Think of Laura

"Think of Laura"
Single by Christopher Cross
from the album Another Page
B-side "Words of Wisdom"
Released November 16, 1983
Format 7" (45 rpm)
Recorded 1982
Genre Soft rock, Pop, adult contemporary
Length 3:22
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) Christopher Cross
Producer(s) Michael Omartian
Christopher Cross singles chronology
"What Am I Supposed to Believe"
(1983)		 "Think of Laura"
(1983)		 "All Right"
(1984)

"What Am I Supposed to Believe"
(1983)		 "Think of Laura"
(1983)		 "All Right"
(1984)

"Think of Laura" is a popular song by the American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Christopher Cross. Released as a single in late 1983 from Cross' second studio album, Another Page, "Think of Laura" became the singer's fourth (and, to date, final) single to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at #9 in early 1984. The song spent eleven weeks in the Top 40. In addition, the song became Cross' third single to hit #1 on the adult contemporary chart, following "Never Be the Same" and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". "Think of Laura" remained at #1 on this chart for four weeks.[1] The song was written by Cross and produced by Michael Omartian.

The song became popularized when the American television network ABC began playing "Think of Laura" in reference to characters on the soap opera General Hospital. One of the program's supercouples, Luke and Laura, were quite popular at the time, and the song came to be associated with the character Luke's love for Laura, who had been missing for many months. Cross allowed ABC to use his song in this context; however, he has stated that he wrote "Think of Laura" not in reference to the television characters, but to mourn the death of Denison University college student Laura Carter who was killed when she was struck by a stray bullet fired over a block away, during an altercation between four men.[2]

Carter, a lacrosse player from Wayne, Pennsylvania, was sitting in the back seat of a car, being driven by her father, who with his wife, was visiting their daughter for the college's annual homecoming weekend. They planned to take her and two friends to dinner in Columbus, Ohio, having just watched them compete in a lacrosse match.[3]

Cross had come to meet Laura through her college roommate Paige, whom Cross was dating at the time. Paige was pictured on the inner sleeve of the "Another Page" album, sitting on a stool. Cross wrote the song as a way of offering comfort to Paige, and honoring Carter's memory.

"Think of Laura" has a relatively straightforward arrangement, with the singer's vocals and a piano accompaniment. The lyrics express the sorrow felt by those who knew the woman but ask that she be remembered with happiness: When you think of Laura, laugh, don't cry / I know she'd want it that way.

Cover versions

The song has been covered by American R&B group Boyz II Men, their version entitled "The Aaliyah Song", as a tribute to the late singer Aaliyah.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
  2. ↑ Christopher Cross Official Website | FAQs
  3. ↑ Dead Before Deadline by Robin Yocum
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