Cherish (Kool & the Gang song)

"Cherish" is a song by American R&B band Kool & the Gang, released in May 1985. It was the third single released from the band's sixteenth studio 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"
US single picture sleeve
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Emergency
B-side
  • "Cherish" (instrumental)
  • "Joanna"
ReleasedMay 1985
Recorded1984
GenrePop, R&B, gospel
Length
  • 4:47 (album)
  • 3:58 (single)
LabelDe-Lite
Songwriter(s)
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Fresh"
(1985)		 "Cherish"
(1985)		 "Emergency"
(1985)
Music video
"Kool & The Gang - Cherish" on YouTube

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, though the chorus shifts to D♭ major (the relative major 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]

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Silver 250,000^
United States (RIAA)[23] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Pappa Bear version
"Cherish"
Single by Pappa Bear featuring Van der Toorn
from the album What's My Name?
ReleasedOctober 13, 1997 (1997-10-13)[24]
Length3:52
LabelUniversal
Songwriter(s)Ronald Bell, James Taylor, Kool & the Gang
Producer(s)Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura
Pappa Bear featuring Van der Toorn singles chronology
"Cherish"
(1997)		 "When the Rain Begins to Fall"
(1998)

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

  1. "Cherish" (Radio) – 3:52
  2. "Cherish" (Extended) – 5:37
  3. "One 4 Da Money" – 5:02
  4. "Xtra Large" – 4:10

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[46] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[47] Platinum 500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[48] Platinum 10,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[49] Gold 25,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

See also

References
  1. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. pp. 287. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  2. "OfficialCharts.com". Official Charts. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. "Kool & the Gang – Cherish" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
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  11. "Kool and the Gang: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
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  13. "Kool the Gang Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  14. "Kool the Gang Chart History (Hot Black Singles)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
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  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  20. "Top 100 Hits of 1985/Top 100 Songs of 1985". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  21. "Canadian single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Cherish". Music Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  22. "British single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Cherish". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  23. "American single certifications – Kool & the Gang – Cherish". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
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  33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
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  38. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
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  44. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1998" (in German). Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  45. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
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