Chains (Tina Arena song)#2015 version featuring Jessica Mauboy and The Veronicas

"Chains" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal praised Arena's "stunning voice"."Entertainment". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 19 May 1995. page 8. AllMusic editor Kelvin Hayes named it a "stellar showcase single".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-ask-mw0000181135|title=Tina Arena - Don't Ask|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=17 February 2020}} Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "immediately memorable, lyrically smart rhythm ballad" and added that "within an arrangement that smoothly builds from a subtle, finger-snappin' pop groove to a dramatic, rock-edged climax, Arena comes on strong with a voice that is a diva hybrid of Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Olivia Newton-John."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-03-09.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews: New & Noteworthy|magazine=Billboard|date=9 March 1996|access-date=5 February 2020|page=76|author-link=Larry Flick}} James Richliano from The Boston Globe wrote that the singer "marries her powerhouse vocals to a smoky dance beat laced with edgy lyrics of a diva on the verge."Richliano, James (27 June 1996). "Recordings". p. 27. The Boston Globe. A reviewer from British Crawley News said the song is "brilliant"."Aussie Arena has the power". Crawley News. 28 June 1995. page 32. Jim Farber from Entertainment Weekly compared Arena to Mariah Carey, adding that she "sings in the same overwrought, corporate style as Carey."{{cite magazine|first= Jim |last= Farber |title= Chains |magazine= Entertainment Weekly |date= 10 May 1996 |access-date= 11 November 2020 |url= https://ew.com/article/1996/05/10/chains/}}

Irish Evening Herald complimented the singer as "a singing sensation by six"."Oz comes of age". Evening Herald. 29 April 1995. page 18. Monica Tan from The Guardian deemed it a "glass-breaking love song".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/24/tina-arena-i-didnt-want-to-be-ignored-just-because-i-was-female|title=Tina Arena: I didn't want to be ignored just because I was female|magazine=The Guardian|date=23 November 2015|access-date=11 March 2020}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as "a pop song built on funky grooves" and "a good introduction to her warm vocals".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-02-18.pdf|title=New Releases: Albums|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=7|date=18 February 1995|page=10|access-date=14 March 2025}} In a separate review, a reviewer wrote, "Caged in a CD jewel box, but for how long? Since she's now a gold seller in her native Australia, and funky grooves are a game without frontiers by nature, you shouldn't sit back and wait."{{cite magazine|title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 11 |issue= 5 |date= 4 February 1995 |page= 15 |access-date= 17 May 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-02-04.pdf}} Alan Jones from Music Week named it "a beguiling introduction" to the Aussie singer.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-07-06.pdf|first=Alan|last=Jones|title=Talking Music|work=Music Week|date=6 July 1996|page=10|accessdate=1 September 2021}} People Magazine stated that "wrapped in the glow of love, she turns in a muscular vocal on this rhythmic power ballad, effortlessly stretching her octave-leaping soprano." The editor remarked that Arena "possesses some valuable vocal assets: the pitch-perfect clarity of Celine Dion and the girlish sensuality of early Olivia Newton-John."{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-dont-ask-vol-45-no-18/|title=Picks and Pans Review: Don't Ask|magazine=People|date=6 May 1996|access-date=10 March 2020}} In his review of the album, Mark Frith from Smash Hits felt the singer "still has her genius touch for the perfect ballad", as in the "mournful" mega-hit 'Chains'.{{cite magazine|first=Mark|last=Frith|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/54314369020/in/album-72177720323679935/|title=Albums: Best New Album|work=Smash Hits|date=10 May 1995|page=61|access-date=14 February 2025|author-link=Mark Frith}}

In Arena's home country, Australia, it peaked at number four, while in New Zealand, the single also peaked within the top 10, at number seven. Worldwide, it was a top-10 hit in the United Kingdom. The single debuted at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number six during its fourth week on the chart, on 30 April 1995. Additionally, "Chains" reached the top 30 in Iceland and top 40 in Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number 10 on 6 May. Outside Europe, the song reached number 20 in Canada and number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was awarded with a silver record in the United Kingdom, with shipments of 200,000 units, and a double-platinum record in Australia for sales and streaming figures exceeding 140,000.

There are two music videos for "Chains", an Australian version and a US version.

