[go: up one dir, main page]
Wikipedia

Strong Enough (Cher song)

"Strong Enough" is a song by American recording artist Cher from her 22nd studio album, Believe (1998). The song was released as the second single from the album on February 22, 1999, by Warner Music. The song's composition and musical style is strongly reminiscent of 1970s disco music. The song received positive reviews from music critics, many calling it a highlight to Believe and comparing it to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive".[1][2] "Strong Enough" peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. Worldwide, it reached number one in Hungary and entered the top 10 in 14 other countries.

"Strong Enough"
Single by Cher
from the album Believe
ReleasedFebruary 22, 1999 (1999-02-22)
GenreDisco
Length
  • 3:44 (album version)
  • 3:33 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mark Taylor
Cher singles chronology
"Believe"
(1998) 		"Strong Enough"
(1999) 		"All or Nothing"
(1999)
Music video
"Strong Enough" on YouTube

Background and reception

edit

"Strong Enough" was released as the second international single from Cher's twenty-second studio album, Believe, which was released in 1998. However it was not successful in the US until it received more airplay following the release of promotional remixes. The song, along with "Believe", has become one of her most successful songs to date.

"Strong Enough" received favorable reviews from music critics. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet stated that the song "will be as great for the distressed" as Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive".[1] Michael Gallucci from AllMusic wrote that "Cher herself merely moves through the beat factory with one drab vocal range, blending butt-shaker."[3] Randy Cordova from The Arizona Republic described the song as a "thumping retro-disco tune".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that it "picks up right where "Believe" left off." He noted that the "retro-disco" song is "irresistibly catchy, jubilant as a prayer revival, and an ideal partner as kids prepare to buddy up with radio as school finishes up. Everything about this anthemic track is obvious from the first listen: Cher is again in peak form, set in front of a string-laden, thump-happy beat that will have folks tapping toes and snapping fingers from Maine to Minnesota." He also added that "no doubt, this is the biggest no-brainer hit we've heard this year."[5] Matt Stopera and Brian Galindo from BuzzFeed commented, "Always overshadowed by "Believe", "Strong Enough" was also a great '90s dance song!"[6] The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith said that "this is the most comfortable and relaxed she has ever sounded musically."[7] A reviewer from Irish Independent picked it as one of the "highlights" from the Believe album, noting it as "rousing".[8] Deborah Wilker from Knight Ridder said "Strong Enough" is the best song of the album, calling it a "catchy feminist chant" and "her very own "I Will Survive"".[2]

Chart performance

edit

"Strong Enough" had peaked at number fifty-seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, staying in the charts for twelve weeks. The song did not receive much attention in the United States, but when the promo remixes were released, the song had peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play. It also peaked at number thirty-one on the Billboard Pop Songs, number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and number forty on the Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.[9]

Elsewhere, the song was successful, mostly getting in the top 10 in most countries. The song had peaked at number six in New Zealand, and also peaked at number eleven in Australia.[10] The song was also very well received in Europe. The song peaked at number one in Hungary, and had also peaked at number seven in Finland, until falling out the third week and number three in France, staying in the charts for twenty-four weeks.[11] The song had also peaked at number twenty-one in Sweden, five in Switzerland, four in Austria, eleven in The Netherlands and sixteen in Norway. The song also debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart, until descending the rest of the way, finally finishing at number fifty-six.[12]

Music video

edit
 
Cher performing "Strong Enough" at her 2014 Dressed to Kill Tour during a gladiator-themed segment of the show.

The accompanying music video for "Strong Enough" was directed by British director Nigel Dick and was released worldwide in early 1999. A promo VHS tape and CD-R were also released in the US, but are very rare. The video promo also includes the remixed version of the video.

In this video, Cher is a computer virus and her role is an advisor who tells a bad boyfriend the reasons why his girlfriend (played by Shannyn Sossamon) will leave him. Teens in a party, two women, two robbers and many gothic instrument players also appear in the video.

A couple of months after the release of the original music video for Strong Enough, Dan-O-Rama (best known for his work remixing videos) created the "vocal club edit" video for this song. He used the "Strong Enough" Pumpin' Dolls Vocal Epic club remix and Club 69 Future edit promo only for DJs in 2000. The original music video is also featured on 'The Very Best Of Cher: The Video Hits Collection'.

