Dark Lady (song)
"Dark Lady" | ||||
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MCA | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Johnny Durrill | |||
Producer(s) | Snuff Garrett | |||
Cher singles chronology | ||||
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"Dark Lady" is a folk song recorded by American singer-actress Cher, and the title selection from her eleventh studio album, Dark Lady. Written and composed by John Robert "Johnny" Durrill and produced by Snuff Garrett, it was released as the album's first single in early 1974. The song became Cher's third solo U.S. number 1 hit on March 23, 1974.
Song information and story
The song was written and composed by the Ventures' keyboard player Johnny Durrill. He recalled: "I spent a week in his [Snuff Garrett's] office playing him songs, one of which Cher recorded. Later, when I was on tour in Japan with the Ventures, I was writing an interesting song. I telegraphed the unfinished lyrics to Garrett. He said to 'make sure the bitch kills him.' Hence, in the song both the lover and fortune teller were killed."[2]
The critic Peter Fawthrop, writing for AllMusic, called this song a "grimly comedic folk song."[3]
The "Dark Lady" of the song's title is a
In 1974, "Dark Lady" topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for one week, becoming Cher's third solo #1 hit. The song became a top 10 hit in Norway and a top 20 hit in the Netherlands. Like "Half-Breed," the song struggled in West Germany and the UK, though it managed to reach top 40 status in the UK.
Music video
There are two versions of the video. The first version of the video is a live performance that was aired in the third season of The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour in 1973. In this performance Cher was dressed all in black and was wearing a black veil on her head. The second version of the video is an animated cartoon done by John David Wilson's animation studio; this second video follows the whole story of the song.
In 2002, a special remix medley was created by Dan-O-Rama for a video montage that was used in Cher's
In 1999, Cher performed this song throughout her
Cher performed the song on the following concert tours/Las Vegas residencies:
- Do You Believe? Tour
- The Farewell Tour
- Cher at the Colosseum
- Dressed to Kill Tour
- Classic Cher
- Here We Go Again Tour (Oceanian leg only)
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Formats and track listing
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Credits and personnel
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2021) |
- Cher – vocals
- John "Johnny" Durrell – lyrics
- Snuff Garrett – producer[20]
- Ronnie Aldrich[21]
- D. Redston[21]
- R. Williams[21]
- Longines Symphone[21]
- Magnetronics[21]
Cover versions
In 1974 Lea Laven recorded the Finnish rendering of "Dark Lady" entitled "Tumma nainen". "Tumma nainen" was also recorded by Ami Aspelund for her 1974 album Ami and also by Jean S. for their 2003 album Sammakkoprinssi.[citation needed]
In the same year, Argentinian singer Johnny Tedesco recorded a Spanish version called "Te quiero tanto (Dulce gitana)".
References
- ^ Breihan, Tom (May 10, 2019). "The Number Ones: Cher's "Dark Lady"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
But that doesn't make it a satisfying pop-music experience. "Dark Lady" is just a dull, clumsy song...
- ^ "Dark Lady". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
- ^ Peter Fawthrop. "Dark Lady - Cher | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ "The Hits of Cher: The Danish Hits of Cher". Cherhits.blogspot.dk. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Cher - Dark Lady". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ "Flavour of New Zealand, 4 May 1974". Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Cher - Dark Lady". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^ Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts (C)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Top 100 1974-03-30". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
- ^ Australian-charts.com
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1974". Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ "Billboard Year-End Charts 1974" (PDF).
- ^ "American single certifications – Cher – Dark Lady". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "The Number Ones: Cher's "Dark Lady"". Stereogum. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ a b c d e "ASCAP Repertory". ASCAP. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
External links
- Cher - Official Site
- Cher - Dark Lady on YouTube