Can't Forget You (Sonia song) explained

Can't Forget You
Cover:Cant forget you sonia.jpeg
Type:single
Artist:Sonia
Album:Everybody Knows
Released:25 September 1989
Studio:PWL 1 and 4 (London, England)[1]
Genre:Pop
Length:3:25
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Stock Aitken Waterman
Prev Title:You'll Never Stop Me Loving You
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Listen to Your Heart
Next Year:1989

"Can't Forget You" is a song by English singer Sonia, released as her second single in September 1989. The mid-tempo song later appeared on her debut album, Everybody Knows, released in 1990. It was a moderate hit on the chart, reaching number 17 in UK and number five in Ireland.

Background and writing

Contrary to fan speculation,[2] "Can't Forget You" was written specifically for Sonia by Stock Aitken & Waterman (SAW) and thus was not initially offered to, nor recorded by, Kylie Minogue.[3] [4] It was written after Sonia had spoken with Mike Stock about her relationships.[5]

Critical reception

Richard Lowe from Smash Hits wrote, "I think they're splendid [[[Stock Aitken & Waterman|SAW]] ] and Sonia's first single was probably the best all year. This one's not quite as catchy and won't do half as well but it's a good tune, well sung, nevertheless."[6] Gary James of Entertainment Focus said almost the same thing: to him, "Can't Forget You" is "unmistakably a SAW production" and a "mid-tempo bop", but considered that it was "slightly more downbeat and mellow than [the previous single]".[5] A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media said the song is a "harmless lightweight disco".[7]

Chart performance

"Can't Forget You" was less-successful than Sonia's debut single, "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You"; in the UK, it debuted at number 27 on 7 October 1989, peaked at number 17 the next week and spent six weeks in the top 75. However, it fared better in Ireland where it reached number five and appeared for three weeks on the chart. In addition, it was a top 20 hit in Finland, but stalled at number 47 in the Flanders region of Belgium. On the overall Eurochart Hot 100 compiled by the Music & Media magazine, it reached number 51 in its second week out of a five-week chart run. In Australia, "Can't Forget You" barely made the top 100 on the ARIA singles chart, peaking at number 98. Following the underperformance of Donna Summer's "Love's About To Change My Heart", the surprisingly poor chart showing of "Can't Forget You" has been cited as among the first significant signs of SAW's looming commercial implosion over the following 12 months.

Formats and track listings

  1. "Can't Forget You" - 3:25
  2. "Can't Forget You" (Instrumental) - 3:25
  1. "Can't Forget You" (Extended Mix) - 6:05
  2. "Can't Forget You" (Instrumental) - 3:25
  3. "Can't Forget You" - 3:25

Credits and personnel

The following people contributed to "Can't Forget You":

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Can't Stop Forget You"!Chart (1989–1990)!Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 98
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 51
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 19
UK Dance (Music Week)[19] 21

Notes and References

  1. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Chrysalis Records, PWL Records. CHS 3419.
  2. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070526145356/http://kya.pytalhost.net/kylie_unreleased_001.html. List of Unreleased Kylie Minogue Songs. 2007-05-26. 14 October 2015. pytalhost.net. Imgur.com.
  3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20151014110729/http://i.imgur.com/ch8jOZ9.jpg. Mike Stock Interview 2015: Celebration 25 Years Since 'Everybody Knows'. 14 October 2015. 14 October 2015. soniaontheweb.com.
  4. Web site: A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 50: I Just Don't Have The Heart to Can't Forget You on Apple Podcasts . 2023-04-17 . Apple Podcasts . en-AU.
  5. Web site: Sonia’s Everybody Knows: looking back at the classic album 30 years on . Gary . James . 23 April 2020 . Entertainment Focus . 7 August 2023.
  6. Richard. Lowe. Singles. Smash Hits. 20 September 1989. 73. 11 March 2023.
  7. Previews – Singles. Music & Media. 6. 41. 14 October 1989. 22. 29800226. World Radio History . 7 August 2023.
  8. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. European 7-inch single sleeve. Chrysalis. 112 726.
  9. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. Australian 7-inch single sleeve. Chrysalis. CHS 2316.
  10. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. UK Cassette single sleeve. Chrysalis. CHSMC3419.
  11. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. Australian Cassette single sleeve. Chrysalis. TCCHS 2316.
  12. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Chrysalis. CHS 12 3419.
  13. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. Spain 12-inch single sleeve. Chrysalis. 052 3234196.
  14. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. UK CD Maxi sleeve. Chrysalis. CHSCD 3419.
  15. Can't Forget You. Sonia. 1989. German CD maxi sleeve. Chrysalis. 662 726.
  16. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020822/http://i.imgur.com/j7baC6b.png. Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 17 January 2014. 2014-11-29. 14 October 2015. Imgur.com. live.
  17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. 6. 42. IV-V. 21 October 1989. Music & Media. 29800226. World Radio History. 7 August 2023.
  18. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . 2021 . Sonia. 241. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava . Helsinki. 22 June 2022.
  19. Top Dance Singles . . 21 October 1989 . 8 . World Radio History . 2 August 2023.