Can't Fight This Feeling#Bastille version
{{Short description|1984 single by REO Speedwagon}}
{{for|the Junior Caldera song|Can't Fight This Feeling (Junior Caldera song)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Can't Fight This Feeling
| cover = Can't Fight This Feeling Cover Art.jpg
| caption =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = REO Speedwagon
| album = Wheels Are Turnin'
| B-side = Break His Spell
| released = December 17, 1984{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=R.E.O.+speedwagon&col=format&ord=asc#search_section |title=RIAA}}
| recorded = August 1984
| studio =
| genre = * Soft rock{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/5507/40_most_softsational_softrock_songs/franchises/list/|title=VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs|date=May 31, 2007|website=Stereogum|publisher=SpinMedia|access-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729122720/http://www.stereogum.com/5507/40_most_softsational_softrock_songs/franchises/list/|archive-date=July 29, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
- arena rock{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: REO Speedwagon’s "Can’t Fight This Feeling"|website= Stereogum |date= 23 September 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2098883/the-number-ones-reo-speedwagons-cant-fight-this-feeling/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= ...very few people have enjoyed such success in the field of wimpily overdriven arena-rock power balladry. Consider the band’s second and final #1 hit.|accessdate= 30 July 2023}}
| length = 4:54
| label = Epic
| writer = Kevin Cronin
| producer = Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer
| prev_title = I Do' Wanna Know
| prev_year = 1984
| next_title = One Lonely Night
| next_year = 1985
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|zpOULjyy-n8|"Can't Fight This Feeling"}}}}
}}
"Can't Fight This Feeling" is a power ballad{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/reo-speedwagon-mn0000327735/biography |title=REO Speedwagon | Biography & History |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411055141/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/reo-speedwagon-mn0000327735/biography |archive-date=April 11, 2015 |url-status=bot: unknown |df=mdy-all }} performed by the American rock band REO Speedwagon, written by lead singer Kevin Cronin. The song first appeared on the 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin'. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and held the top spot for three consecutive weeks from March 9 to March 23, 1985.{{cite book |title= Top Pop Singles 1955-2012|last= Whitburn|first= Joel|author-link= Joel Whitburn|year= 2013|publisher= Record Research, Inc.|location= Menomonee Falls, WI|isbn= 978-0-89820-205-2|page= 703}} It was the group's second and last number-one hit on the U.S. charts (the first being 1980's "Keep on Loving You", also written by Cronin) and reached number sixteen in the UK.{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18939%2Freo-speedwagon/ |title=Reo Speedwagon | Artist |publisher=Official Charts |access-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210015545/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18939%2Freo-speedwagon/ |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} "Can't Fight This Feeling" has appeared on dozens of 'various artists' compilation albums, as well as several REO Speedwagon greatest hits albums.{{cite web| url = http://www.allmusic.com/song/cant-fight-this-feeling-mt0003804025| title = REO Speedwagon, Can't Fight This Feeling (Appears On)| access-date = February 5, 2015| work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160927082525/http://www.allmusic.com/song/cant-fight-this-feeling-mt0003804025| archive-date = September 27, 2016| url-status = live| df = mdy-all}}
REO Speedwagon performed the song at the 1985 Live Aid concert; they were introduced by Chevy Chase.{{cite web| last=Cashmere| first=Paul| title=Kevin Cronin Reveals 'Can't Fight This Feeling' Line That He Has 'Copped So Much Crap For' | url=http://www.noise11.com/news/kevin-cronin-reveals-cant-fight-this-feeling-line-that-he-has-copped-so-much-crap-for-20191129 |website=Noise11.com| access-date=April 15, 2020|date=November 29, 2019}}
Background
Cronin said that he wrote the verses years before, and had made a demo of it when he left REO Speedwagon briefly in the mid-70s.{{cite web|title=The 10 Best REO Speedwagon Songs, by Kevin Cronin|date=May 11, 2016|publisher=Louder Sound|work=Classic Rock|accessdate=2022-06-19|author=Cronin, Kevin|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/reospeedwagon-bestofeverything}} Cronin finished writing the song in Hawaii while supposedly on a break from composing for the Wheels Are Turnin{{'}} album.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|newspaper=Post-Star|page=24|date=March 2, 1985|title=REO Speedwagon back on top|author=Campbell, Mary|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106408929/the-post-star/}}{{cite book|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits|edition=4th|author=Bronson, Fred|page=603|year=1997|publisher=Billboard Books|isbn=0823076415}} According to REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer, the song is about a relationship Cronin had, and it took Cronin several years to come up with all the lyrics.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|newspaper=Billings Gazette|title=Tune brings new following|author=Johnson, Jacqueline|date=April 20, 1985|page=16-A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106411728/the-billings-gazette/}}
According to Cronin, the inspiration for the song was the hurt he felt when he became attracted to a woman who was part of his friend group. Cronin states that this woman was “…of course, going out with my friend, so I kept it to myself. There was a group of us who would hang out together...and she was always there. Eventually she and I were becoming friends, but there was no hanky-panky going on. The more I got to know her, the more I liked her, but I couldn't say anything about it.”{{cite news|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|pages=1E, 7E|accessdate=2022-07-27|via=newspapers.com|date=October 19, 2007|author=Streeter, Leslie Gray|title=Baby, we can't fight this feeling anymore!|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106431452/the-palm-beach-post/}}
Cronin said that he was only able to finish the song when he "couldn't fight the feeling anymore and made the move to kind of go for it." He said he "knew those verses were something special because of the depth (of feeling). I felt for them. I couldn't force it." Cronin said that when he did express his feelings to the woman, they ended up having a great relationship, and although it didn't last they remained friends.
