Soldier of Love (Donny Osmond song)

"Soldier of Love"
Single by Donny Osmond
from the album Donny Osmond
B-side "My Secret Touch"
"Time Can't Erase"
"Groove"
Released 1989
Format CD, 7", 12″
Recorded 1988
Genre Pop rock, R&B, new jack swing
Length 3:49
Label Capitol, Virgin
Writer(s) Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers
Producer(s) Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers
Donny Osmond singles chronology
"I'm in It for Love" "Soldier of Love" "If It's Love That You Want"

"Soldier of Love" is a 1989 song by American singer Donny Osmond, which became his comeback hit.

A cassette of the song from a British import was sent by an Osmond fan to Jessica Ettinger, the acting Program Director and Music Director at ABC's WPLJ-FM New York. Ettinger liked the song but was concerned that Osmond, a former child star, wouldn't be accepted by the current pop audience.

Ettinger, believing the song to be a hit, up-ended the top 40 music and radio industry by giving it a slot on her playlist. Osmond was not only unsigned by any record label in the U.S., but the song itself was unavailable for purchase in the U.S. at the time. To give the song a chance, she created a "mystery artist" promotion; put the song in rotation, and kept listeners guessing who the artist was for several weeks.[1] Eventually, Ettinger had her air talent reveal that the song was by Donny Osmond, who appeared live on the air at the same time. Osmond was soon signed by Capitol Records, which copied Ettinger's promotion idea nationwide and released the song as a single. "Soldier of Love" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989[2] and Osmond credits Ettinger with re-launching his career by listening to the music and not pre-judging whether a song could be a hit based on the name of the artist.

The song is set to a new jack swing beat.[3] Songwriters are Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers.[4] The music video for the song was directed by Michael Bay, becoming the director's first official project.

References

  1. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-04-16/entertainment/8904040761_1_donny-and-marie-tv-donny-osmond-music-world
  2. http://www.billboard.com/artist/301193/donny-osmond/chart
  3. Popken, Randall & Newsome, Alice, and Gonzales, Lanell (1995). Departures: A Reader for Developing Writers: "The too-nice Mormon kid [Donny Osmond] who once sang "Puppy Love" has returned to the charts with "Soldier of Love," a faintly suggestive tune set to a post-disco beat.", p. 361. ISBN 0-205-16249-5
  4. Allmusic: Soldier of Love. Accessed 26 Aug 2008.

External links