Love Can Build a Bridge
"Love Can Build a Bridge" is a song written by Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet, and John Barlow Jarvis, and recorded by American country music duo the Judds. It was released in 1990 as the second single and title track from their album of the same name. It was a top-five country hit in mid-1991. The song has inspired several cover versions, including one by Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry, and Eric Clapton that topped the UK Singles Chart in 1995.
"Love Can Build a Bridge" | ||||
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Single by the Judds | ||||
from the album Love Can Build a Bridge | ||||
B-side | "This Country's Rockin'" | |||
Released | 1990 | |||
Genre | Country[1] | |||
Length | 5:23 (album version) 3:52 (single version) | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Brent Maher | |||
The Judds singles chronology | ||||
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Content and composition
The song is about the importance of always standing together, and was co-written by Naomi Judd and dedicated to the Judd family and fans as almost a goodbye, as at the time, Naomi was chronically ill with Hepatitis C and was forced to retire as it had been speculated that she had only three years left to live. "Love Can Build a Bridge" is performed in the key of B major with a tempo of 66 beats per minute in common time. The vocals span from E3 to D5.[2]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Comic Relief version
"Love Can Build a Bridge" | ||||
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Single by Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | ||||
Released | March 6, 1995[9] | |||
Length | 4:16 | |||
Label | London | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Peter Asher | |||
Cher singles chronology | ||||
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Chrissie Hynde singles chronology | ||||
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Neneh Cherry singles chronology | ||||
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A new version of "Love Can Build a Bridge" recorded by American singers Cher and Chrissie Hynde, Swedish singer Neneh Cherry, and British singer-guitarist Eric Clapton was released as 1995's official Comic Relief single.[10] This version topped the UK Singles Chart for one week in March 1995; it was Cher's and Hynde's second UK number-one hit and the only UK number-one single for both Cherry and Clapton.[11]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Silver | 200,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Other cover versions
The song was covered by Children for Rwanda as a charity single in aid of Save the Children. This version was released on August 30, 1994, and reached number 57 on the UK Singles Chart the following month.[24][25]
References
- "Love Can Build a Bridge - the Judds | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- "Love Can Build A Bridge Sheet Music | The Judds | Piano, Vocal & Guitar Chords". www.sheetmusicdirect.com. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1459." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 9, 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- "The Judds Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- "The Judds Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- "The Judds Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- "RPM 100 Country Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 21, 1991. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- "Best of 1991: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 4, 1995. p. 31. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- "Comic Relief's biggest selling singles revealed!". Official Charts Company. March 15, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 578. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "Hits of the World Continued > Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 14. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 8, 1995. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- Week 15, 1995
- "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Can Build a Bridge". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "Cher & Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. January 13, 1996. p. 9.
- "British single certifications – Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- "Single Releases". Music Week. August 27, 1994. p. 27.
- "Children for Rwanda". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
External links
- Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge at Internet Movie Database