Strong Enough (Cher song)
"Strong Enough" | ||||
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Single by Cher | ||||
from the album Believe | ||||
Released | February 22, 1999[1] | |||
Recorded | 1998 | |||
Genre | Disco | |||
Length |
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Mark Taylor | |||
Cher singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Strong Enough" on YouTube |
"Strong Enough" is a song by American recording artist Cher from her twenty-second studio album Believe (1998). The song was released as the second single from the album. It was released on February 22, 1999, by Warner Bros, and WEA. 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. The song had less success in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number fifty-seven, but did top the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play charts. It also went to number one in Hungary and into the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Background and reception
"Strong Enough" was released as the second international single from Cher's twenty-third 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 Gaynors' "I Will Survive".[2] 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 rust 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] 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"".[9]
Chart performance
"Strong Enough" had peaked at number fifty-seven on the U.S. 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 U.S. Hot Dance Club Play. It also peaked at number thirty-one on the U.S. Pop Songs, number twenty-nine on the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and number forty on the U.S. Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.[10]
Elsewhere, the song was successful, mostly getting in the top ten in most countries. The song had peaked at number six in New Zealand, and also peaked at number eleven in Australia.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]
Music video
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Cher_Strong_Enough_D2K.jpg/260px-Cher_Strong_Enough_D2K.jpg)
The music video for Strong Enough was directed by Nigel Dick and was released worldwide in early 1999. A promo VHS tape and CD-R were also released in the U.S., 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'
Live performances
Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:
- Do You Believe? Tour (1999–2000)
- The Farewell Tour (2002–2005)
- Cher at the Colosseum (2008–2011) (removed in September 2009)
- Dressed to Kill Tour (2014)
- Classic Cher (2017–2020)
- Here We Go Again Tour (2018–2020)
Legacy
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."[14]
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
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Cover versions
- In late 1999 the song was covered on Croatian language by Croatian singer Doris Dragović.[citation needed]
- In 2014 the song was covered in Catalan language by a Romanian singer Alexandra Stan for the charity album "La Marató 2014".
- Christian Bables used the song for his impersonation of Cher on the third season of Your Face Sounds Familiar Philippines.
References
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 22 February, 1999" (PDF). Music Week. February 20, 1999. p. 31. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Aftonbladet. July 1, 1999.
- ^ Review by Allmusic Retrieved October 25, 2013
- ^ "Cher: Ageless diva survives and thrives". The Arizona Republic. June 16, 1999. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. May 22, 1999. p. 25. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (March 11, 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
- ^ "Cher - Believe". The Daily Vault. September 6, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ "CHRISTY MOORE. THE POGUES AND MARY". Irish Independent. December 9, 1998. page 49. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Cher throws more curves with latest album, 'Believe'". Knight Ridder. November 10, 1998. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Believe - Cher". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Cher - Strong Enough". charts.nz. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Cher - Strong Enough". lescharts.com. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ "Cher - Strong Enough". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
- ^ https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-ent-pride-songs-20200623-xluji2ih25cgdc3vcz4nlpwswi-story.html
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ a b "Cher Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8124." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8469." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "RPM Dance". RPM. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "danskehitlister". danskehitlister.dk. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
- ^ a b "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher: Strong Enough" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Top 10 Greece" (PDF). Music & Media. May 8, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn NR. 318 Vikuna 9.4. - 16.4. 1999" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. April 9, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Strong Enough". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". VG-lista. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay - Week 18/1999" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 May 1999. p. 23. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher – Strong Enough". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1999" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1999" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 1999" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. January 1, 2000. p. 11. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. January 1, 2000. p. 13. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ "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) - ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1999" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Single Top 100 Van 1999" (PDF) (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
- ^ "Swiss Year-end Charts 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "Best Sellers of 1999: Singles Top 100" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 27. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "The Year in Music: 1999" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1999". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ "French single certifications – Cher – Strong Enough" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Cher; 'Strong Enough')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "British single certifications – Cher – Strong Enough". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
External links
- 1998 singles
- 1999 singles
- Cher songs
- Number-one singles in Hungary
- Disco songs
- Music videos directed by Nigel Dick
- Songs with feminist themes
- Songs written by Mark Taylor (record producer)
- Songs written by Paul Barry (songwriter)
- Song recordings produced by Mark Taylor (record producer)
- 1998 songs
- Warner Records singles
- Songs about betrayal