In the Australian music video for "Chains", Arena sits on the floor in a dark living room. The windows are covered with paper, though sunlight enters in a few places. The furniture is covered with white cloth. Occasionally, Arena stands by a window, looking out through a small opening. In the middle of the video, she tears down the paper from the windows and the cloths are removed from the furniture. In a room now fully lit, Arena opens a window and throws out menswear and various things from the apartment that remind her of the bitter past. She dances around and, as the video ends, smiles at the camera.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jC9Insyzgc|title=Tina Arena - Chains (Official Music Video)|work=YouTube|access-date=11 March 2020}}

As for the US version, it shows Arena is inside the large den or dungeon wrapped in vines; that was directed by Randee St. Nicholas.[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ln-BlXdd_Fw Tina Arena - Chains (US Version) (HD 1996)] in YouTube

In 2017, The Daily Telegraph ranked "Chains" among the "21 Best Power Ballads", describing it as a "smooth, sultry plea of a woman trapped in an unhealthy relationship".

• Australian CD single

1. "Chains" (Tina Arena, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel) – 4:03
2. "Standing Up" (Arena, Heather Field, Rick Price) – 3:37
3. "Chains" (World Jeep Mix) (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 5:44
4. "Chains" (World Jazz Mix) (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 5:05

• UK CD single

1. "Chains" (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 4:03
2. "Standing Up" (Arena, Field, Price) – 3:37
3. "Chains" (World Jazz Mix) (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 5:05

• UK CD single (Part 2)

1. "Chains" (Arena, Reswick, Werfel) – 4:26
2. "Greatest Gift" (Acapella Version) (Arena, Robert Parde) – 4:21
3. "Many Rivers to Cross" (Live Version) (Jimmy Cliff) – 4:33
4. "Standing Up" (Arena, Field, Price) – 3:37

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1994|certyear=2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Tina Arena|title=Chains|award=Silver|relyear=1994|certyear=2013|id=10075-3014-1|access-date=24 June 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Chains

| cover = Chains_by_Tina_Arena,_Jessica_Mauboy_and_The_Veronicas_single.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Tina Arena featuring Jessica Mauboy and the Veronicas

| album =

| released = 27 November 2015

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=03}}

| label = Positive Dream

| writer =

• Tina Arena
• Pam Reswick
• Steve Werfel

| producer =

| chronology = Tina Arena

| prev_title = I Want to Love You

| prev_year = 2015

| next_title = A Foreign Affair

| next_year = 2017

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Jessica Mauboy

| type = singles

| prev_title = This Ain't Love

| prev_year = 2015

| title = Chains

| year = 2015

| next_title = Where I'll Stay

| next_year = 2016

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = The Veronicas

| type = singles

| prev_title = Cruel

| prev_year = 2015

| title = Chains

| year = 2015

| next_title = In My Blood

| next_year = 2016

}}

}}

"Chains" was rereleased on 27 November 2015{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/chains-single/id1062131083|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201182501/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/chains-single/id1062131083|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 December 2015|title=Chains (single) - featuring Jessica Mauboy and The Veronicas|publisher=iTunes Australia|access-date=30 November 2015}} following a rendition of the track at the 2015 ARIA Awards where Arena was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. The 2015 version features Jessica Mauboy and the Veronicas and was described by 2Day FM as the "highlight" of the Awards and one of the best ARIA performances.{{cite web|url=http://www.2dayfm.com.au/scoopla/music/blog/2015/11/the-most-iconic-moments-from-tina-arena-the-veronicas-and-jess-mauboys-performance-of-chains/|title=The Most Iconic Moments From Tina Arena, The Veronicas And Jess Mauboy's Chains Performance|publisher=2dayfm.com.au|date=27 November 2015|access-date=4 December 2015}} This version debuted at number 14 on the Australian Singles Chart, which was Arena's biggest hit on the singles chart in Australia since 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2015/12/chart-watch-345/|title= CHART WATCH #345|publisher=auspOp.com.au|date=5 December 2015|access-date=6 December 2015}}

{{Clear}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Tina Arena}}

{{Tina Arena songs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chains (Tina Arena Song)}}

Category:1990s ballads

Category:1994 singles

Category:1994 songs

Category:ARIA Award-winning songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Randee St. Nicholas

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Songs written by Pam Reswick

Category:Songs written by Steve Werfel

Category:Songs written by Tina Arena

Category:Tina Arena songs