"You Were Made for Me" by Irene Cara

Song#:  1991
Date:  07/28/1984
Debut:  85
Peak:  78
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Adult Contemporary, Pop, R&B



Pop Bits:  Cara's album What a Feelin' produced an unexpected Top 10 hit with "Breakdance," the LP's third single (fourth if you count the previously released soundtrack hit "Flashdance...What a Feeling"). With that song giving a bit of a boost to album sales, it was decided a follow-up single was in order. This album closing ballad was chosen and it did very well at AC getting to #10. However, it didn't do all that well at Pop and R&B wasn't in love with it either (#83). Sadly, the single marked the last time that Cara would have a song reach the US charts. After an extended break, Cara returned to recording and issued the 1987 album Carasmatic, but its first single failed to chart and the album disappeared quickly. It would be her last major label recording. Years later, Cara would form her own all-female band called Hot Caramel. An album would be issued in 2011.

ReduxReview:  It's a shame Cara didn't do a follow-up album sooner. I think she could have been a bigger music star had she gotten hold of (or written) the right songs. The What a Feelin' album showed a lot of promise, but for whatever reason she decided to resume an acting career instead (see below). Perhaps she enjoy acting more than making records and touring. Whatever it was, by the time she returned, her moment of opportunity had passed. So this ballad ended up her swan song on the charts. It's a solid ballad that she co-wrote, but it really wasn't strong enough to compete on the Pop and R&B charts.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  In addition to singing and songwriting, Cara also acted. She had appeared on Broadway, on TV shows, and in films since a young age. In 1984, her acting career got a boost when she got to co-star with Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds in the Prohibition crime caper City Heat. Her role gave her the opportunity to sing a couple of standards in the film and she wrote the title-track theme song as well, which was performed by jazz musician Joe Williams. The Eastwood/Reynolds pairing seemed like a sure bet for a hit, but the film was critically panned and despite making some money it was considered a box office dud. However, it led to a couple more films for Cara over the next two years and that work kept her from following up What a Feelin' until 1987.

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