The song was written by lead singer Kevin Cronin, who began writing it around a decade earlier, and was based on a what was at the time his unrequited feeling for a woman who was dating a friend. In an interview with “the Professor of Rock” posted on YouTube last year, Cronin talked about one line in the song lyrics that he “caught so much crap for”WATCH/LISTEN to the short on YouTube:
It's time to bring this ship into the shoreI can certainly see why he “caught so much crap”. The phrasing is clunky, but pedants at Genius Lyrics, linked above, pointed out that boats have oars, not ships, but that’s kind of beside the point for me and many others: It’s just kinda lame. Having said that, I’ve never written song in my life, so what do I know?
And throw away the oars, forever
Clunky phrasing aside, I actually kind of liked the song. It was one of those soaring rock ballads from the time, and it was pleasant enough to listen to, though I never bought the song or album. I did, however, but their 1980 album Hi Infidelity, which I also re-bought in digital form here in New Zealand. I was first introduced to them by my flatmate when I was at university when their 1978 album You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish, and I associate that album with good times. It probably helped that the band was largely formed in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois when the founders were at the University of Illinois—even though students at all the other state universities, including mine, tended to express at least mock hatred of U of I.
In 1985, my taste in pop music was still expanding, but still included “adult contemporary” (a much less cringe name than the old “easy listening”) music/artists I’d listened to since the very early 1970s, but by the 80s I was listening to rock music, synth pop, and dance music. Maybe this song shows of the process of how my pop music tastes changed, because the song was also Number 3 on the Billboard “Adult Contemporary” chart. At any rate, it turned out that this gradual expansion has never stopped, and even today I can appreciate—and even like—all sorts of pop music, including contemporary songs that my age peers can’t stand. I take that as being a good a thing, but I don’t think I’d be as aware of this lifetime of changes to my tastes if I hadn’t done these series of posts. I think that, too, is a good thing.
“Can't Fight This Feeling” reached Number 2 in Australia, Number 2 in Canada (Gold), Number 33 in New Zealand, and Number 16 in the UK (Gold). It was also Number One on the USA’s Billboard “Hot 100” and Number 3 on their “Adult Contemporary” charts. It was also Number One on Cash Box and Radio & Records (R&R)The song was also certified Gold in the USA.
The album Wheels Are Turnin' reached Number 54 in Australia, 13 in Canada (Platinum), and Number 7 on the USA’s “Billboard 200” (2x Platinum). The album didn’t chart in New Zealand or the UK.
This series will return March 30 with the next Number One from 1985.
Footnote: Obviously, I didn’t get this post published on schedule this past Sunday. Because I didn’t write this post in advance—and I seldom do—I was still working on it that day, and intended to finish it that evening. Instead, I fell asleep watching TV, and couldn’t rouse myself enough to finish the post, something that’s happened before, though not usually with posts I intended for a specific day. Still, this “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series is now up-to-date, and it’s also a new addition to my informal “Midweek Diversion” series of posts—maybe I’ll make tag for this and the other posts….
Previously in the “Weekend Diversion – 1985” series:
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 1 – February 2, 2025
Weekend Diversion: 1985, Part 2 – February 16, 2025
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