Cherish (Kool & the Gang song)
1985 single by Kool & the Gang
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"Cherish" is a song by American R&B band Kool & the Gang, released on a single in May 1985. It was the third single released from the band's 16th studio album, Emergency. The song is a romantic ballad that proved to be extremely popular when it was released and has since been a wedding song staple of sorts.[1]
| "Cherish" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US single picture sleeve | ||||
| Single by Kool & the Gang | ||||
| from the album Emergency | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | May 1985 | |||
| Length |
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| Label | De-Lite | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Kool & the Gang singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Cherish" on YouTube | ||||
"Cherish" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and held the number-one position on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks; it would ultimately rank as the biggest adult contemporary song of 1985. It also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and remained there for three weeks.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] | 8 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] | 3 |
| Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[5] | 2 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] | 1 |
| France (SNEP)[7] | 11 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[8] | 6 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] | 4 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] | 3 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] | 19 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] | 2 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[13] | 4 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 2 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[15] | 1 |
| US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[16] | 1 |
| West Germany (GfK)[17] | 5 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1985) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[18][19] | 56 |
| Belgium (Ultratop)[20] | 19 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] | 6 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] | 20 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] | 14 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] | 18 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[25] | 23 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[26] | 17 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[27] | 1 |
| US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[28] | 13 |
| West Germany (Media Control)[29] | 32 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[30] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[31] | Silver | 250,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[32] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Pappa Bear version
| "Cherish" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pappa Bear featuring Van der Toorn | ||||
| from the album What's My Name? | ||||
| Released | October 13, 1997[33] | |||
| Length | 3:52 | |||
| Label | Universal | |||
| Songwriters | Ronald Bell, James Taylor, Kool & the Gang | |||
| Producers | Bülent Aris, Toni Cottura | |||
| Pappa Bear featuring Van der Toorn singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Samples and lyrics from this song were used in Pappa Bear's song of the same name in 1997. This version was largely unknown in America, where the music video was set, but experienced significant chart success in Europe and Australia, peaking at number one in New Zealand for three weeks and charting within the top five in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Track listing
CD maxi
- "Cherish" (Radio) – 3:52
- "Cherish" (Extended) – 5:37
- "One 4 Da Money" – 5:02
- "Xtra Large" – 4:10
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1997–1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[34] | 7 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] | 39 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[37] | 6 |
| Germany (GfK)[33] | 2 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[38] | 5 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] | 4 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[40] | 1 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[41] | 7 |
| Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)[42] | 84 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] | 20 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[44] | 2 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[45] | 47 |
Year-end charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[54] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[55] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Germany (BVMI)[56] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] | Platinum | 10,000* |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[58] | Gold | 25,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Other cover versions
- In 2021, Frank Farian and his daughter Yanina recorded a cover version titled "Cherish The Life".[59]