If Anyone Falls vs. If Anyone Falls In Love
 

THE SONG FORMERLY KNOWN AS TITLES
Billboard Chart Beat
April 27, 2007

Hello Fred,

I just purchased Stevie Nicks' "Crystal Visions" CD and I noticed that the name of the song "If Anyone Falls" was changed to "If Anyone Falls in Love." Do you happen to know if this was intentional or a mistake? I know that it isn't the first time a song title has changed. For example, back in January 1982, Billboard updated the name of Vangelis' hit "Titles" to "Chariots of Fire," more than three months before it hit No. 1. Also, the Jacksons' hit "Heartbreak Hotel" was later changed to "This Place Hotel." I was curious if you know of any other examples where the titles of hit songs have changed?

Regards,

Pete Pait
Alpharetta, Georgia


Dear Pete,

I don't know if the change of title on the Stevie Nicks album was a mistake or not, though there are usually so many eyes checking these things before they are released that it's difficult to believe it was an error.

Song titles can be changed for different reasons. Music publishers like to avoid using the exact same titles as older songs to avoid confusion about royalty payments. That could explain the "Heartbreak Hotel" switch, although I wouldn't mind writing a song called "Heartbreak Hotel" and being sent the royalties on the Elvis Presley hit.

I remember when Polydor originally issued the "Titles" single by Vangelis. I believe this happened because on the "Chariots of Fire" soundtrack album this instrumental piece was correctly called "Titles" as it was the music over which the titles were played. But since every movie has opening titles and/or closing titles and music played over them, it wouldn't make sense to release them all with the title "Titles." Someone must have realized it would be more beneficial for everyone if every time the single was played on the radio, someone would announce, "that was 'Chariots of Fire' by Vangelis" instead of "that was 'Titles' by Vangelis."

The first song that comes to mind when you ask about titles of hit songs being changed is an instrumental by the Marketts in 1964. It was originally called "Outer Limits," though it had no connection to the TV series (and wasn't the theme song). The production company behind the series insisted on a title change, so "Outer Limits" became "Out of Limits," even though I still call it "Outer Limits" to this day.

wow. that's the most creative way to not answer a question I've ever seen.

Silly, he did answer the question. He said: "I don't know." in the first sentence.

Yup, total non answer.

I think it was intentional. Stevie probably had the final word on the track list and gave it the green light. She always refers to the song as If Anyone Falls in Love in concert. I've never heard her refer to it as If Anyone Falls. It was probably a producer who shortened the title in the first place.

It's a known fact that singles with shorter titles do better. Same with movies, the shorter the title, the bigger the blockbuster.

Regardless, I prefer If Anyone Falls.

I'm glad she got to put If Anyone Falls in Love as the title. I don't know why it was ever shortened to If Anyone Falls. For someone who had no idea what the song was about, they could just read the title and it'd be humorous.

Dear Pete,

If you were a true fan, you'd know that La Nicks has called If Anyone Falls by the other title for years now. How dare you not know that. On the same subject, How Still My Love is also known as In the Still of the Night. Why, you ask? Who the f*ck knows. Who the f*ck cares.

Thanks for writing!
P

THANK YOU. I also much prefer to hear it as "if anyone falls in love" it just sounds more compleete. instead of
if anyone falls.................What? where? when!
before, the title allways made me think of people on a clif.
Like saying this song is called " the song of " of what damn it!!?:lol:

that's so funny I forgot to laugh. ;)

what I meant was, he's a journalist, right? do a little research and expound on "I don't know" -

Generally true. But not in Stevie's case considering that Stop Draggin' My Heart Around is her biggest solo hit. Even her biggest Mac hit is referred to Thunder Only Happens When It's Raining to people unfamiliar with Fleetwood Mac.

I believe that to Stevie, the song title has always been "IAFIL", yet for some reason the title was shorted on the WH album. I have never heard her call that song simply "IAF". Has any of you??

Sorry for all the abbreviations, I am sending this message at work and break is over.

Lot's of linear thinkers here.

So, is it "Golden Braid" (as it is listed on the VHS box for Stevie Nicks In Concert) or "Gold & Braid" (as it is listed on the Enchanted box) ?

Gold & Braid. at least, I think so.

that's what I hear in the multiple demos I have.

...........:p

I was being facetious. :lol:

I kinda was too. :lol:

I thought it was odd that the song was suddenly reffered to as "If Anyone Falls In Love" since it never has before. As for "Gold & Braid" that title makes no sense at all, "Golden Braid" however does make sense since the lyric is talking about her hair "don't hide behind your hair, it's a bit of golden braid" That is one song title I would love to have explained because the change makes no sense. Finally as for "How Still My Love" vs. "In The Still Of The Night" this one is easy and Stevie has mentioned this before, when she wrote the song, it was called "In The Still Of The Night", but when it was recorded it was changed to "How Still My Love" to avoid confusion with the old 60's song "In The Still Of The Night" (In the still of the night, hold me darling, hold me tight......). That's why that was changed.

-Al

I remember when I saw her play IAF in at the first Collosseum show she introduced it by saying it's called "If Anyone Falls In Love", and I'm thinking to myself 'um, no it isn't Stevie'. But she knows best.

She also referred to "Rose Garden" as "You Never Promised Me a Rose Garden" during the Enchanted tour.

She has also referred to "Storms" as "Always Been A Storm" although in a recent CV interview, I can't remember which, she actually used the short title which surprised me.

Gold & Braid vs. Golden Braid
 

As for Gold & Braid, I think both title references work. Golden Braid would be a literal interpretation, whereas Gold & Braid is metaphorical.

I look at the two things as a metaphor for her stardom -- gold representing luck (finding your pot of gold) and braid representing her personality or the thing that makes her unique (talent, beauty, ambition, etc.). The physical braid then represents how those things are tied together to become who she is today...the great rock star. So "don't hide behind your hair" is simply saying don't deny your opportunities, it's that bit of luck and yourself that takes you far.

In the crescendo of the chorus, she belts out "If Anyone Falls (hold note)".

So there.

Apparently I upset someone by my above sarcastic post. Sorry if I offended, I wasn't truly implying that the person who wrote the actual question was not a "real fan" - I was imitating & joking around about Chiffonheads & Superfans who look down on more casual fans for not knowing every single little thing about the band. Also, I was making fun of Stevie changing titles & lyrics as she often does. :cool: So CHILL OUT DUDES, I meant no offense.

I thought it was funny. Who spoiled the fun, damn it?

r u srs?

:shocked:

don't play dumb, jazzy, i know it was you! :laugh:

sorry. the wyndchyld in me took over. :lol:

do i need to excommunicate you from the S.N.A.P.?

A.S.A.P. I'm afraid. :(

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

(10 characters to say i've always found "if anyone falls" to be far more poetic than "if anyone falls in love." nyah)

I've always wondered about this .... interesting point about How Still My Love -- I've only just noticed that! :shocked:

Stevie introduced the song in 1983 as "If Anyone Falls in Love" on her tour. Or, well, at least she did for the 1983 Largo performance. It annoys me, "If Anyone Falls" has so much more mystery as a title.