"Cry" by Godley & Creme

Song#:  2390
Date:  07/20/1985
Debut:  90
Peak:  16
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Soft Rock



Pop Bits:  This English duo of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme were first in a band together back in the 50s, but it wasn't until around 1969 that they got together and set out on a music career. By 1972, they were members of a band called 10cc and got their first UK hit with the #2 "Donna." The band wouldn't break through in the US until their 1975 worldwide hit "I'm Not in Love" got to #2. The next year, the duo would leave 10cc to pursue their own project that was based on an effects gadget they had invented called The Gizmo. The project turned into the duo's debut album; a 3-LP concept piece titled Consequences. The album was derided by critics and it was not successful. Godley & Creme then went on to release four album with varying success. Their 1981 album Ismism produced two Top 10 hits in the UK, but their music was lost on US ears. That is until the duo decided to celebrate their 25th year in the business with a remix album titled The History Mix Volume 1. In addition to revisiting songs from their past, they also wrote a new track for the collection titled "Cry." It was issued as a single and thanks in part to an innovative MTV video, the song caught on and reached the US Top 20. It also got to #5 AC, #6 Rock, and #22 Dance. It would be their only single to chart in the US. Godley & Creme would issue one more album before splitting and going their own ways.

ReduxReview:  The video for this song was really fascinating and it drew people to the song, but I had heard the tune before seeing the video and instantly fell for it. I love the rises and falls of the song. It reminds me of something that Roy Orbison might have done (and frankly, I think Orbison could have actually sung the last notes of the song...). The verse has a lovely melody and the build up to the explosive chorus is awesome. The ending is my only quibble. I didn't really like the studio-tricked voice on the last notes, yet it's not so bad that it distracts me from the rest of the song. I was always disappointed this didn't make the Top 10. It really should have.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  Godley & Creme were arguably more successful in the new art of music videos than in their recording career. The pair first started developing and directing videos when they did one for their 1979 single "An Englishman in New York." From there, they started getting calls from other artists and were soon directing videos for The Police, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Yes, Wang Chung, and many others. Their video for Herbie Hancock's 1983 hit "Rockit" ended up winning five MTV Music Video Awards. They also directed the video for their song "Cry." It was considered innovative at the time due to the use of cross-fading various faces so it looked like a person's face was morphing into another. A similar technique would be used years later in the video for Michael Jackson's #1 hit "Black or White." Godley & Creme's video for "Cry" would get them three more MTV Music Video Award nominations.

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