Cronin described the theme of the song as being about "that moment in time where...it gets too painful to be where you are, and you know you have to change...but change is hard...and you overcome that fear of change."
The other REO Speedwagon members referred to "Can't Fight This Feeling" as "that stupid ballad" until it became a charting hit.
Composition
"Can’t Fight This Feeling" is in the key of A major and a tempo of medium ballad with vocal range E4-A5, according to Musicnotes.com.{{Cite web |title=REO Speedwagon "Can't Fight This Feeling" Sheet Music in A Major |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0061595 |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Musicnotes |publisher=Bicycle Music Company |publication-date=1984}}
Reception
Chicago Tribune critic Jan DeKnock said that the song "rode a pretty melody all the way to No. 1."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=DeKnock, Jan|date=April 5, 1985|pages=7–58|title=Madonna sets pace for female soloists|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106411243/chicago-tribune/}} DeKnock also said that it was "the latest in a series of ballads that have found success on the dance-dominated charts with a tried and true formula: A melody that is pretty enough for adult contemporary listeners, with instrumentation that is strong enough for rock-oriented radio stations.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=DeKnock, Jan|date=March 15, 1985|pages=7–58|title=Musical formula for success|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106435223/chicago-tribune/}} Billboard recommended the single, calling it a "midtempo rock ballad."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2022-07-27|date=January 12, 1985|page=60|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-01-12.pdf|title=Reviews}} Rapid City Journal writer Mike Sanborn called it one of REO Speedwagon's "best ballads."{{cite news|title=Fun-loving 'bar band' balladeers polished|author=Sanborn, Mike|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|date=October 16, 1987|pages=30–31|newspaper=Rapid City Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106421196/rapid-city-journal/}} Palm Beach Post music writer Leslie Gray Streeter named it her 3rd greatest power ballad.{{cite news|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|author=Streeter, Leslie Gray|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|date=October 19, 2007|page=7E|title=Leslie's top 15 power ballads|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106429812/the-palm-beach-post/}} Arizona Republic writer Andrew Means noted that the song "has a similar tone of emotional frailty [as some ballads on Hi Infidelity], which revives comparisons with such so-called 'corporate rock' entities as Foreigner and Journey."{{cite news|title=REO Speedwagon hits road after refreshing pause|newspaper=Arizona Republic|author=Means, Andrew|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|date=March 29, 1985|page=E1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106430428/arizona-republic/}} Streeter attributes the song's success to its combination of "frighteningly candid emotion with searing rock guitar. But, Greg Kennedy of the Red Deer Advocate called it a "bland formula-fed composition."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|newspaper=Red Deer Advocate|author=Kennedy, Greg|title=Wheels Keep Turnin'|date=November 17, 1984|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106426427/red-deer-advocate/}}
Austin American-Statesman writer Drew Carr felt that the performance of REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neal Doughty was particularly effective on this song.{{cite news|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|author=Carr, Drew|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-07-27|title=REO Speedwagon still rollin' with the changes|date=July 21, 2017|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106432617/austin-american-statesman/}}
Music video
Two different music videos exist for the song. Both videos have been shown at various times on VH1 Classic (now known as MTV Classic).
