Cherish (Kool & the Gang song)
"Cherish" is a song by American R&B band Kool & the Gang, released in 1985. It was the third single released from the band's album, Emergency. It was certified Gold by the RIAA and held the number 1 position on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks running. It would ultimately rank as the biggest Adult Contemporary chart hit of the 1980s.
"Cherish" | ||||
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Single by Kool & the Gang | ||||
from the album Emergency | ||||
B-side | "Ladies' Night" | |||
Released | May 10, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1984 | |||
Genre | Pop, R&B | |||
Length | 4:47 (Album) 3:58 (Single) 5:43 (Extended single version) | |||
Label | De-Lite Records | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Kool & the Gang singles chronology | ||||
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The song is a romantic ballad that proved to be extremely popular when it was released and has since been a wedding song staple of sorts.
The song was composed in the key of B ♭ minor.
Different mixes
There are several different mixes of "Cherish". The original album version (length: 4:47) begins with the sound of a wave crashing on the beach followed by a (solely) keyboard intro. The entire first verse is sung without drums and percussion, which do not begin until the first chorus.
The single (and video) version of "Cherish" (length: 3:58) adds additional "beach" effects at the beginning and combines an acoustic guitar with the original keyboard introduction. Additional drumming, which this time starts immediately after J.T. Taylor begins singing the first verse, is also added throughout the song. Whereas the chorus is repeated (sung twice) after the first verse in the album version, it is only sung one time on the single; several bars of music are also cut from the outro.
There is also an extended 12-inch version of "Cherish" (length: 5:43) which includes the same flourishes that were added to the single/video version of the tune, plus saxophone parts during various sections of the song (introduction, bridge, etc.), including a whole additional sax interlude after the first chorus.
Furthermore, there is an edited mix of this 12-inch version (length: 4:22), where the bridge that appears in all of the other versions of the song is replaced by the same saxophone interlude that is included in the full 12-inch version.
Chart performance
"Cherish" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1985, remaining in the runner-up position for three weeks, behind "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits.[1] It was a number-one hit on both the R&B[1] and adult contemporary charts in the US, spending one week atop the R&B chart and six weeks atop the AC chart. In the UK, the song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and remained there for three weeks.[2]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Pappa Bear version
"Cherish" | ||||
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Single by Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn | ||||
from the album What's My Name? | ||||
Released | October 13, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Length | 3:52 | |||
Label | Universal | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ronald Bell, James Taylor, Kool & the Gang | |||
Producer(s) | Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura | |||
Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn singles chronology | ||||
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Samples (and lyrics) from this song were used in Pappa Bear's song of the same name in 1997. This version was largely unknown in America, where the music video was set, but experienced significant chart success in Europe and Australia, peaking at number one in New Zealand for three weeks and charting within the top five in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Track listing
CD maxi
- "Cherish" (Radio) – 3:52
- "Cherish" (Extended) – 5:37
- "One 4 Da Money" – 5:02
- "Xtra Large" – 4:10
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1997–1998) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[20] | 7 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] | 39 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] | 6 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[24] | 2 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] | 5 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] | 4 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] | 1 |
Norway (VG-lista)[28] | 7 |
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[29] | 84 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] | 20 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] | 2 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] | 47 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1997) | Position |
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Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33] | 97 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[34] | 24 |
Chart (1998) | Position |
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Australia (ARIA)[35] | 41 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[36] | 37 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[37] | 71 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] | 57 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] | 4 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] | 31 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[41] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[42] | Gold | 25,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[43] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[44] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[45] | Gold | 25,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Other cover versions
- The song was covered in 2006 by British glamour model Katie Price and her then husband, pop singer Peter Andre. The track is included on their 2006 album of duets A Whole New World.
- In 2008, R&B singer Alexander O'Neal covered the song on his album, Alex Loves.
- Contemporary Christian artist The Katinas covered the song on their 2013 album Love Chapter where it was titled "Cherish The Love".
See also
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1985 (U.S.)
References
- Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. pp. 287. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
- "OfficialCharts.com". Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Austriancharts.at – Kool & the Gang – Cherish" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Ultratop.be – Kool & the Gang – Cherish" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Lescharts.com – Kool & the Gang – Cherish" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Kool and the Gang". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Kool & the Gang – Cherish" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Kool & the Gang – Cherish". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Swisscharts.com – Kool & the Gang – Cherish". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Kool and the Gang: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Kool the Gang Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot Black Singles)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Kool & the Gang – Cherish". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
- Australian-charts.com Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0619&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062
- http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1985.shtml
- Musicoutfitters.com
- "Australian-charts.com – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Austriancharts.at – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Ultratop.be – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 51. December 20, 1997. p. 12. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Charts.nz – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish". VG-lista. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Swisscharts.com – Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn – Cherish". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. 7. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1998". ARIA. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Jahreshitparade Singles 1997" (in German). Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1998" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Swiss Year-End Charts 1998" (in German). Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Austrian single certifications – Pappa Bear – Cherish" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pappa Bear; 'Cherish')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "New Zealand single certifications – Pappa Bear – Cherish". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Pappa Bear; 'Cherish')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2020.