Wednesday, February 6, 2019

"Is It Love" by Mr. Mister

Top 10 Alert!
Song#:  2671
Date:  03/29/1986
Debut:  60
Peak:  8
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Pop, Rock



Pop Bits:  By the beginning of '86, Mr. Mister found themselves with a trio of #1's. Their second LP Welcome to the Real World would top the chart while its first two singles, "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie" would each spend two weeks at #1. The band was certainly at their peak and to keep the momentum going, this third single was issued out from the album. While it wouldn't make it to the top of the Pop chart like the others, it still did quite well making it into the Top 10. It also got to #17 at Rock. The month prior to this song hitting the chart, the album was certified as a platinum seller.

ReduxReview:  On an album that didn't have a ton to offer besides the two #1's, this track was the best of the remaining bunch. However, I do think that this was pushed along by the other two hits. Had this song been the first released from the album, I don't even think it would have made the Top 40. Not that it's a bad song, it's just not in the same league as "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie." Luckily for the band it performed well as a follow up, but when's the last time you heard this song? It just didn't have the same quality and shelf-life longevity that pushed the other two songs way beyond the decade. Sadly, none of the band's songs after this did either.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  In addition to co-writing all of Mr. Mister's song, band leader Richard Page would go on to supply tunes for many other artists including stars like Al Jarreau, Donna Summer, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, and the Pointer Sisters. His biggest hit as a co-writer outside of his own band would come in 1994. Page initially came up with a song called "I'll Remember" that found it's way to Madonna. Madonna's own label, Maverick, was set to supply a soundtrack to the upcoming film With Honors starring Brendon Fraser and Joe Pesci. At the time, Madonna was having some image issues due to her notorious Sex book and the nearly associated Erotica album not performing as well as her previous efforts. When Page's AC-leaning ballad showed up, it seemed like something that could help reshape Madonna's image and start a new era for the megastar. Plus, it didn't hurt that Madonna's track record on hits from soundtracks was nearly flawless. Madonna liked Page's song and decided to work on it. She wrote new lyrics for it and along with her producer Patrick Leonard, they shaped it into something that fit her and the film. "I'll Remember" would serve as the film's theme song and it would be issued out as a single. The song would reach #2 at Pop and #1 at AC. It was her best chart showing in two years (since another soundtrack single "This Used to Be My Playground" topped the Pop chart). The song would get a Grammy nod for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or for Television, and it would also get a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. Unfortunately, it didn't make the cut for an Oscar nod.

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