10 Favourite Cher Songs

By Waiching 

Considered one of the greatest and most legendary pop stars and divas of all time, Cher's startling career spans over 7 decades (crikey): with her beginnings as one half of Sonny and Cher, she later on pursued a solo pop career. A trendsetter in fashion, music, movies and an icon, she has consolidated her place alongside the likes of Madonna, Tina Turner and countless other female pop singers; alas, there are very, very few singers/performers who have sustained longevity through a back catalogue that goes as far back as the 1960s. In 2017, Cher nabbed the Billboard Icon Award. She also made history by becoming the only artist to have a #1 single on the Billboard chart in 6 decades. 

1998's Believe was huge, but it was also autotuned. Her distinctive voice, - which in general without the dance beat and autotune-, is incredible - was autotuned; comparing that song to her efforts from the 1980s and 1990s where they were leaning towards soft-rock and she switched gears from soft-rock to Motown, briefly that is, to adult contemporary, dance and back to pop through her ABBA covers, the consensus is that her older, classic material still rules. 

I've seen a lot of comments made about Cher in regard to her having plastic surgery, moreso than her vocals. Of all the female powerhouse pop vocalists of the 20th century, I would cite Cher, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Donna Summer, and Aretha Franklin, but a couple in that list. 

Here are my selections when it comes to Cher's songs:  

1. Love and Understanding (1991) - one of the best songs written for her, produced by Guy Roche (Celine Dion's If You Asked Me To & Brandy's Almost Doesn't Count), and performed by Cher, it is hugely uplifting, and rousing, framed with orchestral strings and a rock beat; though it is not as widely known as Turn Back Time and Believe, Love and Understanding is, nonetheless, musically and lyrically fantastic. Yet it doesn't get enough praise and recognition, which is a shame. It is though my ultimate top Cher pick 

2. If I Could Turn Back Time (1989) - a quintessential power ballad of the 1980s and written by one of the greatest songwriters, Diane Warren (who was also responsible for Love and Understanding) that still stands the test of time, 4 decades later. If I Could Turn Back Time was and still, is also the iconic & grandiose anthem that propelled Cher's pop career in a big way & it helped her gain worldwide recognition. After her disco-themed work of the 1970s, tracks such as If I Could Turn Back Time and You Wouldn't Know Love in the 1980s enabled Cher to break new ground in the soft rock-pop vein.  

3. Not Enough Love in The World (1995) - the third single off It's A Man's World album originally performed by Don Henley as a soft rock song; production and vocal-wise, I prefer this one over the original. The LP itself contains several cover versions from male artists; the other notable one is Walking in Memphis. The 1995 version of Not Enough Love in The World has a more contemporary '90s- pop feel and as cover versions by Cher go, this is one of her best -yet also it is vastly (& criminally) overlooked; moving, swaying, very catchy, but also through It's A Man's World, it amounts to being what is, sound-wise, and arguably her most mature album to date.  

4. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) (1990) - another cover made famous by Cher and was on the soundtrack of the comedy-drama, Mermaids, this version topped the charts. With her powerhouse vocals, she has always been able to belt out a song in a distinctive voice too. Motown-ish and harking back to the 1960s with the original by Betty Everett, The Shoop Shoop Song became Cher's first solo #1 song in the U.K  

5. All or Nothing (1999) - the follow-up to the massive Believe and Strong Enough, it leans more towards the former as a dance-pop number and yet compared to those two songs, isn't and wasn't as massive although it charted at #1 in the U.S on the dance club songs and did extremely well in the Czech Republic, Finland and Hungary. However, it didn't chart on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. Whilst many will opt for Believe, it is All or Nothing as my pick out of her dance-pop efforts 

6. Just Like Jesse James (1989) - one of Cher's least favourites, which is saying something as lyrically and musically, it is amazing. This country-style bop has a slower pace (it is very restrained) and it takes a while until it gets to the chorus but the production and musically, it is so polished. The title is in reference to the real-life wild West bandit, Jesse James 

7. I'll Never Stop Loving You (1991) - Heart did a version of this song as well, one year earlier and did it first; a melodic power ballad and a hidden gem that shouldn't be slept on. Its composition sounds like something that is being sung at the Olympics or on presidential inauguration day 

8.  Walking In Memphis (1995) - a cover of the Marc Cohan track, released in the mid-1990s, this rendition rocks. Never quite understood the criticism Cher received for it. Cher's take is livelier and more listenable in contrast to the original.   


9. Perfection featuring Bonnie Tyler and Darlene Love (1987) tied with Working Girl - this rocker is akin to Emotional Fire, the latter, Working Girl, remained an unreleased track, and another one that showcases Cher's vocal range 

10. You Wouldn't Know Love (1989) - lyrics by Michael Bolton, who also recorded his own version, and sandwiched in-between Just like Jesse James and Heart of Stone, composition-wise. Bolton's rendition has a little bit of soul, whereas this one goes down the soft-rock MOR, power ballad route, laced with backing vocals & a booming and rousing chorus 



Honourable Mentions: *Save Up All Your Tears, *Could've Been You, When Love Calls Your Name, *I Found Someone, *We All Sleep Alone, One by One (UK version), Believe, *Emotional Fire, Starting Over, Takin' Back My Heart, Alive Again, Real Love, Name of the Game, *Gypsies Tramps & Thieves, *Dangerous Times, Different Kind of Love Song, Still in Love With You, Starting Over, *Dov'e I'amore (remix), The Greatest Thing feat. Lady Gaga, *Woman's World, *Red, Love So High