"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.
"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) Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report) 8Canada Retail Singles (The Record) 2 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard) 1
Year-end charts Chart (1985) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report) 56 Belgium (Ultratop) 19 Canada Top Singles (RPM) 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 14 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 18 UK Singles (OCC) 23 US Billboard Hot 100 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 1 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard) 13 West Germany (Media Control) 32
Certifications
Pappa Bear version
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) Peakposition Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 6
Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 97 Germany (Media Control) 24 Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA) 41 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 37 Germany (Media Control) 71 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 57 New Zealand (RIANZ) 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 31
Certifications
Other cover versions In 2021, Frank Farian and his daughter Yanina recorded a cover version titled "Cherish The Life".
See also List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.) List of number-one R&B singles of 1985 (U.S.)
References