Chains (Tina Arena song)

"Chains" is a song by Australian singer Tina Arena from her album Don't Ask. It was composed by Arena, Pam Reswick and Steve Werfel and produced by David Tyson. "Chains" peaked at number four on her home country's ARIA Singles Chart, 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]

"Chains"
Single by Tina Arena
from the album Don't Ask
B-side"Standing Up"
Released29 August 1994[1]
RecordedLos Angeles
Length4:22
LabelColumbia
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

Critical reception

The song received favorable reviews from most music critics. Aberdeen Press and Journal praised Arena's "stunning voice".[4] AllMusic editor Kelvin Hayes called the song 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."[6] Crawley News said the song is "brilliant".[7] In 2017, The Daily Telegraph listed it as one of 21 best power ballads. They described it as a "smooth, sultry plea of a woman trapped in an unhealthy relationship".[2] Also 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 noted "Chains" as a "glass-breaking love song".[10] 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."[11]

Chart performance

"Chains" charted on the charts on several continents. In Europe, it was a Top 10 hit in Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single debuted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 6 in its fourth week on the chart, on April 30, 1995. Additionally, "Chains" reached the Top 20 in Poland, Top 30 in Iceland and Top 40 in Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 10 on May 6. Outside Europe, the song went to number 20 in Canada and number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Arena's homecountry, Australia, it reached its best chart position as number 4. And in New Zealand, the single also peaked within the Top 10, as number 7. It was awarded with a silver record in the United Kingdom, with a sale of 200,000 singles and a platinum record in Australia, with 70,000 units sold.

Music videos

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 cloths. 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. She dances around and, as the video ends, smiles at the camera.[12] The video was uploaded to YouTube in September 2013. By August 2020, it had more than 2,1 million views.

Track listing

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 and certifications

2015 version featuring Jessica Mauboy and The Veronicas
"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[37] 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.[38] 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.[39]

Charts
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[40] 14

References
  1. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 29/08/94 > Singles (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 237)". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  2. "The 21 best power ballads". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. "Tina Arena, The Veronicas, Jessica Mauboy in Chains". auspop.com.au. 26 November 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. "Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. 9 March 1996. p. 76. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  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. "Picks and Pans Review: Don't Ask". People. 6 May 1996. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  12. "Tina Arena - Chains (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  13. "Australian-charts.com – Tina Arena – Chains". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2990." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  16. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2998." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 6 May 1995. p. 19. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tina Arena – Chains". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  19. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 29.04.1995 – 05.05.1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 29 April 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chains". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  21. "Charts.nz – Tina Arena – Chains". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  22. "Notowanie nr692" (in Polish). LP3. 5 May 1995. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  24. "Swedishcharts.com – Tina Arena – Chains". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  26. "Tina Arena Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  27. "Tina Arena Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  28. "Tina Arena Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  29. "Tina Arena Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  30. "Tina Arena Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  31. "Tina Arena Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  32. "1994 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  33. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995". ARIA. Retrieved 21 April 2017 – via Imgur.
  34. "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  35. "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  36. "British single certifications – Tina Arena – Chains". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Chains in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  37. "Chains (single) - featuring Jessica Mauboy and The Veronicas". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  38. "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.
  39. "CHART WATCH #345". auspOp.com.au. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  40. "Australian-charts.com – Tina Arena, Jessica Mauboy & The Veronicas – Chains". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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