Changes: The Greatest Thing (song)

Revision as of 06:56, 18 February 2012

"The Greatest Thing" is a song written in 2007, by Lady Gaga and RedOne. The song is registered as "Greatest" Lady Gaga's BMI. In 2011, The song was given to Cher for her upcoming twenty-sixth album and will be the first single.

Background

The song was written after the two wrote "Boys Boys Boys", and before their work in January of 2008. Interviewed by MTV about the song, Gaga replied: "I wrote that song a long time ago, and I've never put it on one of my own albums for, really, no particular reason. [...] I always write these concept records, and it just didn't fit in. But it's always been, like, this big, massive, beautiful hit record and everyone always says, 'Why don't you put that on your album?' And I said, 'I don't know, it just doesn't fit with everything else.' "
The line "'Cause when I'm with you, I fall apart", mirrors that of "Dance in the Dark", "'Cause, when he’s lookin’, she falls apart".

The song samples the classical piece, "Canon in D Major", by composer Johann Pachelbel.

Cher's version

On July 14, 2011, Cher announced on her Twitter that Gaga and RedOne had given her a song and is set to be released on Cher's twenty second studio album under the title "The Greatest Thing". When fans asked if she was going to be dueting with Gaga, Cher replied she was not, but she would like to. Gaga later replied to Cher talking about the possibility of doing a duet in a remix of the song "for the gays". Cher later expressed her excitement for Gaga to put her vocals into her version of the song.

"Cher heard the song and loved it and wanted to do it together. And I said, 'Fuck yeah, it's Cher!' "

On September 19, 2011, Cher made reference to the song on Twitter after seeing her son Chaz Bono dance on "Dancing With the Stars":

"WOW ! HOW GREAT WAS MY SON"THE GREATEST,THING GREATEST THING,GREATESTTHING NO MATTER WHAT !WHAT! WHAT!" HES A WINNER ! I Was So Nervous"

On September 26, 2011, it was revealed via an article by MTV that Cher's vocals for the final album version were cut first but then Lady Gaga wanted to appear on the remix but RedOne told her that she should appear on the original and Gaga agreed. The article read:

"I cut the vocals with Cher first, and I was in Madrid and got a text from Gaga saying, 'I'm thinking about jumping on the song in the remix,' I was like, 'No, you should jump on the original! Make it a duet.' She said, 'Oh yes, OK, absolutely,' and then I spoke to Cher, and it became a party."

"Everybody loved it," he added. "Gaga on it, Cher, two big icons, [they are] part of music history. So it happened. I'm very happy to be a part of this."

Lyrics

Lady Gaga's version

I don't know why you' hurt, inside,
or what was said to make, you, cry.
I hope, that you can see,
you are the greatest thing to me.
And when, you' feeling like you're not enough.
I'll give you wings, i'll lift you up.
I hope, that you can see,
you are the greatest, greatest thing to me.

I don't wa-wanna waste another day,
I'm thinking of you, the man of my day.
I walk and see you once another day.

'Cause when I'm with you, I fall apart.
I see your permanently broken heart.
Baby, you're the greatest to me,
Know, no matter what, what, what.
I don't know why you' hurt, inside,
or what was said to make, you, cry.
I hope, that you can see,
you are the greatest thing to me.
And when, you' feeling like you're not enough.
I'll give you wings, i'll lift you up.

I hope, that you can see,
you are the greatest, greatest thing to me.
I don't wa-wanna waste another day,
I'm thinking of you, the man of my day.
I walk and see you once another day.
'Cause when I'm with you, I fall apart.
I see your permanently broken heart.
Baby, you're the greatest to me,
Know, no matter what, what, what.

I don't know why you' hurt, inside,
or what was said to make, you, cry.
I hope, that you can see,
you are the greatest thing to me.
And when, you' feeling like you're not enough.
I'll give you wings, i'll lift you up.
I hope, that you can see,
you are the greatest, greatest thing to me.

Credits

Publishing

Sony/ATV Songs LLC / House of Gaga Publishing LLC (BMI)
Sony/ATV Songs LLC / Songs of RedOne LLC (BMI)

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 The song samples the classical piece, "Canon in D Major", by composer Johann Pachelbel. <!--A snippet of the song leaked on March 29, 2010. A second and third snippet leaked on May 17, 2010. The full song was leaked on May 22, 2010.-->
-===Cher's Version===
+===Cher's version===
 On July 14, 2011, Cher announced on her Twitter that Gaga and RedOne had given her a song and is set to be released on Cher's twenty second studio album under the title "The Greatest Thing". When fans asked if she was going to be dueting with Gaga, Cher replied she was not, but she would like to. Gaga later replied to Cher talking about the possibility of doing a duet in a remix of the song "for the gays". Cher later expressed her excitement for Gaga to put her vocals into her version of the song.