Home (Michael Bublé song)

Background

Home was first released on March 28, 2005, as Bublé's debut single in the United Kingdom. It received a relatively low promoted release, as at the time, the lead single from It's Time, Feeling Good, had only just been released in other territories around the world. As such, it underperformed heavily, only peaking at #162 on the UK Singles Chart. When the album was released three months later, to much more widespread success and critical acclaim, it was decided that Home would be released as the album's second single worldwide, accompanied by a re-release of the single in the United Kingdom. As such, the second time around, the single was a massive hit, topping the adult contemporary chart in the United States, reaching a high chart position in Canada, and peaking at a relatively successful #31 in the United Kingdom. This time, the release was accompanied by a music video, directed by Noble Jones, who had previously filmed the video for Feeling Good. The song was also used in the film The Wedding Date.

Subsequently, two cover versions of the song have also been released as singles by other artists. The first of these was recorded by Irish boyband Westlife, whose version was a top ten hit in several European countries. American country music singer Blake Shelton also released his version in early 2008, which reached the top of the American country singles charts. In December 2011, Bublé performed a duet version of the song with English singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, whilst also performing Barlow's "Rule the World". The performance gained great reception from fans, when it began trending worldwide on Twitter. Soon after, a petition was set up for the collaboration to be made available for digital download, to challenge for the UK Christmas Number One spot.

"Home" centralizes on the male narrator, who is separated from his lover, possibly his wife, while off travelling. He expresses a desire to return home and be with his lover. Bublé had been away touring in Italy when he co-wrote the lyrics, for his then-fiancée, Debbie Timuss. Bublé describes his loneliness from missing her in the lyrics. Aaron Latham of Allmusic, in his review of It's Time, described the song favorably. He called it a "positive step forward" for Bublé, adding "The success of this ballad provides yet another direction that he can explore and expand upon."

Track listing

1. "Home" (U.K. Radio Mix) - 3:23
2. "Home" (Album Version) - 3:45

1. "Home" (U.K. Radio Mix) - 3:23
2. "Home" (Album Version) - 3:45
3. "Nice N'Easy" - 4:11
4. "Home" (Music Video) - 3:54

1. "Home" (Album Version) - 3:45
2. "Song For You" (featuring Chris Botti) - 3:12

Westlife version

Westlife released a cover version of "Home" as their first single from their ninth studio album, Back Home. Westlife's version differs slightly in their lyrical arrangement as compared to Michael Bublé's. Simon Cowell chose this song for the band. It has sold over 200,000 copies in the UK so far. Local radio station, Dublin's Q102, received exclusive airplay of the single on September 14, 2007 from Westlife's manager, Louis Walsh. The next day, an Irish online radio station, Klubb FM, played it as well. The official artwork for the single was released on September 28, 2007, while the single's music video was made available online on October 5, 2007. The song was #91 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007. The single sold over 200,000 copies in the UK alone and was certified Silver, it peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart. Hard to Say I'm Sorry was included as the B-Side for the single. It charted individually on the official UK Singles Chart at #135.

Tours performed at

Back Home Tour (2008)

Where We Are Tour (2010)

Gravity Tour (2011)

The Farewell Tour (2012)

Track listing

1. "Home" (Single Mix)
2. "Hard To Say I'm Sorry"

1. "Home" (Single Mix)
2. "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" (Sunset Strippers Full Dance Mix)
3. "Home" (Soul Seekerz Remix - Radio Edit)

Music video

The music video for this single was shot in Vancouver using interior and exterior shots of the Orpheum Theater. The exterior shots of the marquee are on Granville Street. A short preview of the video was posted on the band's official website on October 5, 2007. The full video was made available during the later part of the day on The Box. It was directed by Mike Lipscombe and features the band in front of a Boeing 747 plane along with scenes of loved ones meeting each other at the airport.

Blake Shelton version

A version was released by American country music artist Blake Shelton on February 1, 2008. This cover entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 60 for the week of February 12, 2008. It was included on a June 2008 re-issue of Shelton's 2007 album Pure BS and Blake Shelton Collector's Edition, an EP which is only available at Walmart. Shelton's rendition features backing vocals from his girlfriend (now ex-wife), Miranda Lambert.

Shelton's version of the song reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week of July 19, 2008, becoming the fourth Number One hit of his career, and his first since "Some Beach" in December 2004. His version also reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Shelton occasionally performed the song with Bublé in concert. In 2012, he e-mailed Bublé, asking if he would write new lyrics for a Christmas version of the song and sing duet vocals on it. The re-written version, featuring Bublé, appears on Shelton's 2012 album, Cheers, It's Christmas.

Peak chart positions

Other notable recordings