"When the Children Cry" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by White Lion | ||||
from the album Pride | ||||
B-side | "Lady of the Valley" | |||
Released | October 1988 [1] | |||
Genre | Glam metal [2] [3] | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Michael Wagener | |||
White Lion singles chronology | ||||
|
"When the Children Cry" is a power ballad [4] [5] performed by Danish-American glam metal band White Lion. It is the third single and closing track on their 1987 album, Pride . It peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two in Canada, and number 88 in the United Kingdom.
The song was written immediately after Live Aid, and was partly influenced by singer Mike Tramp's childhood. He said, "“I was around five or six when my father left us. My mom was left with three boys. So without a doubt my own story is in that song." [6]
He also said,
Even though the words are simple, it has a very powerful lyric. Imagine being a kid from Copenhagen, Denmark, sitting there in Staten Island and writing, “No more presidents, and all the wars will end" at the time when Ronald Reagan is the president. But it was how I felt at the time. That song began by just sitting around and playing. Then Vito changed it to the fingerpicking style. [7]
The song was re-recorded in 1999 on the album Remembering White Lion (also released as "Last Roar" in 2004) and a live version was released on the White Lion live album Rocking the USA . The re-recorded and live versions were both released as promo singles and later as iTunes singles. [8] In 2004, an acoustic version of "When the Children Cry" was included on the VH1 Classic Metal Mania: Stripped compilation.
7-inch single [9]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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White Lion was a Danish-American glam metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist/guitarist Mike Tramp and Italian-American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, they released their debut album Fight to Survive in 1985. The band achieved success with their No. 8 hit "Wait" and No. 3 hit "When the Children Cry" from their second album, the double platinum selling Pride. The band continued their success with their third album, Big Game which achieved Gold status and their fourth album Mane Attraction which included a supporting tour. White Lion disbanded in 1992 and not long afterwards, their first compilation album, The Best of White Lion was released.
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is a power ballad by American glam metal band Poison. It was released in October 1988 as the third single from Poison's second album Open Up and Say... Ahh!. The band's signature song, it is also their only number-one hit in the US, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 24, 1988, for three weeks. It also charted at number 11 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It was a number 13 hit in the UK. "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" was named number 34 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s", number 100 on their "100 Greatest Love Songs" and number seven on MTV and VH1 "Top 25 Power Ballads". Billboard ranked the song number five on their list of "The 10 Best Poison Songs".
Pride is the second studio album by the American-Danish glam-metal band White Lion, released on June 22, 1987, by Atlantic Records. The album featured the two top ten hits "Wait" and "When the Children Cry". It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the Billboard Top 200 for a full year, selling two million copies in the US alone.
"Love Bites" is a song by English glam metal band Def Leppard from their album Hysteria. The power ballad is Def Leppard's only number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-10 hit in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. On the UK Singles Chart, the track peaked at number 11.
Vito Bratta is an American guitarist and the former co-songwriter for the glam metal band White Lion. He co-founded White Lion with lead singer Mike Tramp in 1983 and played with the band until 1991.
Big Game is the third studio album by the American glam metal band White Lion. It was released on June 5, 1989, by Atlantic Records, reaching #19 on The Billboard 200 album chart, #28 in Canada and #47 In the UK. The album contains the MTV hits, "Little Fighter", "Radar Love" and "Cry for Freedom". This album has a lighter sound than previous albums.
"I Remember You" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in November 1989 as the third single from their eponymous debut album. Composed as a power ballad, it was written by bandmates Rachel Bolan and Dave "the Snake" Sabo. It reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Album Rock Tracks in early 1990, being their second and last US Top 10 hit. The song also charted at number two in New Zealand, number 12 in Ireland and Australia, number 14 in Canada, number 18 in Finland, and number 36 on the UK Singles Chart.
"18 and Life" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in June 1989 as the second single from their self-titled debut album. The power ballad is the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 13, 1989, when it sold 500,000 copies. The song also charted at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 6 in Canada, and No. 5 in Ireland.
Mane Attraction is the fourth studio album by the glam metal band White Lion. It was released in 1991 by Atlantic Records, and reached No. 61 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 31 in the UK.
Fight to Survive is the debut studio album by the American-Danish glam metal band White Lion, released in late 1985 by Victor Records in Japan, and in June 1986 by Grand Slamm Records in the US. The album charted at No. 151 on the Billboard 200 in 1988, after the success of their second album, Pride.
"To Be with You" is a song by American rock band Mr. Big, released in November 1991 as the second single from their second album, Lean into It (1991). The ballad reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and topped the charts in 11 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand.
The Best of White Lion is the first greatest hits compilation album from the glam metal band White Lion, released in September 1992. The compilation features all of White Lion's charted singles from their three most successful albums: Pride, Big Game and Mane Attraction.
"Wait" is a power ballad recorded by White Lion and written by White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp and guitarist Vito Bratta. It was the lead single from their second album, Pride.
Heaven is a power ballad by American glam metal band Warrant. It was released in July 1989, as the second single from Warrant's debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich. The song is Warrant's most commercially successful single, spending two weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and number three on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The track's commercial success has led it to becoming one of the best known songs by the band.
"Love Don't Come Easy" is a song and single by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion. The song is the first single presented to radio stations from their 1991 album Mane Attraction and features a music video. The song peaked at number 24 on the Album Rock Tracks chart in the US.
"Lights and Thunder" is a song by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion and was released as a single in the UK from their 1991 album Mane Attraction. The song charted at No. 95 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Cry for Freedom" is a power ballad song by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion. The song was released as the third single for their 1989 album Big Game which peaked at number 19 on The Billboard 200. The song was released in 1990 and charted at #19 on the Dutch singles charts.
"Little Fighter" is a song by American-Danish glam metal band White Lion and was the first single released from the 1989 album Big Game.
Return of the Pride is the fifth and final studio album featuring original material by White Lion. The album was released in 2008 on March 14 (Europe), April 9 (Japan), April 29 . The album was produced by singer Mike Tramp and bassist Claus Langeskov and recorded during 2007 in both Australia and Copenhagen, Denmark.
"Tell Me" is a song by American/Danish glam metal band White Lion. The song was released in 1988 and is the second single from their 1987 album Pride. It peaked at number 25 on the Mainstream Rock chart and number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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