His enhancements solidified that Carlton had created something truly special with “Interlude,” but once the song turned into "A Thousand Miles," it became transcendent.Ĭarlton admitted in "A Story Of" that "a lot of things felt like a battle" with Fair, who was as much of a perfectionist as the singer was clear in her own vision. Fair - who clearly had an ear for what made a hit, as he co-produced the star-studded remake of "Lady Marmalade" and the Black Eyed Peas ' "Where Is the Love?," among many others - thought to add the orchestral elements, the swelling transitions and the belt-worthy power of the song's final chorus. He felt similarly about the single's production, which wasn't as anthemic in its early stages. As Fair explained to MTV in 2003, "Finally I had to say, 'Look, I'm the president of the label, we're not calling it "Interlude.”’ When you're trying to launch a career, people need a handle to pick things up from, and the word 'Interlude' is never in the song." Carlton originally called it "Interlude," and was adamant it remained that way. We cannot drop this artist … I played for an hour and a half.'"Īlong with saving the track from potential obscurity, Fair was integral in developing its title. "I called Jimmy and I say, 'There's a f*ing smash on this. "I hit replay, and I hit replay, and I hit replay, and I hit replay, and I hit replay," he recalled in VICE's "A Story Of" episode on the song. Carlton’s demo for “A Thousand Miles” was in a pile of initial reject demos for Fair to give the final verdict. Its impact was immediately recognized by record executive Ron Fair, then president of A&M Records (Carlton, then newly signed, left the label in 2005). The door was wide open for a fresh-faced, piano-playing pop star.Įven so, there's something to be said for the timelessness of the song's sing-along chorus - and, of course, the unforgettable piano hook. The early 2000s saw the debut of an abundance of edgier female stars ( Avril Lavigne, Pink and Michelle Branch, to name a few), while pop princesses Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera took on more scandalous, grown-up personas.
While that formula alone was enough to make it an instant classic, there's no denying "A Thousand Miles" arrived at a time primed for an impassioned romance tale told through a female lens. Backed by a stirring string arrangement, it's the ultimate declaration of love, stamped by the song's titular line: "you know I'd walk a thousand miles, if I could just see you tonight." 12, 2002, 21-year-old Carlton’s power ballad caught worldwide attention for its tinkling piano riff and an undulating chorus. As with many years, 2002 saw the release of some iconic anthems, from Nickelback 's "How You Remind Me" to Nelly 's "Hot In Herre." But few of the year's hits have had a legacy quite like Vanessa Carlton 's "A Thousand Miles."
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