Chains (Tina Arena song)

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"Chains"
Single by Tina Arena
from the album Don't Ask
B-side"Standing Up"
Released29 August 1994 (1994-08-29)
RecordedLos Angeles
Genre
Length4:22
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Tina Arena
  • Pam Reswick
  • Steve Werfel
Producer(s)David Tyson
Tina Arena singles chronology
"Woman's Work"
(1991) 		"Chains"
(1994) 		"Sorrento Moon (I Remember)"
(1995)
Music video
"Chains" on YouTube

"Chains" is a song by Australian singer Tina Arena from her third studio album, Don't Ask (1994). It was composed by Arena, Pam Reswick and Steve Werfel and produced by David Tyson. "Chains" peaked at number four on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, reached number six in the United Kingdom, and charted well throughout Europe, earning her numerous awards in the process. The power ballad[2] was also a hit in North America, peaking at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. The track was re-released featuring Jessica Mauboy and the Veronicas following a rendition of the track at the 2015 ARIA Awards where Arena was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.[3]

Critical reception[edit]

The song received favorable reviews from most music critics. Scottish newspaper Aberdeen Press and Journal praised Arena's "stunning voice".[4] AllMusic editor Kelvin Hayes called it a "stellar" "showcase single".[5] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "immediately memorable, lyrically smart rhythm ballad" and added that "within an arrangement that smoothly builds from a subtle, finger-snappin' pop groove to a dramatic, rock-edged climax, Arena comes on strong with a voice that is a diva hybrid of Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Olivia Newton-John."[1] James Richliano from The Boston Globe wrote that the singer "marries her powerhouse vocals to a smoky dance beat laced with edgy lyrics of a diva on the verge."[6] A reviewer from Crawley News said the song is "brilliant".[7]

In 2017, The Daily Telegraph listed it as one of 21 Best Power Ballads in 2017, describing it as a "smooth, sultry plea of a woman trapped in an unhealthy relationship".[2] Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly compared Arena to Mariah Carey, adding that she "sings in the same overwrought, corporate style as Carey."[8] Evening Herald complimented the singer as "a singing sensation by six".[9] Monica Tan from The Guardian deemed it a "glass-breaking love song".[10] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Caged in a CD jewel box, but for how long? Since she's now a gold seller in her native Australia, and funky grooves are a game without frontiers by nature, you shouldn't sit back and wait."[11] Alan Jones from Music Week called it "a beguiling introduction" to the Aussie singer.[12] People Magazine stated that "wrapped in the glow of love, she turns in a muscular vocal on this rhythmic power ballad, effortlessly stretching her octave-leaping soprano." They added that Arena "possesses some valuable vocal assets: the pitch-perfect clarity of Celine Dion and the girlish sensuality of early Olivia Newton-John."[13]

Chart performance[edit]

In Arena's home country, Australia, it peaked at number four, while in New Zealand, the single also peaked within the top 10, at number seven. Worldwide, it was a top-10 hit in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the single debuted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number six during its fourth week on the chart, on 30 April 1995. Additionally, "Chains" reached the top 30 in Iceland and top 40 in Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 10 on 6 May. Outside Europe, the song reached number 20 in Canada and number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was awarded with a silver record in the United Kingdom, with shipments of 200,000 units, and a double-platinum record in Australia for sales and streaming figures exceeding 140,000.

Music videos[edit]

There are two music videos for "Chains", an Australian version and a US version.

In the Australian music video for "Chains", Arena sits on the floor in a dark living room. The windows are covered with paper, though sunlight enters in a few places. The furniture is covered with white cloth. Occasionally, Arena stands by a window, looking out through a small opening. In the middle of the video, she tears down the paper from the windows and the cloths are removed from the furniture. In a room now fully lit, Arena opens a window and throws out menswear and various things from the apartment that remind her of the bitter past. She dances around and, as the video ends, smiles at the camera.[14]

As for the U.S. version, it shows Arena is inside the large den or dungeon wrapped in vines; that was directed by Randee Saint Nicholas.[15]

Track listings[edit]

