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For the similarly titled song by Extreme, see More Than Words. For the album by Stevie Holland, see More Than Words Can Say (album).
"More Than Words Can Say"
Single by Alias
from the album Alias
ReleasedSeptember 8, 1990
Recorded1990
GenreHair metal[1]
Length3:54
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Freddy Curci, Steve DeMarchi
Producer(s)Rick Neigher
Alias singles chronology
"Haunted Heart"
(1990) 		"More Than Words Can Say"
(1990) 		"Waiting for Love"
(1991)

"More Than Words Can Say" (also known as "(I Need You Now) More Than Words Can Say" for promotional purposes) is a song by Canadian rock band Alias. It was released in September 1990 as the second single from their debut eponymous album. The power ballad became a No. 2 hit in the United States and reached No. 1 in Canada for four weeks.[2]

BMI presented Alias lead vocalist and songwriter Freddy Curci with the "Million-airs award" for "More Than Words Can Say". According to BMI's web site, only 1,500 songs have achieved Million-air status (one million air plays) among the 4.5 million songs by 300,000 BMI represented artists. One million performances is the equivalent of approximately 50,000 broadcast hours, or more than 5.7 years of continuous airplay.[3]

Composition and inspiration

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"More Than Words Can Say" was written, arranged, and co-produced by former Sheriff vocalist Freddy Curci and guitarist Steve DeMarchi. DeMarchi's younger brother Denny played the keyboard and sang the backing vocals. Curci recorded the vocals in Denny DeMarchi's bedroom at DeMarchi's family home.[4]

At the time, their dissolved band had hit number one with "When I'm with You" the previous year, and the other band members had refused to reunite. Sensing the need to follow up the hit, Curci and DeMarchi joined ex-Heart members guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Mike Derosier to form Alias. This tune, bearing striking similarities to "When I'm With You" (including a sustained last note), was the result.[5]

Chart performance

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"More Than Words Can Say" was released as the second single of Alias' self-titled debut album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 84 and reached the top 40 four weeks later. On November 24, 1990, it peaked at No. 2. It also peaked at No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In the band's native Canada, the song reached No. 1 on November 24 and stayed there for four weeks, ending 1990 as the country's second highest-selling single, behind another power ballad, Phil Collins' "I Wish It Would Rain Down". It also topped Canada's Adult Contemporary chart for a week. Outside North America, "More Than Words Can Say" only managed to chart in Australia and New Zealand, peaking at No. 30 and No. 37 respectively.

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Campbell, Matthew (26 April 2024). "Hair Band Ballads". My Wedding Songs.
  2. ^ "Death by Power Ballad: Alias, "More Than Words Can Say"". 4 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)". BMI.com.
  4. ^ "RockizoidFans Page (rockizoid_fans) on Myspace". Myspace.
  5. ^ Saulnier, Jason (15 March 2012). "Roger Fisher Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Alias – More Than Words Can Say". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9183." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1414." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Alias – More Than Words Can Say". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. November 24, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. December 15, 1990. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9139." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9175." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1706." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "1991 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-36. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  • Feldman, Christopher (2000). The Billboard Book of Number Two Hits. ISBN 0-8230-7695-4.
  • "Billboard". Billboard Hot 100 airplay and sales charts. Retrieved 2006-06-11.
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