Him (Rupert Holmes song)

"Him" is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Rupert Holmes. It was released in January 1980 as the second single from the album, Partners in Crime.

"Him"
German release cover
Single by Rupert Holmes
from the album Partners in Crime
B-side"Get Outta Yourself"
Released7 January 1980[1]
Recorded1979
GenreSoft rock
Length4:06 (LP version/UK single version/Canadian French single version)
3:34 (7" version/US & Canada single version)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Rupert Holmes
Producer(s)Rupert Holmes, Jim Boyer
Rupert Holmes singles chronology
"Escape (The Piña Colada Song)"
(1979)		 "Him"
(1980)		 "Answering Machine"
(1980)
Alternative release
Side A of the US single
Side A of the US single

The song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 29, 1980 and remained at that position for two weeks. It was Holmes' biggest Adult Contemporary hit, peaking at number four in both the United States and Canada.[2]

Background

Holmes had always expected "Him" to be the lead-off single to Partners in Crime, but after record executives heard the album, they concluded that "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)", a song Holmes composed mainly as album filler and never expected to be a single, would be a major hit. After "Escape" proved to be a major hit, "Him" was released as a follow-up and itself became a hit.[3]

The song is sung from the point of view of a man who, when he discovers a pack of cigarettes that do not belong to him, suspects that the woman in his life is cheating on him. He has no idea who this other man may be, but he decides he must confront her; he expects her to say that the other man is "just a friend", and plans to tell her bluntly, "It's me or it's him."

The midsection of this song features the melodic wordless sunshine pop chorale singing over the instrumental break that is reminiscent of The Beach Boys and The Association during the first half of the 3rd verse before jumping into "If she wants him, she can have him" in the second half.

Other versions

In 1980, Holmes re-recorded the song in French under the title "Lui" (MCA 41252)[4] that was backed with an instrumental version of "Guitars" (his previous album had included an English vocal version of the song). The single was released only in Canada by MCA Records Canada. This French version of "Him" ("Lui") has never been released on any vinyl or CD album.

Also Mexican singer Jose Jose covered the song in Spanish language and was titled "Él".

Personnel
  • Rupert Holmes – vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, saxophone
  • Dean Bailin – guitar
  • Frank Gravis – bass
  • Leo Adamian – drums
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Dave Taylor – bass trombone
  • Victoria – percussion
  • Gene Orloff Section – strings[5]

Chart performance

References
  1. "Rupert Holmes - Him".
  2. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  3. Holmes, Rupert (September 19, 2003). "Rupert Holmes ("Pina Colada Song")" (Interview). Interviewed by Carl Wiser. Songfacts.
  4. "Rupert Holmes - 45 Single (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
  5. "Rupert Holmes - Partners In Crime (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 141. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Radio2 top 30: 15 oktober 2016 | Radio2". Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 2012-04-09. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2017-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Top 100 Hits of 1980/Top 100 Songs of 1980". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
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