Cherish (Kool & the Gang song)

"Cherish"
Single by Kool & the Gang
from the album Emergency
B-side	Ladies' Night
Released	May 10, 1985
Recorded	1984
Genre	Pop, R&B
Length	4:45 (Album) 3:58 (Single)
Label	De-Lite Records
Kool & the Gang singles chronology
"Fresh" (1985) "Cherish" (1985) "Emergency" (1985)

"Cherish" is the title of a 1985 single by American R&B band Kool & the Gang. The song was the third single released from the band's multi-platinum album, Emergency, which came out earlier that year. 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.

Different remixes

There are several different mixes of Kool and the Gang's version (the original) 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 the 2009 film, 17 Again.

Charts

"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 U.S., 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.^[2]

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 film clip is set but experienced excellent chart success in Europe and Australia.

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

Other Cover versions

• The song was covered in 2006 by British glamour model Katie Price and her now estranged 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