Turning the wayback machine once again to the sights and sounds of the UK charts as they looked a quarter of a century ago, this is The Story of Pop: 1998. And here comes another massive hit from 1998…
- Artist: Eagle-Eye Cherry
- Song: Save Tonight
- Released: 15/06/1998
- Writers / Producers: Eagle-Eye Cherry / Adam Kviman
- Highest UK Chart Position: #6
- Weeks on Chart: 20
There are some people for whom their lineage means they are all but destined to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors. And that’s something that could certainly be said of this week’s featured artist.
For when you are the son of the American jazz artist Don Cherry, and the Swedish painter and textile artist Monika Cherry, and the half brother of singer Neneh Cherry, those are phenomenally good odds to have on your side. But any cynical accusations that Eagle-Eye Cherry was to only be a success because of his background were very wide of the mark indeed.
Born and raised in Sweden, he went to school in New York aged 12, and by the time he was 16, he was at the city’s famous School of Performing Arts, rubbing shoulders alongside Jennifer Aniston and Chaz Bono. After his dad passed away in 1995, he returned to Stockholm to focus on his music career after a brief spell in acting.
A perfectionist when it came to writing and recording his own music, he kept his cards close to his chest until his debut solo album, Desireless, was virtually finished, in 1997. The album’s first single also confirmed that, far from merely being part of a lucky genepool, Eagle-Eye Cherry was a prominent talent in his own right.
The kind of instant, singalong guitar based radio record that the 90s were full and plenty of, “Save Tonight” was a touching ode to spending one last night with your true love, before you had to leave them with no idea of when you’d return.
Where to wasn’t explicitly implied, but it perhaps explains why its ambiguous opening to interpretation caught on in a big way with its simple chorus line: “Save tonight, and fight the break of dawn / Come tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll be gone”.
In his native Sweden, it was an instant success, peaking at #2 in the autumn of 1997, with the single quickly picking up top 10 positions and massive sales around all of Europe in the next few months that followed.
All of this came before Polydor Records signed him for the UK in the summer of 1998, and whilst the single only peaked at #6 here, it was hugely popular on the radio airplay charts, and it notched up an impressive three months inside the UK top 40 – more than some number ones managed that year.
The Desireless album then followed for release and peaked at #3, being certified gold for sales of over 100,000 copies. It might be easy to assume that “Save Tonight” was Eagle-Eye Cherry’s only big hit, for it does undoubtedly hold the hallmarks of a 90s one hit wonder.
But he did reach the top 10 with his second single, “Falling In Love Again” that November, whilst with the release of his second album, Living In The Present Future, in May 2000, he hit the top 20 again with “Are You Still Having Fun?” And whilst they aren’t as well remembered as that debut, still when “Save Tonight” comes on the radio now, you can’t help but have you humming along.
Don’t forget to follow our brand new playlist on Spotify – updated weekly so you never miss a song from the story of pop in 1998. And you can leave your memories of the songs below in the comments, Tweet us or message us on Instagram, using the hashtag #StoryofPop1998.
The Niche Reference 