Annie's Song

Background

"Annie's Song" was written as an ode to Denver's wife at the time, Annie Martell Denver. Denver "wrote this song in January 1973 in about ten-and-a-half minutes one day on a ski lift" to the top of Aspen Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, as the physical exhilaration of having "just skied down a very difficult run" and the feeling of total immersion in the beauty of the colors and sounds that filled all senses inspired him to think about his wife. Annie Denver recalls the beginnings: "It was written after John and I had gone through a pretty intense time together and things were pretty good for us. He left to go skiing and he got on the Ajax chair on Aspen mountain and the song just came to him. He skied down and came home and wrote it down... Initially it was a love song and it was given to me through him and yet for him it became a bit like a prayer."

Milt Okun stated: "The first time I heard 'Annie's Song,' I told John it had the same melody as Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, Second Movement. He walked over to the piano, sat for an hour and came back and the only thing remaining from Tchaikovsky was the first five notes. It was fantastic."

Critical reception

Shawn M. Haney of Allmusic noted the song's expressive emotionality, calling it an "ever so romantic tearjerker". Haney praised "Annie's Song" as "one of Denver's finest achievements". Billboard called it a "fine love song." Record World said that this "folk ballad, subtle and sweet, glows with a continental flair that should take it to all the right places."

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Ville Valo cover

| B-side = Freeman – "Olet mun kaikuluotain" On July 4, 2016, Ville Valo released a cover version of "Annie's Song" in Finnish, titled "Olet mun kaikuluotain" ("You're My Sonar"). The lyrics were by Hector and the song had previously been recorded in 1976 by Freeman. Ville Valo's version was released as a tribute to Finnish label Love Records, who celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2016. Valo's version was also the first release from the label in over 30 years. Valo commented on the song, stating: "Kaikuluotain is a childhood favorite of mine, to the beat of which many a sleepless night ended up in tears. To this day it gives me cold shivers and goosebumps." The song would go on to reach number one on the Finnish Download Chart.

Valo's version also received a music video, directed by Ykä Järvinen. Released on July 11, 2016, the video features scenes of Valo walking around Helsinki, done in tribute to Aki Kaurismäki's film Calamari Union. The video received the Emma Award for Video of the Year in 2017.

Adaptations

Supporters of Sheffield United use the melody of "Annie's Song" as "The Greasy Chip Butty Song", a football chant with recast lyrics humorously extolling the virtues of life in Sheffield and as supporters of the club.

The Egan band performed Bilintx's song "Loiolan Jai Jai" with this tune, which became the common tune for the song.

A parody version of the first few bars of the song is included on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album, but was removed and replaced with an apology on later pressings of the album on legal advice.

References

References

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2. Whitburn, Joel. (2002). "Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001". Record Research.
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5. Alfonso, Barry. (2005). ''Back Home Again'' (pp. 2–3) [CD Booklet]. New York City, NY: Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
6. Haney, Shawn M.. "John Denver – Back Home Again". [[Allmusic]].
7. (May 25, 1974). "Top Single Picks". Billboard.
8. (May 25, 1974). "Hits of the Week".
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16. Canada, Library and Archives. (January 16, 2018). "Image : RPM Weekly".
17. (January 4, 1975). "Top Selling Singles for 1974". Spotlight Publications.
18. [http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1974.htm Musicoutfitters.com]
19. [http://www.45cat.com/45_list_view_record.php?li=2168 Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1974]
20. (July 4, 2016). "Ville Valo laulaa suomeksi legendaarisen levy-yhtiön juhlavuoden kunniaksi". MTV3.
21. "Ville Valo – "Olet mun kaikuluotain"". Musiikkituottajat.
22. (July 11, 2016). "Ville Valo julkaisi suomenkielisen kappaleen – katso herkän mahtipontinen musiikkivideo".
23. (February 4, 2017). "Emma-gaalan yllättäjä! Ville Valo palkittiin vuoden musiikkivideosta". MTV3.
24. (31 August 2020). "Sheffield United: Who wrote club anthem Greasy Chip Butty?".
25. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtj-1iesfyU To listen] on YouTube
26. Hewison, Robert: ''Monty Python: The Case Against'', p. 37, published 1981 by Eyre Methuen.