Song Instead of a Kiss

The song was co-written by Alannah, songwriting partner Nancy Simmonds, and noted Canadian poet Robert Priest. The song's lyrics were a poem by Robert that he had sent to Nancy, a friend of his and through whom he had met Alannah. Nancy and Alannah were in Barbados writing Myles' second album, and after days struggling to write, Nancy showed Alannah the poem and, liking it, she immediately sang the melody over it, which Nancy duly noted with her guitar. Alannah had just finished a romantic relationship with Robert Plant and felt the lyrics expressed her feelings and pain about the split.[1]

Atlantic Records weren't pleased with the demo they presented them, but Alannah and her producer David Tyson decided to carry on working on it nonetheless. David arranged the song, including the notable minute-and-a-half 60-piece orchestrated intro of the song (which was edited out on the single edit), after which Alannah cut the final vocals. When they presented the reworked track to Atlantic, they loved it, and, unbeknownst to Alannah, sent it to Robert Plant to see if he could duet with her on the song, a move she was furious about.[2]

Alannah has cited that it is one of her favourite songs from her catalogue.

The song was chosen as the lead single from the Rockinghorse album. While Alannah liked the song and found it single-worthy, she was adamant about releasing the uptempo rocker "Our World, Our Times" instead of a ballad as the first single, but was overruled by the record company because they feared the political lyrics of that song would hurt its airplay and chart performance.

The song performed phenomenally in Alannah's native Canada, becoming her first (and so far, only) number-one hit on the pop charts in that country, staying four weeks at number one in November and December 1992. It also topped the Canadian Adult Contemporary charts for one week in November 1992, her second number one on that chart after "Lover of Mine" in 1990. In the United States, however, the record was ignored and did not get much airplay, and wasn't released as a commercial single. Therefore, Alannah is seen as a one hit wonder in that country after her number-one hit there with "Black Velvet". In Europe and Australia, the record received airplay but was not a substantial hit, achieving minor chart placings in these regions. In Finland and Poland, however, it reached the top 20.

The stylish music video was directed by Paul Boyd and filmed at Capitol Studios in Hollywood.[3] In it, Alannah is seen wearing different veils and shots of her lying in a bed while singing the song, with emphasis on close-ups on her face and her eyes. The setting of the video looks like a padded cell, although it is not explicitly explained.

In 1993, the song was nominated for two Juno Awards, for Single of the Year, losing to the Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson duet "Beauty and the Beast", and for Best Producer to David Tyson.[4]

The song also received a SOCAN award in Canada, in 1994.[5]

7" single, cassette single

1. "Song Instead of a Kiss" (Edit) 4:05
2. "Rockinghorse" 3:00

CD single, 12" single

1. "Song Instead of a Kiss" (Edit) 4:05
2. "Rockinghorse" 3:00
3. "Love Is" 3:39
4. "Song Instead of a Kiss" (LP Version) 5:04

Promo single

1. "Song Instead of a Kiss" (Edit) 4:05