Eaten Alive (song)

"Eaten Alive" is a 1985 song released by American entertainer Diana Ross on the RCA label in North America and Capitol label globally. The song was released as the first single on September 1, 1985, taken from her album of the same name, which was ultimately a critical and commercial failure in the US. However, it did reach top 10 and top 20 rankings in several European countries like Norway and the Netherlands.

"Eaten Alive"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Eaten Alive
B-side	"Eaten Alive (Edited Dance Mix)" (US) "I'm Watching You" (UK)
Released	September 1, 1985
Recorded	1985
Length	3:55
Label	RCA (North America) Capitol (world)
Songwriter(s)	Barry Gibb Maurice Gibb Michael Jackson
Producer(s)	Barry Gibb Michael Jackson Karl Richardson Albhy Galuten
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Missing You" (1984) "Eaten Alive" (1985) "Chain Reaction" (1985)
Music video
"Eaten Alive" on YouTube

The song was written by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Michael Jackson the latter also co-producing with Barry and his team. Jackson and Barry Gibb can be heard singing in the background of the song with Jackson at times co-singing lead with Ross. The song was a disappointment in the United States, peaking at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It became her first lead single to not hit the Top 40 since 1978, although it fared much better on the R&B singles chart - where it reached the Top 10 - helped by BET's heavy rotation of the music video. The song was also a successful hit on the dance chart, peaking at #3.

In the song's original copyright registration from 11 March 1985 it was credited to Barry Gibb and Maurice Gibb. It was not until Michael Jackson heard the demo of it that he suggested the chorus could be improved. The second copyright registration was filed on 1 June 1985 (the same day that Diana performed a sold-out concert at Joe Louis Arena in her hometown of Detroit) with the note 'words and music in the choruses have been completely rewritten'.^[1]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Eaten Alive", inspired by The Island of Doctor Moreau, was directed by David Hogan and featured the singer playing a cat-like demon seducing a man played by Joseph Gian after having been pursued by chimeras.

Charts

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2]	81
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3]	24
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[4]	44
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[5]	14
Italy (Musica e dischi)[6]	10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7]	26
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8]	17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9]	26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10]	14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11]	17
UK Singles (OCC)[12]	71
US Billboard Hot 100[13]	77
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[14]	3
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15]	10
West Germany (GfK)[16]	38

References

1. Joseph Brennan - Gibb Songs : 1985
2. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
3. "Diana Ross – Eaten Alive" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
4. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 2, no. 42. October 21, 1985. p. 4. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
5. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Diana Ross". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 219. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
6. Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Singoli 1960–2019 (in Italian). Independently Published. ISBN 9781093264906.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
8. "Diana Ross – Eaten Alive" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
9. "Diana Ross – Eaten Alive". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
10. "Diana Ross – Eaten Alive". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
11. "Diana Ross – Eaten Alive". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
13. "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
14. "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
15. "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Eaten Alive" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 8, 2020.