Australian CD single

  1. "Chains" (Tina Arena, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel) – 4:03
  2. "Standing Up" (Arena, Heather Field, Rick Price) – 3:37
  3. "Chains" (World Jeep Mix) (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 5:44
  4. "Chains" (World Jazz Mix) (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 5:05

UK CD single

  1. "Chains" (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 4:03
  2. "Standing Up" (Arena, Field, Price) – 3:37
  3. "Chains" (World Jazz Mix) (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 5:05

UK CD single (Part 2)

  1. "Chains" (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 4:26
  2. "Greatest Gift" (Acapella Version) (Arena, Robert Parde) – 4:21
  3. "Many Rivers to Cross" (Live Version) (Jimmy Cliff) – 4:33
  4. "Standing Up" (Arena, Field, Price) – 3:37

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[40] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia 29 August 1994
  • CD
  • cassette
 Columbia [42]
United Kingdom 27 March 1995 [43]
Japan 21 February 1996 CD Epic [44]
United States 12 March 1996 Contemporary hit radio [45]

2015 version featuring Jessica Mauboy and the Veronicas[edit]

"Chains"
Single by Tina Arena featuring Jessica Mauboy and the Veronicas
Released27 November 2015
Length4:03
LabelPositive Dream
Songwriter(s)Tina Arena, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel
Tina Arena singles chronology
"I Want to Love You"
(2015) 		"Chains"
(2015) 		"A Foreign Affair"
(2017)
Jessica Mauboy singles chronology
"This Ain't Love"
(2015) 		"Chains"
(2015) 		"Where I'll Stay"
(2016)
The Veronicas singles chronology
"Cruel"
(2015) 		"Chains"
(2015) 		"In My Blood"
(2016)

"Chains" was rereleased on 27 November 2015[46] following a rendition of the track at the 2015 ARIA Awards where Arena was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. The 2015 version features Jessica Mauboy and the Veronicas[3] and was described by 2Day FM as the "highlight" of the Awards and one of the best ARIA performances.[47] This version debuted at number 14 on the Australian Singles Chart, which was Arena's biggest hit on the singles chart in Australia since 2002.[48]

Charts[edit]

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[49] 14

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Flick, Larry (9 March 1996). "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. p. 76. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b "The 21 best power ballads". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. ^ a b "Tina Arena, The Veronicas, Jessica Mauboy in Chains". auspop.com.au. 26 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  4. ^ "ENTERTAINMENT". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 19 May 1995. page 8. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Tina Arena - Don't Ask". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  6. ^ Richliano, James (27 June 1996). "Recordings". p. 27. The Boston Globe.
  7. ^ "Aussie Arena has the power". Crawley News. 28 June 1995. page 32. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  8. ^ Farber, Jim (10 May 1996). "Chains". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Oz comes of age". Evening Herald. 29 April 1995. page 18. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Tina Arena: I didn't want to be ignored just because I was female". The Guardian. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  11. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 February 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  12. ^ Jones, Alan (6 July 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Don't Ask". People. 6 May 1996. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Tina Arena - Chains (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  15. ^ Tina Arena - Chains (US Version) (HD 1996) in YouTube
  16. ^ "Tina Arena – Chains". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  17. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2990." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2998." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 6 May 1995. p. 19. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Tina Arena – Chains" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 29.04.1995 – 05.05.1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 29 April 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  23. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chains". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  24. ^ "Tina Arena – Chains" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Tina Arena – Chains" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Tina Arena – Chains". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Tina Arena – Chains". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  34. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Tina Arena Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  36. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1994". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  37. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2017 – via Imgur.
  38. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  39. ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  41. ^ "British single certifications – Tina Arena – Chains". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  42. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 29/08/94 > Singles (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 237)". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2017 – via Imgur.
  43. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 March 1995. p. 35. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  44. ^ "チェインズ | ティナ・アリーナ" [Chains | Tina Arena] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  45. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1136. 8 March 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Chains (single) - featuring Jessica Mauboy and The Veronicas". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  47. ^ "The Most Iconic Moments From Tina Arena, The Veronicas And Jess Mauboy's Chains Performance". 2dayfm.com.au. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  48. ^ "CHART WATCH #345". auspOp.com.au. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  49. ^ "Tina Arena, Jessica Mauboy & The Veronicas – Chains". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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