=Version 1: Studio (videotape)=
The videotaped version was produced by MTV for a special on REO Speedwagon and features the band in the studio. It begins with Kevin Cronin playing the piano, attempting to find the key in which he can best sing the song (starting off in G major, he later decides he can sing it better in A). After Cronin exchanges some laughs with his bandmates, the original track of the song plays, with the band members miming their respective parts. It concludes with Cronin uttering the line, "That warmed the cockles of my cockles!"{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3G3oImGXR0 |title=REO Speedwagon, Can't Fight This Feeling (version 2: performance) |publisher=YouTube |date=December 11, 2007 |access-date=January 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518234856/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3G3oImGXR0 |archive-date=May 18, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
=Version 2: Film=
The second more famous version, directed by John Jopson, was considered a "more professional one" and makes various references to the life-cycle and shows the band singing the song.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpOULjyy-n8 |title=REO Speedwagon, Can't Fight This Feeling (version 1) |publisher=YouTube |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=January 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122034403/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpOULjyy-n8 |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
Personnel
;REO Speedwagon{{cite book|title=REO Speedwagon, Wheels are Turnin'|year=1984|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment|pages=8}}
- Kevin Cronin - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
- Gary Richrath - electric guitar
- Neal Doughty - piano
- Alan Gratzer - drums
- Bruce Hall - bass guitar
;Other personnel
- Bill Cuomo - orchestration
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+All-time chart performance for "Can't Fight This Feeling" !scope="col"|Chart !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100 (1958–2018){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 18, 2024}}
| style="text-align:center;"|257 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=REO Speedwagon|title=Can't Fight This Feeling|award=Gold|access-date=January 19, 2015|certyear=1985}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=REO Speedwagon|title=Can't Fight This Feeling|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|access-date=March 18, 2022|id=15462-1580-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=R.E.O. Speedwagon|title=Can't Fight This Feeling|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1989|access-date=January 19, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
Bastille version
{{Infobox song
| name = Can't Fight This Feeling
| cover = Cantfightthisfeelingbastille.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bastille featuring London Contemporary Orchestra
| album = Doom Days: This Got Out of Hand Edition
| released = November 19, 2019
| recorded = 2019
| genre =
| length = 3:18
| label = Virgin EMI Records
| writer = Kevin Cronin
| producer =
| chronology = Bastille singles
| prev_title = Another Place
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = What You Gonna Do???
| next_year = 2020
}}
In 2019, English indie pop band Bastille released a cover version of the song, featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra. It was released on November 19, 2019, by Virgin EMI Records. The song was selected as the soundtrack to the 2019 John Lewis Christmas advert.{{cite web|url=https://www.johnlewis.com/?s_afcid=af_78888&tmad=c&awc=1203_1573741213_a05ca6c9835eaff0aa3ae7606e7717eb&tmcampid=48|title=The John Lewis & Partners Christmas Advert|date=14 November 2019|website=johnlewis.com|access-date=14 November 2019}}{{cite tweet|user=jlandpartners|author=John Lewis & Partners|number=1194936465429581825|date=14 November 2019|title=Thank you @bastilledan for soundtracking the story of Edgar with this year's song! #ExcitableEdgar}}
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019–2020)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|23|artist=Bastille feat. London Contemporary Orchestra|song=Can't Fight This Feeling|rowheader=true|accessdate=1 February 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardeurodigital|7|artist=Bastille|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 5, 2020}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|4|date=20191129|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 November 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UK|39|date=20191129|rowheader=true|accessdate=30 November 2019}} |
Other versions
- In 2024, American singer JoJo released a cover of "Can't Fight This Feeling"; the song was from the soundtrack to the film Lisa Frankenstein.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1LFGHlyQQeYJ9rpZMF1idE?si=-i2EgfvYRkm-6R7PbfnPHQ|title=JoJo - Can't Fight This Feeling|website=Spotify|date=February 9, 2024|access-date=February 29, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jojo-cant-fight-this-feeling-lisa-frankenstein-1234964808/|title= JoJo Goes Full REO Speedwagon for ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Song|website=Rolling Stone|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=February 8, 2024|access-date=February 29, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{REO Speedwagon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Virgin EMI Records singles
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Kevin Cronin
Category:Song recordings produced by Gary Richrath
Category:Song recordings produced by Kevin Cronin