B-side "Break His Spell" Recorded August 1984 Length 4:55 | Format Vinyl Genre Pop rock, soft rock | |
Released December 31, 1984 (UK)
January 23, 1985 (US) | ||
"Can't Fight This Feeling" is a power ballad performed by the American rock band REO Speedwagon, the single remained three consecutive weeks at the number one position at the U.S. Hot 100 chart from March 9 to March 23, 1985.
Contents
The song first appeared on REO Speedwagon's 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin'. It was the group's second number-one hit on the U.S. charts (the first being 1981's "Keep on Loving You", also written by Kevin Cronin) and reached number sixteen in the UK. "Can't Fight This Feeling" has appeared on dozens of 'various artists' compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums.
REO Speedwagon performed the song at the 1985 Live Aid concert, they were introduced by Chevy Chase, mentioning that the song was a number one single at the moment in the United States.
Music video
Two different music videos exist for the song. One is a basic video, appearing almost homemade, featuring the band in the studio. It begins with Kevin Cronin playing the piano, attempting to find the key in which he can best sing the song (starting off in G major, he later decides he can sing it better in A). After Cronin exchanges some laughs with his bandmates, the song officially begins; the video essentially consists of the band members lip-synching to the original track of the song. It then concludes with Cronin uttering the line, "That warmed the cockles of my cockles!" The other version of the video is much more "professional," and makes various references to the life-cycle. Both videos have been shown at various times on VH1 Classic (now known as MTV Classic).
In popular culture
It was referred to in The CW show Supernatural, in season 2 episode 5, "Simon Said". Jo Harvelle turns this song on for Dean Winchester in Harvelle's Roadhouse. Later, he sings it in the car (claiming the song had stuck in his head to a very confused Sam Winchester).
It was featured prominently in advertisements for the film, Horton Hears a Who!, and sung by the major characters near the end of the film as the titular character celebrates his vindication and his charges' salvation. In 2016, the song was used in the UK and US on ads for Sheba cat food.
Personnel
REO Speedwagon