Don't Be a Stranger (Dina Carroll song)

"Don't Be a Stranger" is a song by British singer-songwriter Dina Carroll, released on 4 October 1993 as the sixth and final single from her debut album, So Close (1993). The record was produced by Nigel Lowis, and the strings on the track were performed by the London Session Orchestra.[2] It was a success in the United Kingdom, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart, and it also reached the top 30 in Ireland and Sweden. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song peaked at number 11 in November 1993, while outside Europe, it was a number-one hit in Israel. Its accompanying music video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

"Don't Be a Stranger"
Single by Dina Carroll
from the album So Close
B-side"Born to Be (Your Lover)"
Released4 October 1993 (1993-10-04)[1]
GenrePop
Length4:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Coral Gordon
  • Geoff Gurd
Producer(s)Nigel Lowis
Dina Carroll singles chronology
"Express"
(1993)		 "Don't Be a Stranger"
(1993)		 "The Perfect Year"
(1993)
Audio
"Don't Be a Stranger" on YouTube

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Evening Express stated that "Don't Be a Stranger" is "sure to be a huge hit."[3] Jon O'Brien from AllMusic called it "epic".[4] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described it as "a string laden Las-Vegassy ballad".[5] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, writing, "Accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra, Carroll turns in a powerful vocal on a dramatic ballad, which makes full use of its expensive accompaniment."[6] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue viewed it as "wonderful and absolutely faultless", noting that the singer's vocals are "rich, strong, and flawless." They added that "it was clear that this belter of a song would push her towards recording more big ballads."[7] Phil Shanklin of ReviewsRevues deemed it a "gem from its dramatic introduction", with "a build up that Celine Dion would have been proud of." He concluded, "This is Dina’s best moment."[8]

Music video

A black-and-white music video was shot to accompany the song in Prague, Czech Republic, featuring such landmarks as Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral; it was directed by German feature film director and producer Marcus Nispel.[9]

Track listings
7-inch single, Europe (1993)[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Be a Stranger" (radio mix) 
2."Born to Be (Your Lover)" (Nigel Lowis Mix) 
12-inch vinyl, UK (1993)[2]
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Be a Stranger" 
2."Born to Be (Your Lover)" (Nigel Lowis Mix) 
3."Born to Be (Your Lover)" (Platinum Mix) 
4."Don't Let Me Be the One" 
CD single, UK (1993)[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Be a Stranger" (radio mix) 
2."Born to Be (Your Lover)" (Nigel Lowis Mix) 
3."Don't Let Me Be the One" 
4."Born to Be (Your Lover)" (Platinum Mix) 
CD single, Europe (1993)[12]
No.TitleLength
1."Don't Be a Stranger" (LP version)4:20
2."Don't Be a Stranger" (remix) 

Charts

Sales and certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 2 October 1993. p. 25. Retrieved 22 June 2021. Misprinted as 27 September.
  2. Don't Be a Stranger (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Dina Carroll. A&M Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1993. 580 389-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Aberdeen Evening Express. 25 September 1993. p. 66.
  4. O'Brien, Jon. "Dina Carroll – The Very Best of Dina Carroll". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. Masterton, James (10 October 1993). "Week Ending October 16th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. Jones, Alan (9 October 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream – Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 18. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  7. "Review: "So Close" by Dina Carroll (CD, 1993)". Pop Rescue. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  8. Shanklin, Phil (2 May 2015). "100 Essential Albums- Number 86– So Close – Dina Carroll ( A&M 1993)". ReviewsRevues. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  9. "Dina Carroll: Don't Be a Stranger (1993)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  10. Don't Be a Stranger (European 7-inch single sleeve). Dina Carroll. A&M Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1993. 580 388-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Don't Be a Stranger (UK CD single liner notes). Dina Carroll. A&M Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1993. 580 389-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Don't Be a Stranger (European CD single liner notes). Dina Carroll. A&M Records, 1st Avenue Records. 1993. 580 400-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 48. 27 November 1993. p. 17. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Be a Stranger". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  15. "Dina Carroll – Don't Be a Stranger". Singles Top 100.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  17. "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 16 October 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  18. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 51/52. 18 December 1993. p. 15. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  19. "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  20. "British single certifications – Dina Carroll – Don't Be a Stranger". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
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