Song for the Lonely

2002 single by Cher
The Living Dead single

"Song for the Lonely" (originally titled "(This is) A Song for the Lonely") is a song by American singer Cher from her twenty fourth studio album, Living Proof (2001). It was written by Mark Taylor, Paul Barry and Steve Torch, and produced by Taylor. It released on March 19, 2002, as the second international single from the album, while in North America it was released as the lead single, by Warner Bros. Records and WEA. "Song for the Lonely" is a dance pop song which was initially written as a love song, but after the September 11 attacks, Cher eventually saw it in a different way. "Song for the Lonely" was met with positive reviews, with music commentators complimenting its heartfelt lyrics and beat. Commercially, the song was a disappointment on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 85, but it topped the Maxi Singles Sales and the Dance Club Play charts. It also reached the top forty in The Czech Republic and Romania. The accompanying music video for "Song for the Lonely" was recorded in New York City under the direction of Stu Maschwitz, and depicts Cher walking through the streets of the city since the 18th century until the modern days, while she is joined by several people from those times. To promote the song, Cher performed it on the American Music Awards of 2002, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and later included it on the setlists of her Living Proof: The Farewell Tour (2002–05) and her concert residency Cher (2008–11).

Cher recorded "Song for the Lonely" in the summer of 2001 in London and intended to include it on her twenty fourth studio album Living Proof (2001), and it immediately became her favorite song from the album. However, after the September 11 attacks, she began thinking of it in a different way. In an interview with Larry King Live she said that after the attacks, she was listening to the album and when the track began, all of a sudden it took on a completely different meaning for her, especially because of the "when heroes fall in love and war, they live forever" lyric. Cher commented that "Song for the Lonely" was one of the best tracks she has ever had the opportunity to sing, because according to her, "we still lived in a world of innocence" before the attacks. In the European and international editions of Living Proof, it is listed as "(This Is) A Song for the Lonely".

"Song for the Lonely" is a guitar laden dance pop song.

"Song for the Lonely" received generally positive reviews from music critics. While reviewing Living Proof, Billboards Michael Paoletta commented that the song was "an empowering jam that deserves to rock the world just as 'Believe' did". In a separate review for the single, Chuck Taylor from the same magazine opined that "anyone who thought 'Believe' was merely a stroke of good fortune on Cher's mile long scorecard will be singing a different tune after one spin of the life affirming '(This Is) A Song for the Lonely '", because "this track is so good, in fact, that it's up for debate as to whether it actually tops that previous winner". He finished his review by writing that "Boy, is "Song for the Lonely" ever an elixir for whatever ails you, a joyous romp with such mass appeal that its destination at the top of the charts seems a given". Kerry L. Smith from AllMusic praised the song, saying, "Cher takes a brief break from her inquisitiveness about love to dedicate the bold, heartfelt opening track, in honor of the September 11th tragedy, 'Song for the Lonely'". Barry Walters of Rolling Stone also agreed by writing that it "clearly intends to evoke September 11th", adding that "coming from a willfully wiggy billion dollar diva, this noble stuff feels calculated, particularly when it's presented in such a sparkling, showbizzy package". Metro Weeklys Gordon Ashenhurst called it a "rousing lead single", while Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine noted that it "wisely abandons such (otherwise welcomed) electronic shenanigans for a pure and impassioned performance". Tony Peregrin of PopMatters deemed the song "an infectious, energetic track that rides the waves of predictable synth pads and pulsating beats". The song attained better positions on other component charts, such as topping both the Maxi Singles Sales and the Dance Club Play charts, A first time director and an architecture enthusiast, Maschwitz sent Warner Bros. Records an idea for the video, featuring a Cher guided tour through New York City's history, exemplified by a multiple reverse timelapses of some of the great buildings of the city rising up before the viewer's eyes. An alternative version for the video for "Song for the Lonely" was included on the DVD The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection (2004).

In order to promote the song and its accompanying album, Cher made a number of performances for "Song for the Lonely". She opened the 2002 American Music Awards on January 9, 2002 with a performance of the song, accompanied by dancers and wearing a blonde wig. She also appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Show with David Letterman and VH1 Divas promoting the song. It was later added to Cher's 2002–05 Living Proof: The Farewell Tour setlist. During the first four legs of the tour, as the second song on the setlist; the performance for the song began when the singer's back up dancers removed her headdress and robe to unveil a revealing midriff baring vest and beaded harem pants. After dropping it for five legs, the song was re added only on the last show at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on May 2, 2005, where it was used as tour finale. Cher also performed the song on the 2008–11 concert residency Cher, held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada but only for a couple of weeks.

In 2005, "Song for the Lonely" was used internationally in television advertisements for Weight Watchers showing overweight women. However, the choice of song, suggesting that the overweight women were desperate, lonely and unloved, raised complaints, and the advert was soon edited to include only the instrumental of the song. "Song for the Lonely" was also included in the jukebox musical The Cher Show (2018). A recording of the song appears in the Broadway musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.