Tuesday, March 19, 2013

'Cher News' Presents Your All-time Favorite Cher Singles

Late last year, hordes of you voted for your all-time favorite Cher songs - the top 50 of which were then revealed across multiple articles here on 'Cher News'. I thought I'd go back to the list of your favorite Cher songs of all-time, and pick out the singles that got the most votes, to form a new list - your all-time top ten favorite Cher singles!

10. Strong Enough
This 1999 disco million-seller was of course the follow-up to Cher's mega-selling 1998 hit 'Believe'. Of course, it didn't repeat the success of 'Believe' - that would be impossible - but it did become an impressive hit. It reached number 3 in France, number 3 in Germany and number 5 in the UK - selling over 250,000 copies in each territory. But it only reached number 57(!) in the US.


9. Alive Again
Taken from Cher's 2001 dance-pop album 'Living Proof' is 'Alive Again'. It was released in some of Europe with its greatest success being in Germany - where it spent almost two months on the chart with a peak position of number 27. Its music video was a seemingly last-minute making from footage originally intended for use in an advertisement to promote its parent album.


8. 'Heart of Stone'
This title track from Cher's 1989 multi-platinum album 'Heart of Stone' was originally released as a single (UK#50) by UK group Bucks Fizz in 1988, Cher's version was released as a single in 1990. Her version slightly bettered Bucks Fizz version in the UK by reaching number 43. However, its greatest success was in North America where it hit number 20, becoming her fourth US top twenty hit from the album.


7. 'Bang Bang'
This isn't the 1966 hit version that hit number 2 in the US and number 3 in the UK – it's the 1987 rock version that appeared on Cher's 1987 self-titled album. Sonny Bono, who wrote the original 1966 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)', contributed further lyrics for this remake. This version was released as a single in France... Twice! It wasn't a hit with either release - in 1987 or 1993. It's a shame that there was never a music video made for it - it would've been a great one!


6. 'All Or Nothing'
The third single released from Cher's mega-selling 1998 album 'Believe' is 'All Or Nothing'. Unbelievably, the song completely missed the US Hot 100 chart but was a moderate success worldwide, reaching the top forty on ten national singles charts.


5. 'Save Up All Your tears'
Diane Warren and Desmond Child wrote the second single from Cher's 1991 album 'Love Hurts' - the Pop-rock anthem 'Save Up All Your Tears'. It was originally released by Bonnie Tyler in 1988 and Robin Beck in 1989 – Beck's version became a moderate hit in Europe. Cher's version was also a moderate hit but reached the top 40 in the all-important music markets of the US and UK – it coincidentally reached number 37 on the singles chart in both of these territories.


4. 'I Found Someone'
At number four is Cher's single – and comeback single following her recording absence to make movies – 'I Found Someone' from her 1987 self-titled album. The song, again, was a cover. It was originally released by Laura Branigan in 1986, reaching number 90 in the US Hot 100. The Michael Bolton and Mark Mangold-penned track reached number ten on the US Hot 100 for Cher as well as peaking at number five in the UK and almost selling a million copies worldwide.


3. 'If I Could Turn Back Time'
This one did sell a million – almost two million... Cher's monster 1989 pop/rock anthem 'If I Could Turn Back Time'. The Cher classic - and some would say her signature hit - hit number 3 on the US Hot 100 and scored several more impressive chart positions around the globe including number 6 in the UK and number 1 in Australia. And of course, there's the famous music video to go with it...


2. 'Song For The Lonely'
The dance-pop tune that served as the US lead single from Cher's 2001 - US 2002 – album 'Living Proof'. Despite clearly being a fan favorite – after all, you've put it at number two – the song didn't perform spectacularly on the charts, it peaked at a disappointing number 85 on the US Hot 100, ultimately selling not much over 50,000 copies in North America. Cher dedicated the song "to the courageous people of New York, especially the firefighters, police, Mayor Giuliani, Governor Pataki, and my friend Liz" in the album booklet, following 9/11.


1. 'Believe'
The number one single picked by you fans as your favorite of Cher's is her 1998 dance-pop monster hit - and best-selling single of all-time – 'Believe'. Selling a whopping seven million - some say ten, some say eleven - singles and topping the US Hot 100 chart for four weeks, and the UK singles chart for seven, the single immediately outdid any single released during her entire career. The song won over a whole new generation of fans and earned Cher – unbelievably – her first ever Grammy Award!

3 comments:

  1. Are you still going to do favorite albums at some point?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good question! I think I will - hopefully, very soon too!

      Delete
  2. big shocker Believe is 1st! lol :P

    ReplyDelete