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"I'm Alive" | |
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Single by Johnny Thunder | |
B-side | "Verbal Expressions of T.V." |
Released | 1968 |
Genre | Blues rock, R&B, psychedelic rock[1] |
Length | 2:30 |
Label | Calia |
Songwriter(s) | Tommy James, Peter Lucia |
"I'm Alive" is a song written by Tommy James and first recorded and released in 1968 by American singer Johnny Thunder.
Thunder's recording of "I'm Alive" was a "raucous" rock single, featuring "Verbal Expressions of T.V." as its B-side.[1] Bob Dylan, who had heard "I'm Alive" on the radio, was asked by Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner in 1969 if he was impressed by anything in the rock music scene and pointed to the song: "Never heard it either, huh? Well, I can't believe it. Everyone I've talked to, I've asked them if they've heard that record. It was one of the most powerful records I've ever heard. It's called 'I'm Alive.' By Johnny Thunder. Well, it was that sentiment, truly expressed. That's the most I can say ... if you heard the record, you'd know what I mean."[2]
James recorded and released his version in 1969 with his band the Shondells as part of their album Crimson & Clover. It was released as a B-side for the single "Crystal Blue Persuasion".
Thunders' version was later used by Samsung in their advertisement of the Galaxy S6 Edge in 2015.[3] That version was also used in the soundtrack for the 2018 film American Animals.[4][5]