Somewhere Out There (An American Tail song)

"Somewhere Out There" is a song released by MCA Records and recorded by American singers Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram for the soundtrack of the animated feature film An American Tail (1986). The song was written by James Horner, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil, and produced by Peter Asher and Steve Tyrell. It reached number eight in the United Kingdom, number six in Ireland, and number two in both the United States and Canada.

"Somewhere Out There"
Single by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
from the album An American Tail: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side	"Somewhere Out There" (instrumental)
Released	November 21st, 1986
Length	3:54
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	James Horner Barry Mann Cynthia Weil
Producer(s)	Peter Asher Steve Tyrell
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology
"I Love You for Sentimental Reasons" (1986) "Somewhere Out There" (1986) "To Know Him Is to Love Him" (1987)
James Ingram singles chronology
"Never Felt So Good" (1986) "Somewhere Out There" (1986) "Better Way" (1987)
Audio
"Somewhere Out There (From "An American Tail" Soundtrack)" on YouTube

Background

Steven Spielberg, the film's producer, invited songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil to collaborate with James Horner on four songs for its soundtrack, to be completed in a four-week timeframe. The composers "felt no pressure to come up with a radio-friendly hit" and were surprised when Spielberg felt the song had Top 40 hit potential and recruited world-renowned recording artists, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram, to record a pop version of it for the film's closing credits.^[1] In the main body of the film, the song was performed by Phillip Glasser and Betsy Cathcart in the characters of the anthropomorphic mice Fievel and Tanya Mousekewitz.

Produced by Ronstadt's regular producer Peter Asher, the single release of the Ronstadt/Ingram track made its debut at number 31 on the Adult Contemporary chart in Billboard dated 15 November 1986, crossing over to the Billboard Hot 100 dated 20 December 1986 with a number 83 debut. In January 1987, the song returned Ronstadt to the top 40 after a four-year absence, eventually peaking at number two on the week of March 14.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed, produced, and edited by Jeffrey Abelson. It was filmed in New York City and features Ronstadt and Ingram, in two separate rooms, sitting at their desks while drawing and coloring scenes from the film. They both look out the windows, in the same manner as Fievel and Tanya in it. Clips from the film appear throughout the video.

Theme

The lyrics convey the love felt by two people separated by vast distances, but cheered by the belief that their love will eventually reunite them to be with each other once again. In the main body of the film, the fictional brother-and-sister characters Fievel and Tanya Mousekewitz singing the song, while the love they share is described as general. However, in the end title pop version of it, the love is described as more romantic.

Awards

At the 30th Grammy Awards, the song won two awards, one for Song of the Year and the other for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. It also garnered Ronstadt and Ingram a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.^[2]

It earned nominations for Best Original Song at the 44th Golden Globe Awards and the 59th Academy Awards,^[3] but lost both to "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun. At the Academy Awards ceremony, Natalie Cole performed the song live with Ingram standing in for Ronstadt.^{[citation needed]}

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Somewhere Out There" Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Australian Music Report)[4] 31 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[6] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[7] 42 Ireland (IRMA)[8] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[9] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 51 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 15 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 4

Year-end charts 1987 year-end chart performance for "Somewhere Out There" Chart (1987) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 20 UK Singles (OCC)[16] 83 US Billboard Hot 100[17] 39

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Somewhere Out There"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[18]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Covers

In early 1987, singer Liza Minnelli performed, in the words of music critic Stephen Holden of The New York Times, "a stunning rendition" of the song at Carnegie Hall for her three-week concert engagement at the historic music venue. The concert was recorded by Telarc Records and released in late 1987.^{[citation needed]} In 2013, during Julio Iglesias' concert in Jakarta, Ingram performed the song live with Sherina Munaf.^[19]

References

1. Benarde, Scott R. (2003). Stars of David: rock'n'roll's Jewish stories. Lebanon NH: Brandeis University Press. p. 49. ISBN 1-58465-303-5.
2. "Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - The 30th Annual Grammy Awards (1987)". The Recording Academy. 1987. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
3. "Best Original Song - 59th Academy Awards (1987)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0793." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8857." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
7. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 34. August 29, 1987. p. 12. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Somewhere Out There". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
9. "Tipparade-lijst van week 21, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
10. "Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram – Somewhere Out There" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
11. "Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram – Somewhere Out There". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
13. "Linda Ronstadt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
14. "Linda Ronstadt Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
15. "RPM Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Retrieved November 7, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
16. "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. January 23, 1988. p. 36. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
17. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987.
18. "American single certifications – Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram – Somewhere Out There". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
19. Pusporini, Evieta Fadjar (December 3, 2013). "James Ingram Puji Suara Sherina Munaf". Tempo. pp. May 11, 2024.