Cry for Help explained

Cry for Help
Cover:CryForHelpCover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Rick Astley
Album:Free
B-Side:Behind the Smile
Released:[1]
Length:
  • 4:51 (album version)
  • 4:17 (radio edit)
Label:RCA
Producer:
  • Gary Stevenson
  • Rick Astley
Prev Title:Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Prev Year:1989
Next Title:Move Right Out
Next Year:1991

"Cry for Help" is a song by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley, released as the first single from his third studio album, Free (1991). It was written by Astley and Rob Fisher, formerly one half of the 1980s pop outfits Naked Eyes and Climie Fisher. The Andraé Crouch Choir provided backing vocals. The song is a ballad, unlike Astley's earlier dance-oriented hit singles.

Released as a single on 14 January 1991 by RCA Records, "Cry for Help" reached number seven on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Astley's last top-10 hit in either country. It also reached number four in Canada and was a number-one hit on both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts. Its accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.[2] "Cry for Help" was awarded one of BMI's Pop Awards in 1993, honoring the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the song.[3]

The song has been sung by Rick Astley in duet with Søren Sko and covered by Thomas Anders (ex-Modern Talking). In 2019, Astley recorded and released a "reimagined" version of the song for his album The Best of Me.[4] On 27 April 2021, the original music video was upgraded to 1080p HD to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the song reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]

Critical reception

Dave Obee from Calgary Herald felt the "finest moments" on the song come from Andrae Crouch's choir arrangement, adding that it's what makes "Cry for Help" "worth hearing".[6] David Quantick from NME wrote, "Rick still sings like God, and "Cry for Help" is pretty good in a Wet Wet Wet sort of way, especially when the Proper Choir comes in".[7] Eleanor Levy from Record Mirror described it as "a Michael McDonald style ballad that, rather than shocking the world, cuddles it instead."[8]

Track listing

  1. "Cry for Help" – 6:26
  2. "Behind the Smile" – 4:33
  3. "Cry for Help" (album version) – 4:50
  1. "Cry for Help" (7" version) – 4:20
  2. "Behind the Smile" – 4:37
  3. "Cry for Help" (12" version) – 6:27
  1. "Cry for Help" (edit) – 4:03
  2. "Behind the Smile" – 4:33

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 16
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 11
Greece (IFPI)[11] 3
Portugal (AFP)[12] 9
Spain (AFYVE)[13] 11

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)Position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 85
Belgium (Ultratop)[15] 53
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 39
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[17] 14
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 94
Europe (European Hit Radio)[19] 22
Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 59
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 76
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 77
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 95
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 70
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[25] 4

Notes and References

  1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. vi. 12 January 1991. 7 July 2021.
  2. Station Reports > TV > MTV/London. Music & Media. 23 February 1991. 29. 12 December 2022.
  3. BMI Congratulates The PRS Writers and Publishers of BMI's Most Performed Works of 1992: Million Performance Songs . . 2 . 20 November 1993 . 13 May 2023 .
  4. Web site: Leah . Brungardt . An Interview with 'Never Gonna Give You Up' Singer Rick Astley on His Iconic Hit Song, His Newest Album and Much More! . All Access Music . 12 November 2019 . 20 November 2019 . 12 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191112214600/https://music.allaccess.com/an-interview-with-never-gonna-give-you-up-singer-rick-astley-on-his-iconic-hit-song-his-newest-album-and-much-more/ . dead .
  5. Web site: On this day in 1991 'Cry For Help' reached number 7 in the US Billboard Charts. To celebrate the song, the official music video has been upgraded to HD!. YouTube. live. 8 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210408170636/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU1EmTA4J60. 27 April 2021.
  6. Obee, Dave (17 March 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  7. David. Quantick. Singles. NME. 19 January 1991. 19. 3 April 2023. David Quantick.
  8. Singles. Eleanor. Levy. Record Mirror. 12 January 1991. 14. 10 August 2021.
  9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 8. 7. 31. 16 February 1991. 7 April 2020.
  10. Book: Nyman, Jake. 2005. Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja. 1st. Tammi. Helsinki. 951-31-2503-3. fi.
  11. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 8. 10. 42. 9 March 1991. 7 April 2020.
  12. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 8. 8. 30. 23 February 1991. 30 October 2020.
  13. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  14. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  15. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1991. Ultratop. nl. 24 October 2019.
  16. RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 2 April 2018.
  17. RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 2 April 2018.
  18. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1991. Music & Media. World Radio History. 8. 51–52. 21. 21 December 1991. 17 January 2020.
  19. EHR Year-End Top 100. Music & Media. 8. 51–52. 20. 21 December 1991. 16 February 2024.
  20. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991. GfK Entertainment. de. 24 October 2019.
  21. Web site: Dutch Single Top 100 – 1991. 15 September 2009.
  22. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991. MegaCharts. nl. 24 October 2019.
  23. 1991 Top 100 Singles. Music Week. 20. 11 January 1992.
  24. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1991. 15 September 2005. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090707155835/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1991. 7 July 2009.
  25. Web site: Top Adult Contemporary Singles 1991. 8 November 2011. 8 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008124525/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/854606. dead.

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