"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" by Glenn Medeiros

Song#:  3021
Date:  02/14/1987
Debut:  92
Peak:  12
Weeks:  25
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  This Hawaiian-born artist first started singing as a kid entertaining people on his dad's tour bus in Kauai. By the age of 16, his voice was strong enough to win a statewide talent competition. One of the prizes that came with being a winner was the opportunity to go into the studio and record a song. Medeiros then recorded the song he sang in the competition, "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You." It became a local hit and then started to spread to the mainland thanks to a visiting DJ who was introduced to the single while in Hawaii. The tune began picking up airplay and it wasn't long before Medeiros was in the studio recording a full-length debut album. The song's popularity slowly spread from coast to coast and it eventually did well enough to nearly crack the Pop Top 10. It would do even better at AC getting to #4. The tune expanded further over to Europe and it became a #1 hit in the UK and a few other countries. His self-titled debut album would then sell a few copies and reach #83.

ReduxReview:  Here's another saccharine ballad courtesy of songwriter Michael Masser (see below). He was an expert at crafting these treacly tunes that had mass appeal. Masser knew how to write memorable, easy to digest pop melodies that featured big, hooky choruses. Extra sugar was added in via lyricists he worked with like Gerry Goffin, Carol Bayer Sager, and Cynthia Weil. Sometimes his tunes were a bit too sickly sweet, but other times the songs were nicely balanced. This tune was one that worked pretty well. I was particularly attracted to the chorus, which was deceptively difficult. There was quite a bit of melody to sing and it hopped around with even an octave jump tossed in. The tune especially got tricky the second time around with a couple of key changes added for effect. Medeiros earnestly handles it well. He didn't have the most forceful or unique voice, but for a teenager he did well in capturing the nuances of the song.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  This is a remake of a song originally recorded by George Benson. Benson recorded the track for his 1985 gold-selling 20/20 album. It was not released as a single in the US. Apparently, Medeiros was a Benson fan and chose to sing the song in the talent competition. When it came time to record a song after his win, it was suggested he just record his winning tune. Michael Masser had co-written the song with Gerry Goffin and it was picked up by Benson. Masser had also co-written (with Linda Creed) another song that Benson had first recorded, but was then turned into a hit by another artist, "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston. It was thought that perhaps Medeiros could also take a Benson album track and turn it into a hit. He did and it put Medeiros' career in high gear.

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