Square Rooms

"Square Rooms"
Single by Al Corley
from the album Square Rooms
Released	9 September 1984
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1984
Genre	Synthpop,[1] Europop,[2] new wave[3]
Length	3:40
Label	Mercury Records
Writer(s)	Harold Faltermeyer, Al Corley, Peter John Woods
Producer(s)	Harold Faltermeyer
Al Corley singles chronology
"Square Rooms" (1984) "Cold Dresses" (1985)

"Square Rooms" is a song recorded by American singer, actor and producer Al Corley. It was the first single from his album of the same name. First released in 1984, the song was a hit in some European countries and had a moderate success in the United States in 1985.

Background and writing

After two seasons playing one of the first gay leading characters an American TV series, Dynasty, Al Corley left the nighttime soap opera to become a singer. With Harold Faltermeyer and Peter John Woods, he composed the text of his first song, "Square Rooms."

The media-savvy singer affected the brooding look and attitude popular among pop stars and GQ models at the time: pouty, dark glances and tousled hair. His choice of image worked best in France, where his television performances elicited the unbridled enthusiasm of teenage girls. However, according to Elia Habib, a French charts specialist, his success was not only based on his physical appearance. Indeed, "Square Rooms"' music had a large popular appeal and had a production designed for the dance floor. It was produced and composed by the German musician Harold Faltermeyer, who had previously arranged "Self Control", a worldwide pop and dance-floor smash for Laura Branigan in 1984 which featured a similar vocal hook. Faltermeyer would achieve his greatest personal success later the same year, composing, performing and producing the score to Beverly Hills Cop, a 1984 film directed by Martin Brest, including its hit instrumental theme, "Axel F".^[4]

Chart performances

"Square Rooms" was released first in Switzerland, where it was a hit, peaking at number 6 on 21 October 1984, and staying in the top 30 for ten weeks.^[5] The single debuted at number 47 in the French Singles Chart on 5 January 1985. It climbed quickly and was number 1 for 5 nonconsecutive weeks, from 9 March to 13 April 1985. After its peak, it lingered on the charts until its 27th week, on 20 July 1985.^[6] The song also achieved success in Italy (number 12), Germany (number 13) and Austria where it reached number 15 in April 1985.^[7] "Square Rooms" was released last in Corley's native US, where the single was only a minor pop hit, reaching number 80 on the Hot 100 on 1 June 1985. American dancefloors were more receptive than its airwaves; Corley reached number 26 on the Billboard dance chart the week of 22 June 1985.^[8]

A French cover was recorded by France Lise under the title "On vit à deux".^[9]

Formats and track listings

• 7" single

1. "Square Rooms" — 3:40
2. "Don't Play With Me" — 4:20

• 12" maxi

1. "Square Rooms" (long version) — 8:02
2. "Square Rooms" (single version) — 3:40
3. "Don't Play With Me" — 4:20

• The 12-inch (long) version includes an entire additional verse prior to the first chorus. This verse is excised in both the single and album versions of the song.

Charts

Peak positions

Chart successions

References