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Tuesday, April 25, 2017

"Bop 'Til You Drop" by Rick Springfield

Song#:  2022
Date:  08/18/1984
Debut:  67
Peak:  20
Weeks:  15
Genre:  Rock, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  Springfield's first starring role in a major film came about via Hard to Hold. The movie tanked at the box office, but the soundtrack was a platinum seller thanks to the #5 single "Love Somebody." A follow-up, "Don't Walk Away," faltered a bit and could only manage a #26 showing. However, this third single did slightly better and was able to just clip the Pop Top 20. It was also one of Springfield's minor few songs to reach the Dance chart. It topped out at #47.

ReduxReview:  I've always disliked the title of this song. I think it works fine for the chorus and is kind of catchy, but it's a little on the goofy side. Besides that, it's another solid entry from Springfield. There is a lot going on production-wise, but somehow it all works well together. The song lyrics also feature the movie's title. It would end up being Springfield's last Top 20 hit, although he'd get close to that mark with a couple future singles.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  In addition to seven tracks by Springfield, the Hard to Hold soundtrack featured three tracks by other artists. Peter Gabriel contributed "I Go Swimming," Nona Hendryx performed "Heart of a Woman," and Graham Parker supplied "When the Lights Go Down." None were released as singles in the US, but a live version of "I Go Swimming" was included on Gabriel's Plays Live LP. That track got some airplay at Rock and reached #38 on that chart. The Hendryx song appeared as a bonus track on the 2012 reissue of her album The Art of Defense. The Graham Parker track later appeared on Parker's 2005 compilation set The Official Art Vandelay Tapes, Vol. 2. The collection's name came from one of Parker's favorite TV shows, Seinfield. In one episode, the characters George and Jerry do a bit of a stake out in a building lobby and their cover story is they are meeting with a businessman named Art Coverlay. But George makes a mistake and says Art Vandelay. The name resurfaces in other episodes and in the finale of the series, there is a judge whose name is Arthur Vandelay.

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