entered the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at No. 84 and reached the top 40 four weeks later. On November 24, 1990, it peaked at No. 2. It also peaked at No. 2 on the [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart. In the band's native Canada, the song reached No. 1 on November 24 and stayed there for four weeks, ending 1990 as the country's second highest-selling single, behind another power ballad, [[Phil Collins]]' "[[I Wish It Would Rain Down]]". It also topped Canada's Adult Contemporary chart for a week. Outside North America, "More Than Words Can Say" only managed to chart in Australia and New Zealand, peaking at No. 30 and No. 37 respectively.


== Song Lyrics ==
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
The complete song lyrics can be found on Freddy Curci's website under the lyrics section.<ref>[http://www.freddycurci.com Freddy Curci website]</ref>
{{col-2}}


===Weekly charts===
⚫
== Composition and inspiration ==
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
⚫
"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged and co-produced by former [[Sheriff (band)|Sheriff]] vocalist [[Freddy Curci]] and guitarist [[Steve DeMarchi]]. At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "[[When I'm With You]]", and the other band members had refused to come back together. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-[[Heart (band)|Heart]] members, guitarist [[Roger Fisher (guitarist)|Roger Fisher]], bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was a result.
!Chart (1990–1991)
⚫
!Peak<br/>position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|30|artist=Alias|song=More Than Words Can Say|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=9183|rowheader=true|refname=CAN1|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|1|chartid=1414|rowheader=true|refname=CANA1|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|37|artist=Alias|song=More Than Words Can Say|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1990-11-24/|title=Billboard Hot 100|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 24, 1990|access-date=June 25, 2023}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1990-12-15/|title=Adult Contemporary|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=December 15, 1990|url-access=subscription|access-date=June 25, 2023}}</ref>
|2
|}
{{col-2}}


===Year-end charts===
⚫
== Chart performance ==
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
"More Than Words Can Say" was released as the first single of Alias' self-titled debut album. It entered the [[Hot 100]] at #84 and reached the Top Ten four weeks later. On November 24, 1990, it peaked at number two, kept from the top spot by [[Mariah Carey]]'s "[[Love Takes Time]]". It also peaked at number two on the [[adult contemporary]] chart and at number 13 on the [[Mainstream Rock Tracks|Mainstream rock]] chart.

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1990)
!Chart (1990)
!Position
⚫
!Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=9139|rowheader=true|refname=CAN2|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|U.S. Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|2
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|68|chartid=9175|rowheader=true|refname=CANA2|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary
|}
|align="center"|3

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1991)
!Position
|-
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|74|chartid=1706|rowheader=true|refname=CAN3|accessdate=June 30, 2024}}
|U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks
|align="center"|13
|-
|-
!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-12-21.pdf|title=1991 The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=103|issue=51|page=YE-36|date=21 December 1991|accessdate=10 August 2021}}</ref>
|''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Canadian Top 100
|28
|align="center"|1
|}
|}
{{col-end}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
* Feldman, Christopher (2000). ''The Billboard Book of Number Two Hits''. ISBN 0-8230-7695-4.
* Feldman, Christopher (2000). ''The Billboard Book of Number Two Hits''. {{ISBN|0-8230-7695-4}}.
* [http://billboard.com "''Billboard''"]. Billboard ''Hot 100 airplay and sales charts''. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
* [http://billboard.com "''Billboard''"]. Billboard ''Hot 100 airplay and sales charts''. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
{{refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://myspace.com/theofficialalias The Official Alias Myspace Profile]
* [https://www.myspace.com/theofficialalias Official Alias Myspace]
* [http://www.freddycurci.com Freddy Curci (Lead Singer) website]
* [http://www.freddycurci.com Freddy Curci (lead singer) website]

{{Alias (band)}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1990 songs]]
[[Category:1990 songs]]
[[Category:Canadian rock songs]]
[[Category:1990 singles]]
⚫
[[Category:Alias (band) songs]]
[[Category:EMI Records singles]]
[[Category:Glam metal ballads]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
⚫
[[Category:Rock ballads]]

Latest revision as of 20:33, 9 October 2024

For the similarly titled song by Extreme, see More Than Words. For the album by Stevie Holland, see More Than Words Can Say (album).
"More Than Words Can Say"
Single by Alias
from the album Alias
ReleasedSeptember 8, 1990
Recorded1990
GenreHair metal[1]
Length3:54
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Freddy Curci, Steve DeMarchi
Producer(s)Rick Neigher
Alias singles chronology
"Haunted Heart"
(1990) 		"More Than Words Can Say"
(1990) 		"Waiting for Love"
(1991)

"More Than Words Can Say" (also known as "(I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say" for promotional purposes) is a song by Canadian rock band Alias. It was released in September 1990 as the second single from their debut eponymous album. The power ballad became a No. 2 hit in the United States and reached No. 1 in Canada for four weeks.[2]

BMI presented Alias lead vocalist and songwriter Freddy Curci with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI's web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.[3]

Composition and inspiration

[edit]

"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged, and co-produced by former Sheriff vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi. DeMarchi's younger brother Denny played the keyboard and sang the backing vocals. Curci recorded the vocals in Denny DeMarchi's bedroom at DeMarchi's family home.[4]

At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "When I'm with You" the previous year, and the other band members had refused to reunite. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-Heart members guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was the result.[5]

Chart performance

[edit]

"More Than Words Can Say" was released as the second single of Alias' self-titled debut album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 84 and reached the top 40 four weeks later. On November 24, 1990, it peaked at No. 2. It also peaked at No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In the band's native Canada, the song reached No. 1 on November 24 and stayed there for four weeks, ending 1990 as the country's second highest-selling single, behind another power ballad, Phil Collins' "I Wish It Would Rain Down". It also topped Canada's Adult Contemporary chart for a week. Outside North America, "More Than Words Can Say" only managed to chart in Australia and New Zealand, peaking at No. 30 and No. 37 respectively.

Charts

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Campbell, Matthew (26 April 2024). "Hair Band Ballads". My Wedding Songs.
  2. ^ "Death by Power Ballad: Alias, "More Than Words Can Say"". 4 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)". BMI.com.
  4. ^ "RockizoidFans Page (rockizoid_fans) on Myspace". Myspace.
  5. ^ Saulnier, Jason (15 March 2012). "Roger Fisher Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Alias – More Than Words Can Say". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9183." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1414." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Alias – More Than Words Can Say". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. November 24, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. December 15, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9139." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9175." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1706." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "1991 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-36. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  • Feldman, Christopher (2000). The Billboard Book of Number Two Hits. ISBN 0-8230-7695-4.
  • "Billboard". Billboard Hot 100 airplay and sales charts. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=More_Than_Words_Can_Say&oldid=1250336272"