Alone

When the Bee Gees set out to create their twenty-first album, Still Waters, in 1997, they didn't consciously plan to write a ballad or an R&B track. According to Maurice Gibb, they simply settled into the studio, the three of them together, and let the music flow. Amidst experiments with bagpipe sounds and a computer-programmed beat, "Alone" emerged. The song is distinguished by its structure, which evokes a 1950s feel and a "Beatlesque" air, with the idea of a 12-string sound that they recreated with the bagpipes. Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb share lead vocals, alternating and mostly utilizing the group's signature falsetto. The lyrics, with lines like "I'm on a wheel of fortune with a twist of fate," capture an essence of destiny and chance that resonated with the band.

"Alone" was the first single from Still Waters, released on February 17, 1997. The song had global reach, peaking at number five in the UK and number two in New Zealand, where it became one of the best-selling singles of 1997. In Canada, it reached number 20 and was the most successful adult contemporary song of that year. In the United States, it debuted at number 34 on the Billboard "Hot Shot" and peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the Bee Gees' thirtieth and final top-40 hit in that country. The single included B-sides like "Closer Than Close" and "Rings Around the Moon" on its UK releases, while a live version of "Stayin' Alive" was included in the US. The British magazine Music Week rated it four out of five stars, highlighting its familiar harmonies and Barry Gibb's pop production. Two promotional videos were produced, one of them inspired by the 1968 science fiction film Barbarella. The song was also covered by country music artist Monty Holmes on his 1998 debut album, All I Ever Wanted.