"I'm Alive" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released as a single in May 1980. It is featured in a sequence near the beginning of the feature film Xanadu. The song also appears on the soundtrack album Xanadu.
Background In the film the song is heard as the Muses emerge from a graffiti-like portrait; Olivia Newton-John, playing Kira (Terpsichore), emerges last. The film's version of the song contains a fairly lengthy instrumental introduction, a small segment of which is used for the album version.
The single's non-album B-side, "Drum Dreams", is also featured in the film at the beginning of the Xanadu nightclub grand opening scene and segues into the movie title song. "Drum Dreams" was also used as the B-side of some versions of the "All Over the World" single.
Reception Cash Box said that it has "adept movement from electronically treated vocals to Lynne's lead". Record World said that "keyboard magic abounds with a Beatlesque melody line & heavenly falsetto choruses".
Personnel Jeff Lynne - lead and backing vocals, electric guitars, keyboards, synthesizers Bev Bevan - drums, percussion Richard Tandy - pianos, synthesizers, keyboards Kelly Groucutt - bass guitar, backing vocals Louis Clark - strings
Chart performance
Weekly charts Chart (1980)Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report27 Canadian RPM Top Singles 10 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary15 Dutch GfK chart 38 French SNEP Singles Chart 9 German Media Control Singles Chart 16 Irish Singles Chart Enter Electric Light Orchestra in the Search by Artist field, then click Search. 10 Italy 24 New Zealand Singles Chart 32 Norwegian Singles Chart 3 South Africa (Springbok) 9 UK Singles Chart 20 US Billboard Hot 100 16 US Billboard Adult Contemporary48 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles 14 US Record World Singles 14 US Radio & Records (R&R) 12
Year-end charts Chart (1980)RankItaly (FIMI)84US Opus80
Certifications Country Certifications(sales thresholds) US (RIAA) Gold
References