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"Living Next Door to Alice" is a song co-written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Originally released by the Australian vocal harmony trio New World in 1972, the song charted at # 35 on the Australian chart. The song later became a worldwide hit for the band Smokie.

Plot

The song is about a young man's long-standing crush on Alice, the girl next door and neighbor of 24 years, which is left unrequited after she moves away. The protagonist had seen a limousine parked at Alice's home and begins to reflect on childhood memories and his friendship with Alice, and becomes heartbroken as he sees Alice get inside the limousine.

As he watches the car drive out of sight, the protagonist feels fear about two things: 1. Alice leaving without explanation; and 2. That, in 24 years, he never took the opportunity to express his feelings for her.

Another female character in the song is Sally, another longtime neighbor of the main protagonist who is introduced early in the song. In the song's first verse, she reminds the protagonist of Alice's impending departure. Sally, who later tells the man that he now must get over Alice, then states that she is available. But the man fails to acknowledge her and reaffirms that he'll "never get used to not living next door to Alice."

Cover versions

Smokie version

In November 1976, the English band Smokie released their version of the song. That song charted at No. 5 on the UK chart and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a Number One hit in Germany, The Netherlands and Switzerland.

Other artists

Concurrent with Smokie's American success with the song, country music singer Johnny Carver released his own version of Living Next Door to Alice. Carver's version peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in April 1977.

It spawned a more risqué version in 1995 by the Dutch band Gompie, titled Alice, Who the X is Alice?. In turn, Smokie collaborated on a similar version later that year with comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown, reaching # 3 on the UK chart.

A dance version of Alice, Who the Fuck is Alice? was released by The Steppers, reaching No. 2 on the Australian charts in September 1995.

Kevin "Bloody" Wilson recorded a parody titled Living next door to Alan detailing the story of a family of Aboriginals who obtained a house next door to Alan Bond (a noted Perth based entrepreneur) in a posh riverside suburb of Perth. Dr Hook also covered the song very similarly to the Smokie's 1995 version.

In 1996, eighteen time Grammy winner Jimmy Sturr recorded the song under the title "Alice" on his Grammy winning album "Polka! All Night Long." The album included vocals by Willie Nelson and contributions by Jo-El Sonnier and the Jordanaires. Sturr has won the Grammy Award for Best Polka Album in 18 of the 24 years it has been contested.

The 1996 album The Smurfs Go Pop! by The Smurfs included a cover version with altered lyrics titled Smurfland.

Translations

In Finnish, the song was recorded in 1977 by Kari Tapio. The arrangement is by Veikko Samuli and Finnish lyrics by Juha Vainio. In Finnish, the song is titled "Viisitoista kesää" (Fifteen summers).

In Norwegian, there are at least three versions; "I 24 år har jeg bodd i samme gård som Anne", "Storholt, Stensen, Stenshjemmet, Sjøbrend åsså'n Hjallis", and "Elvis."

In Swedish, the song is a parody by the title "Blända Av Till Halvljus."

References

• http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=1105
• http://www.milesago.com/Artists/new-world.htm
• http://www.norwegiancharts.com/
• Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
• Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Songs: 1955-2006," 2007.
• Suomen Äänitearkisto r.y.

• Smokie songs
• 1976 singles
• 1977 singles
• 1995 singles
• European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
• Number-one singles in Germany
• Number-one singles in Switzerland
• Number-one singles in Norway
• New World songs
• Johnny Carver songs
• Songs written by Mike Chapman
• Songs written by Nicky Chinn
• Polka