Song#: 3124
Date: 05/16/1987
Debut: 86
Peak: 36
Weeks: 13
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: US-born Rush scored a massive hit in Europe with "The Power of Love," a song she co-wrote and included on her self-titled debut album. The tune would spend five weeks and #1 in the UK becoming the best-selling single of 1985. However, the tune failed to break for her on home turf the following year (#57 US Pop). Her next album, 1985's Movin', was a big success in Germany and a few other countries despite not containing a sizable across-the-board hit. For her third album, Heart Over Mind, Rush's label CBS decided to pull out the stops and give Rush access to heavy hitting producers, songwriters, and musicians. Among those supplying songs were Desmond Child, Michael Bolton, Harold Faltermeyer, Bruce Roberts, and Andy Goldmark with all but Bolton helping on production as well. To attract even more attention, Elton John was secured as a duet partner for this single. Upon release, the song was more or less greeted with a shrug. While it went Top 10 in a couple of countries, it failed to make an impression elsewhere including in John's UK home where it stalled at #59. The news would be only slightly better in the US where the song was able to crack the Pop Top 40 while getting to #32 at AC. In turn, the album would make it to #113. It would be Rush's best and last single to reach the US Pop chart. The title track would make a slight impression on the Dance chart at #42. Rush would continue to release albums over the years having success in Germany and Switzerland. Elsewhere she would more or less be remembered as a one-hit wonder for "The Power of Love." In her home country of the US, Rush was never able to really break through. However, thanks to other artists covering the song she co-wrote, "The Power of Love," specifically the 1993 #1 version by Celine Dion, Rush certainly made some money off of an American audience.
ReduxReview: This is a good song. Not a great one. Unfortunately, Rush needed a great one to reestablish herself in various countries following the massive success of "The Power of Love" and to finally have a major hit in the US. It's hard to believe with all the big names involved in making the album that none of them could give her any material above b-grade. The fact that this song was considered among the best of the bunch for single release says a lot. Again, I like the track. It's nicely done and Rush's voice sounds better and stronger. The song also sounded like something Sir Elton might have recorded himself around this time. The problem was that the tune wasn't very memorable. It perhaps might have served as a good follow-up to a much bigger hit, but I think they were counting on this one to be the big hit and it didn't work out. At least Rush finally made it to the Top 40.
ReduxRating: 6/10
Trivia: Rush's next album, 1988's Passion, also enlisted major songwriters. There were some new ones on board like Diane Warren and Keith Forsey while a couple others made a repeat performance including Michael Bolton. He would co-write three songs for the LP including "Same Heart" on which he would duet with Rush. At the time Rush's album came out, Bolton was just beginning to emerge as a solo artist with a couple of Top 20 entries in the US. By the end of the decade he would be a major worldwide star with his 1989 album Soul Provider, which was far too late for Rush to capitalize on their duet. Over the years she remained popular around Europe and that afforded her opportunities to record with other major artists including Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, and Brian May from Queen.
_________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment