Can't Fight This Feeling

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"Can't Fight This Feeling"
Can't Fight This Feeling Cover Art.jpg
Single by REO Speedwagon
from the album Wheels Are Turnin'
B-side "Break His Spell"
ReleasedDecember 17, 1984 [1]
RecordedAugust 1984
Genre
Length4:54
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Kevin Cronin
Producer(s) Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer
REO Speedwagon singles chronology
"I Do' Wanna Know"
(1984)
"Can't Fight This Feeling"
(1984)
"One Lonely Night"
(1985)
Music video
"Can't Fight This Feeling" on YouTube

"Can't Fight This Feeling" is a power ballad [4] performed by the American rock band REO Speedwagon. The song first appeared on the 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin' . The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks from March 9 to March 23, 1985. [5] It was the group's second and last number-one hit on the U.S. charts (the first being 1980's "Keep on Loving You", also written by Kevin Cronin) and reached number sixteen in the UK. [6] "Can't Fight This Feeling" has appeared on dozens of 'various artists' compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums. [7]

Contents

REO Speedwagon performed the song at the 1985 Live Aid concert; they were introduced by Chevy Chase. [8]

Background

Cronin said that he wrote the verses years before, and had made a demo of it when he left REO Speedwagon briefly in the mid-70s. [9] Cronin finished writing the song in Hawaii while supposedly on a break from composing for the Wheels Are Turnin' album. [10] [11] According to REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer, the song is about a relationship Cronin had and it took Cronin several years to come up with all the lyrics. [12]

According to Cronin, the inspiration for the song was the hurt he felt when he became attracted to a woman who was part of his friend group. Cronin states that this woman was “…of course, going out with my friend, so I kept it to myself. There was a group of us who would hang out together...and she was always there. Eventually she and I were becoming friends, but there was no hanky-panky going on. The more I got to know her, the more I liked her, but I couldn't say anything about it.” [13]

Cronin said that he was only able to finish the song when he "couldn't fight the feeling anymore and made the move to kind of go for it." [13] He said he "knew those verses were something special because of the depth (of feeling). I felt for them. I couldn't force it." [13] Cronin said that when he did express his feelings to the woman, they ended up having a great relationship, and although it didn't last they remained friends. [13]

Cronin described the theme of the song as being about "that moment in time where...it gets too painful to be where you are and you know you have to change...but change is hard...and you overcome that fear of change." [11]

The other REO Speedwagon members referred to "Can't Fight This Feeling" as "that stupid ballad" until it became a charting hit. [11]

Composition

"Can’t Fight This Feeling" is in the key of A major.

Reception

Chicago Tribune critic Jan DeKnock said that the song "rode a pretty melody all the way to No. 1." [14] DeKnock also said that it was "the latest in a series of ballads that have found success on the dance-dominated charts with a tried and true formula: A melody that is pretty enough for adult contemporary listeners, with instrumentation that is strong enough for rock-oriented radio stations. [15] Billboard recommended the single, calling it a "midtempo rock ballad." [16] Rapid City Journal writer Mike Sanborn called it one of REO Speedwagon's "best ballads." [17] Palm Beach Post music writer Leslie Gray Streeter named it her 3rd greatest power ballad. [18] Arizona Republic writer Andrew Means noted that the song "has a similar tone of emotional frailty [as some ballads on Hi Infidelity ], which revives comparisons with such so-called 'corporate rock' entities as Foreigner and Journey." [19] Streeter attributes the song's success to its combination of "frighteningly candid emotion with searing rock guitar. [13] But Greg Kennedy of the Red Deer Advocate called it a "bland formula-fed composition." [20]

Austin American-Statesman writer Drew Carr felt that the performance of REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neal Doughty was particularly effective on this song. [21]

Music video

Two different music videos exist for the song. Both videos have been shown at various times on VH1 Classic (now known as MTV Classic).

Version 1: Studio (videotape)

The videotaped version was produced by MTV for a special on REO Speedwagon and features the band in the studio. It begins with Kevin Cronin playing the piano, attempting to find the key in which he can best sing the song (starting off in G major, he later decides he can sing it better in A). After Cronin exchanges some laughs with his bandmates, the original track of the song plays, with the band members miming their respective parts. It concludes with Cronin uttering the line, "That warmed the cockles of my cockles!" [22]

Version 2: Film

The second more famous version, directed by John Jopson, was considered a "more professional one" and makes various references to the life-cycle and shows the band singing the song. [23]

Personnel

REO Speedwagon [24]
Other personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [47] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] Gold400,000
United States (RIAA) [49] Gold500,000^

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

Bastille version

"Can't Fight This Feeling"
Cantfightthisfeelingbastille.jpg
Single by Bastille featuring London Contemporary Orchestra
from the album Doom Days: This Got Out of Hand Edition
ReleasedNovember 19, 2019
Recorded2019
Length3:18
Label Virgin EMI Records
Songwriter(s) Kevin Cronin
Bastille singles chronology
"Another Place"
(2019)
"Can't Fight This Feeling"
(2019)
"What You Gonna Do???"
(2020)

In 2019, English indie pop band Bastille released a cover version of the song, featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra. It was released on November 19, 2019, by Virgin EMI Records. The song was selected as the soundtrack to the 2019 John Lewis Christmas advert. [50] [51]

Charts

Chart (2019–2020)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [52] 23
Euro Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [53] 7
Scotland (OCC) [54] 4
UK Singles (OCC) [55] 39

Other versions

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">REO Speedwagon</span> American rock band

REO Speedwagon, or simply REO, is an American rock band from Champaign, Illinois. Formed in 1967, the band cultivated a following during the 1970s and achieved significant commercial success throughout the 1980s. Their best-selling album, Hi Infidelity (1980), contained four US Top 40 hits and sold more than 10 million copies.

<i>Hi Infidelity</i> 1980 studio album by REO Speedwagon

Hi Infidelity is the ninth studio album by American rock band REO Speedwagon, released on November 21, 1980, by Epic Records. The album became a big hit in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200, spending 15 weeks at number one. It went on to become the biggest-selling album of 1981, eventually being certified 10 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken</i> 1990 studio album by REO Speedwagon

The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken is the thirteenth studio album by REO Speedwagon, and was released in 1990.

<i>Wheels Are Turnin</i> 1984 studio album by REO Speedwagon

Wheels Are Turnin' is the eleventh studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in November 1984. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200. The lead single was "I Do' Wanna Know," which stalled at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "Can't Fight This Feeling," was REO's second and longest-running number one single. Other singles released were "One Lonely Night" and "Live Every Moment". These singles also reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #19 and #34, respectively. The singles from the album also had success on other Billboard charts: "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "I Do' Wanna Know" each reached #5 on the Mainstream Rock chart, with "One Lonely Night" reaching #17, and "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "One Lonely Night" reached #3 and #10, respectively on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep On Loving You (song)</span> 1980 single by REO Speedwagon

"Keep On Loving You" is a rock ballad written by Kevin Cronin and performed by American rock band REO Speedwagon. It features the lead guitar work of Gary Richrath. The song first appeared on REO Speedwagon's 1980 album Hi Infidelity. It was the first REO Speedwagon single to break the top 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching the number-one spot for one week in March 1981. The single was certified platinum for U.S. sales of over one million copies. It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. "Keep On Loving You" has been a mainstay on 1980s soft rock compilations and has appeared on dozens of 'various artists' compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums.

<i>You Can Tune a Piano, but You Cant Tuna Fish</i> Album by REO Speedwagon

You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish is the seventh studio album by REO Speedwagon, released in 1978. It was their first album to be co-produced by lead singer Kevin Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath. The album was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at No. 29. The album sold over 2 million copies in the US, which led it to being certified 2× Platinum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It on the Run</span> 1981 single by REO Speedwagon

"Take It on the Run" is a song by American rock band REO Speedwagon off the band's ninth studio album Hi Infidelity (1980). The song was written by lead guitarist Gary Richrath. "Take It on the Run" was the follow-up single behind the group's number-one hit, "Keep on Loving You". The single went gold on April 17, 1989. "Take It on the Run" has appeared on dozens of "various artists" compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest-hits albums. The 2017 song "Messin' Around" by Pitbull featuring Enrique Iglesias interpolates "Take It on the Run".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Doughty</span> American keyboardist

Neal Allan Doughty is an American keyboardist, best known as a founding member of the rock band REO Speedwagon and the only member to have played on every album. He formed the band in the fall of 1966, with original drummer Alan Gratzer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Cronin</span> American singer

Kevin Patrick Cronin Jr. is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band REO Speedwagon. The band had several hits on the Billboard Hot 100 throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including two chart-toppers written by Cronin: "Keep On Loving You" (1980) and "Can't Fight This Feeling" (1984).

<i>Good Trouble</i> (album) 1982 studio album by REO Speedwagon

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<i>The Hits</i> (REO Speedwagon album) 1988 greatest hits album by REO Speedwagon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep the Fire Burnin' (REO Speedwagon song)</span> 1982 single by REO Speedwagon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Let Him Go</span> 1981 single by REO Speedwagon

"Don't Let Him Go" is a song written by Kevin Cronin. It was originally released as the opening song for REO Speedwagon's #1 album Hi Infidelity. It was also released as a single, reaching #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Don't Let Him Go" has appeared on several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Your Letter</span> 1981 single by REO Speedwagon

"In Your Letter" is a song written by Gary Richrath that was first released on REO Speedwagon's 1980 album Hi Infidelity. It was released as the fourth single from the album and just made the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at #20. It also reached #26 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also had some chart success in Canada, reaching #34.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time for Me to Fly (song)</span> 1978 single by REO Speedwagon

"Time for Me to Fly" is a song by American rock band REO Speedwagon, released in 1978 as the second single from the album You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish. It was written by lead singer Kevin Cronin and took 10 years to write. The song originally reached number 56 on the Billboard Hot 100, but later reached number 34 on the Digital Songs chart after being used in Netflix's Ozark. It also reached number 90 on the Canadian charts. The song has a BPM of 81 BPM and plays in 4/4 time signature. Cash Box praised the "melodic singing and acoustic guitar work...enveloping chorus and...catchy lyric." Record World said that it is "characteristic of the group's imaginative use of rock's common raw materials."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Lonely Night (song)</span> 1985 single by REO Speedwagon

"One Lonely Night" is a song performed by the American band REO Speedwagon, written by keyboardist Neal Doughty. The song is the third single from the band's 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin'. It peaked at No. 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the second best performing single from the album in the United States, although very far from the success of "Can't Fight This Feeling".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Do' Wanna Know</span> 1984 single by REO Speedwagon

"I Do' Wanna Know" is a song written by Kevin Cronin that was the lead single from REO Speedwagon's 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin'. It was more of a rocker reminiscent of the songs REO Speedwagon had released in the 1970s than the ballads the band had been successful with in the early 1980s. It had limited success on popular music charts, which was blamed for delaying sales of the album until the release of the follow-up single, the ballad "Can't Fight This Feeling." The video to the song was nominated for several awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live Every Moment</span> 1985 single by REO Speedwagon

"Live Every Moment" is a song written by Kevin Cronin that was first released on the band's 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin'. It was released as the fourth single from the album and reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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