"Save Up All Your Tears" is a song written by Desmond Child and Diane Warren, and originally released by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. The song was subsequently covered by other artists including Robin Beck, Cher, and Freda Payne.
"Save Up All Your Tears" | ||||
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Single by Bonnie Tyler | ||||
from the album Hide Your Heart (Notes From America) | ||||
B-side | "It's Not Enough" | |||
Released | 1988 | |||
Recorded | Bearsville Studios and The Hit Factory, New York | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 4:24 (album version) 4:20 (the London mix) | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Desmond Child | |||
Bonnie Tyler singles chronology | ||||
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The original Bonnie Tyler version of the song was featured on the album called Notes From America in the United States, Canada and Brazil and entitled Hide Your Heart throughout the rest of the world. The song was produced by its co-writer, Desmond Child, who was enjoying chart success in the US with singles by Bon Jovi including "Livin' on a Prayer". The single, released in 1988, did not approach the success of previous releases like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero", and charted only on airplay charts in Europe. A version called The London Mix was mixed by Desmond Child.
Robin Beck version
"Save Up All Your Tears" | ||||
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Single by Robin Beck | ||||
from the album Trouble Or Nothin' | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 1989 | |||
Recorded | Bearsville Studios, New York | |||
Genre | Soft rock | |||
Length | 4:05 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Desmond Child | |||
Robin Beck singles chronology | ||||
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In 1989, Robin Beck included her version on the album Trouble Or Nothin'. As with Bonnie Tyler's original recording, the Beck version was produced by the song's co-writer, Desmond Child. Beck's version featured Steve Lukather on guitar and KISS' Paul Stanley on background vocals. Beck's single was the follow-up single to her European #1 breakout hit "First Time". While not the smash of that song, "Save Up All Your Tears" was a significant hit for Beck in Germany and Switzerland, where it went to #10 and #5 respectively, and was also a success in Sweden and Austria. A video was made for the single, and although it received some airplay in the US and UK, it failed to garner any national success in the United States and was only a minor hit in the United Kingdom.
Chart performance
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
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Swiss Hitparade[1] | 5 |
Germany GfK Entertainment charts[2] | 10 |
Sweden Sverigetopplistan[3] | 17 |
Austria Ö3 Austria Top 40[4] | 27 |
UK Singles Charts Official Charts[5] | 84 |
Eurocharts European Hot 100 Singles[6] | 35 |
Cher version
"Save Up All Your Tears" | ||||
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Single by Cher | ||||
from the album Love Hurts | ||||
B-side | "A World Without Heroes" | |||
Released | October 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1991 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:03 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Cher singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Save Up All Your Tears" on YouTube |
In 1991, Cher released a cover of the song as the second US and third European single from her 20th album, Love Hurts. While Beck was the only artist to take the song top ten, Cher's version of the song did the best in the US and the UK, cracking the top 40 to peak at #37 in both markets.
Critical reception
AllMusic highlighted the song and called it "pleasantly melodic."[7] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Rousing, guitar-driven pop/rocker should have ushered in media icon's current "Love Hurts" opus. Song's unshakable hook and Cher's aggressive vocal are a perfect top 40 radio marriage. Sounds like a well-deserved smash."[8] Cashbox wrote, "The ever-cosmetically changing Cher, belts out this single of her confidence in an ex-lover's fate of crying over dumping her. It wouldn't be surprising if he just didn't recognize her. With her hair now red, and freshly inflated lips, if it hadn't been for the tattoos and her name on the single, I wouldn't have recognized her either. The voice though, is easily recognizable, vintage Cher all the way."[9]
Promotion and performances
Cher performed the song live in Dame Edna's TV Show and in David Letterman's Late Night Show. During Cher's ABC Coca-Cola Concert Special, as a part of the promotional campaign for her album, she also performed the song live—even though she actually lip-synched. This special was taped in a studio; Cher lip-synched to four songs of her latest album and had her band play along.
Music video
Cher's music video for "Save Up All Your Tears" was rather racy, but not as racy as its predecessor "If I Could Turn Back Time". In the video Cher sports three different wigs as well as three different outfits. She first wears a light pink lingerie nighty and a large red curly wig and next another skimpy black lingerie outfit with a dark brown curly wig. The final outfit she wears was one of her most extravagant to date, a dominatrix-themed black leather and chain top, with fishnet stockings and leather nets for sleeves, accompanied by Cher's signature long straight black hair. Twice during the video she turns around to display that she is wearing a thong which reveals a rather large tattoo across her backside. A photograph of this outfit taken by Herb Ritts would be used for the poster for her Love Hurts Tour. Under the banner of "Cher's Back!" with this buttock-revealing poster Cher performed several dates in Europe during her Love Hurts Tour. Later she also performs the song during the rehearsal for her Farewell Tour, this performance is available only as a Bonus Material in the DVD of the show.
Chart performance
Chart (1991–92) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] | 18 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] | 32 |
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12] | 16 |
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[13] | 76 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] | 56 |
Ireland (IRMA)[15] | 30 |
Poland (LP3)[16] | 26 |
UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 37 |
US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 37 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] | 16 |
US Cash Box Top 100[20] | 27 |
References
- ^ "Swiss Charts". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsch Charts". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Swedish Charts". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Austrian Charts". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Official Charts". Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Music & Media" (PDF). Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ Review by Allmusic Retrieved 15 October 2013
- ^ Flick, Larry (12 October 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 81. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "Music Publishing: Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. 19 October 1991. p. 5. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Cher – Save Up All Your Tears" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2025." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1691." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Cher - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Save Up All Your Tears". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Notowanie nr509" (in Polish). LP3. November 26, 1991. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - ^ "Cher: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ "Cher Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 30, 1989