Legacy

edit

In 2020, the Chicago Tribune listed "Strong Enough" as one of the "25 Pride anthems of all time", and stated that "one could easily interpret the lyrics to be about a repressive society that she is no longer willing to tolerate."[13]

Track listings

edit

Charts

edit

Certifications and sales

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[79] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[80] Platinum 50,000*
France (SNEP)[81] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[82] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[83] Gold 400,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom February 22, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 WEA [84]
March 8, 1999 12-inch vinyl [85]
Japan April 21, 1999 CD [86]
United States May 11, 1999
Warner Bros. [87]
Canada May 25, 1999 CD WEA [88]

Notable cover versions

edit
  • British pop group Steps covered the song live and added to their concert setlist, which is performed along with "Stomp".[89]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Aftonbladet. July 1, 1999.
  2. ^ a b Wilker, Deborah (November 10, 1998). "Cher throws more curves with latest album, 'Believe'". Knight Ridder. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Review by AllMusic Retrieved October 25, 2013
  4. ^ Cordova, Randy (June 16, 1999). "Cher: Ageless diva survives and thrives". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (May 22, 1999). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 25. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (March 11, 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  7. ^ Smith, Michael R. (September 6, 2009). "Cher - Believe". The Daily Vault. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Christy Moore. The Pogues and Mary". Irish Independent. December 9, 1998. page 49. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "Believe - Cher". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  10. ^ Steffen Hung. "Cher - Strong Enough". charts.nz. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  11. ^ Steffen Hung. "Cher - Strong Enough". lescharts.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  12. ^ "Cher - Strong Enough". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  13. ^ "Here are the top 25 Pride anthems of all time". Chicago Tribune. June 23, 2020.
  14. ^ Strong Enough (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Cher. Warner Bros. Records. 1999. 9 44644-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Strong Enough (Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes). Cher. WEA. 1999. 2 27570.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Strong Enough (US 2×12-inch single sleeve). Cher. Warner Bros. Records. 1999. 9-44644-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Strong Enough (UK CD1 liner notes). Cher. WEA. 1999. WEA201CD1, 3984 26621 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Strong Enough (UK CD2 liner notes). Cher. WEA. 1999. WEA201CD2, 3984 26622 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Strong Enough (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Cher. WEA. 1999. WEA201T, 3984 26624 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Strong Enough (UK cassette single sleeve). Cher. WEA. 1999. WEA201C, 3984 26623 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Strong Enough (European CD single liner notes). Cher. WEA. 1999. 3984 26623 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Strong Enough (Australian CD single liner notes). Cher. WEA. 1999. 3984270072.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Strong Enough / Believe (Japanese remix EP liner notes). Cher. Warner Bros. Records. 1999. WPCR-10224.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  25. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  26. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  27. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  28. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  29. ^ a b "Cher Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  30. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8124." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  31. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8469." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  32. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 8153." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  33. ^ "Danske Hitlister - Strong Enough - Cher". danskehitlister.dk. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 18. May 1, 1999. p. 47. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  35. ^ "Cher: Strong Enough" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  36. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  37. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  38. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 19. May 8, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  39. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 17. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  40. ^ "Íslenski Listinn NR. 318 Vikuna 9.4. – 16.4. 1999". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 9, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  41. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Strong Enough". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  42. ^ "TOKIO HOT 100" (in Japanese). J-Wave 81.3FM. May 23, 1999. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  43. ^ ""Latvian Airplay Top 197"" (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  44. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  45. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  46. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  47. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". VG-lista. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  48. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 18/1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 18. May 1, 1999. p. 23. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  49. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (PDF) (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  50. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  51. ^ "Hits of the World: Spain" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 14. April 3, 1999. p. 59. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  52. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  53. ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  54. ^ "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  55. ^ "Cher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  56. ^ "Cher Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  57. ^ "Cher Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  58. ^ "Cher Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  59. ^ "Cher Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  60. ^ "Cher Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  61. ^ "Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Weekly Chart: Jun 27, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  62. ^ "Top Radio Hits Kazakhstan Monthly Chart: June 2024". TopHit. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  63. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  64. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1999" (in German). Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  65. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  66. ^ "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  67. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. December 13, 1999. Retrieved October 31, 2015 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  68. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 1. January 1, 2000. p. 11. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  69. ^ "1999 European Radio Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 1. January 1, 2000. p. 13. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  70. ^ "Classement Singles - année 1999" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  71. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  72. ^ ""Latvian Airplay Top 197"" (in Latvian). Lanet.lv. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  73. ^ "Single Top 100 Van 1999" (PDF) (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  74. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999". MegaCharts. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  75. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
  76. ^ "Swiss Year-end Charts 1999". Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  77. ^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 27. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  78. ^ a b "The Year in Music: 1999" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. pp. YE-60, YE 61. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  79. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  80. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  81. ^ "French single certifications – Cher – Strong Enough" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  82. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Cher; 'Strong Enough')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  83. ^ "British single certifications – Cher – Strong Enough". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  84. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 February, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. February 20, 1999. p. 31. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  85. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 8 March, 1999". Music Week. March 6, 1999. p. 25.
  86. ^ "ストロング・イナフ/ビリーブ・リミックスEP | シェール" [Strong Enough/Believe Remix EP | Cher] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  87. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1298. May 7, 1999. pp. 77, 83.
  88. ^ "Album Releases: May 1999". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  89. ^ "Steps cover Cher's 'Strong Enough' as they kicked off 25th anniversary tour at Mighty Hoopla". Retro Pop Magazine. June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strong_Enough_(Cher_song)&oldid=1246720215"