B-side "Ladies' Night" Recorded 1984 | Released May 10, 1985 Label De-Lite Records | |
Genre Pop, Smooth R&B, Adult contemporary Length 4:45 (Album)
3:58 (Single) | ||
"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 genre's biggest hit of the 1980s.
Contents
- Different remixes
- Appearances in other media
- Chart performance
- Pappa Bear feat Van der Toorn version
- Track listing
- Other cover versions
- References
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 D ♭ major.
Different remixes
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 right as 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.
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.
Appearances in other media
The song was featured in a 1985 episode of the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. as well as an early 1986 episode of One Life to Live.
The song was featured in a season seven episode of The Facts of Life.
The song was featured in the 2009 film 17 Again.
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. It was a number-one hit on both the R&B 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.
Pappa Bear feat. Van der Toorn version
Samples (and lyrics) from this song were used in Pappa Bear's song of the same name in 1997. This version is largely unknown in America where the music video is set but experienced significant chart success in Europe and Australia.
Track listing
CD maxi
- "Cherish" (Radio) – 3:52
- "Cherish" (Extended) – 5:37
- "One 4 Da Money" – 5:02
- "Xtra Large" – 4:10