If Anyone Falls vs. If Anyone Falls In Love

SpyNote · #1 05-03-2007, 02:21 PM

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.

JazmenFlowers · #2 05-03-2007, 02:38 PM

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

Richard B · #3 05-03-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

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.

SpyNote · #4 05-03-2007, 02:48 PM

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.

Richard B · #5 05-03-2007, 02:52 PM

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.

equeen102289 · #6 05-03-2007, 02:59 PM

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.

skcin · #7 05-03-2007, 03:01 PM

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

Phoenix · #8 05-03-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equeen102289

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.

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!!?

JazmenFlowers · #9 05-03-2007, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

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

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" -

SpyNote · #10 05-03-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

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

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.

Wldhrt315 · #11 05-03-2007, 03:26 PM

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.