Cherish by Kool & the Gang

Album: Emergency (1984)

Charted: 4 2

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

While recording their Emergency album, Kool & the Gang decided to record in the Bahamas at Compass Point Studios in Nassau. While working along the beach, lead singer James "J.T." Taylor watched the band members' children happily at play and thought to himself, "How blessed we are. God has been good to us and we should cherish it."

Taylor submitted the idea to the band's bass player, Robert "Kool" Bell, who ran with it. The result was "Cherish," a song about giving thanks for the lives we've built with our loved ones.
If you got in a time machine in 1975 and set it ahead 10 years, you'd never guess that "Cherish" was a Kool & the Gang song. And if you were a fan of their early sound, you'd be horrified.

The group landed their first big hits in 1973 with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging," funky stuff powered by bass grooves and a mighty horn section. Back then, they didn't have a true lead singer - the vocals just weren't that important. On "Jungle Boogie," the lead vocals were by their roadie, who just ad-libbed like "get down with the boogie!"

When disco hit, their fortunes faded, so they reeled in J.T. Taylor to provide them with a frontman. This meant they could make more traditional pop songs with actual verse lyrics. At first, those songs were infused with their signature funk, "Ladies Night" and "Celebration," for example. But then they really softened their sound, particularly in 1983 with "Joanna," and by the time they released "Cherish," the horns were muted and they were digging for mellow gold. It worked out well - the song went to #2 (held back by "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits) to become their biggest chart hit outside of "Celebration." They had a few more hits, including "Victory" and "Stone Love," but in 1988, Taylor left to go solo and the hits dried up.

"Cherish" was a #1 R&B hit and earned the group many new fans, but their legacy is as a party band. When they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2024, they played all funky stuff in their medley of hits, ending with their showstopper, "Celebration."
"Cherish" was featured in the 2009 comedy 17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Matthew Perry. Soon after it was released in 1985, it was used in an episode of The Facts Of Life; in 2024 it showed up on The Simpsons episode "Cremains Of The Day."
Ronald Bell, the band's saxophonist and music director, started collecting lots of new music equipment at the time, including a piece included on this track: a drum machine.
Ronald furnished the track and gave it to Taylor to write the lyrics, who said it was the first time he'd ever written a song in one sitting without any changes. Producer Jim Bonnefond did want to overhaul the song with new lyrics, though, and even brought in songwriter Sandy Linzer for the task. But Linzer wasn't having it. "They used maybe a couple of lines in the chorus that I gave them gratis, but I thought the song was perfect," he told Billboard.
The opening line establishes this song on the beach:

Let's take a walk together near the ocean shore

The video takes place on the shore, and their producer couldn't resist the urge to put the sounds of seagulls and waves into the mix to set the scene. Otis Redding's classic "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" did so as well.
This song had special meaning for Robert "Kool" Bell, and his brother Ronald, who was also in the band. They found their father was listening to the song when he died in October 1985.

Comments: 12

Helen H from Manchester EnglandMy favourite song, always has been,always will be, it’s rarely played on the radio so when it is on I get so excited and nearly give my husband a heart attack because I shriek and yell ‘my songs on!’ It evokes an emotion in me that no other song does and that to me is the epitome of a great song.
Wilbert Adamsel from Los AngelesI Would Like To Know Who Is The Woman That Was THE MERMAID~ J.T.'s Love Interest!!
Simon Bafana Mahlangu from Kwamhlanga I feel blessed with this song
Mark Griffin from Sandiego Ca.This song has the perfect intro and after that it only gets better. It sounds like it takes place throughout a couples life time, and the line “ if you receive your calling before I Awake” reminds me of the couple when they’re In the final days of there life, holding hands as they drift of to sleep.
Simple beautiful. I get choked up every time I hear this song! Thank you for not changing the words.
Wilbert Adamsel from Los AngelesI'm Trying To Find Out Who Was The Lady That Played the Mermaid/ J.T.'s Love Interest.
Rick from Toms River, NjThe original single release had birds in the beginning. I know because I created the sound with a shot glass on my guitar strings. Why they made so many confusing mixes much later is beyond me. You can't even find the original release any more. You now have to suffer with out of tune sax lines lol... The "birds" must have died...
Sabrina from Corvallis, OrThis is my favorite Kool and the Gang song of all times. The video is simply beautiful with the beach scenes. I can imagine a great many couples have adopted this song as "their song" over the years.
Jim from Hershey, PaThis is my favorite song of all-time! This song is about the importance of love and life itself.

If you have someone special in your life, you are very blessed.

Cherish the Love Cherish the Life
Kelly from Terre Haute, InI have loved this song from the very first time that I heard it as a teenager. I heard it on the radio at a restaurant the other day and I went nuts. I started singing and swaying and felt like a teenager. My 10 year old son looked and me like I was a kook. He loves 80's music too and said "I think I have heard this song before." I love Kool and the Gang.....my favs....Cherish and their earlier hit Celebration.

I am now a registered nurse at a hospice company (travel nurse) and we are to nominate a song that describes our company and what we stand for.....I am going to submit my request for Cherish. For one must cherish each moment in life.....especially at the end of one's life.

Thanks for the great music. Rock on!!
Lisa from Fort Worth, Txthis song is pretty.....it was played at my cousins wedding.....memories
Tammy from Anchorage, AkDearest Kool & The Gang
I like others have listened to this song since I was a child. I love all your music, but this song holds a Special Magic for me. When ever my friends and I go out they have me sing this song. I lost a child in 1990, and this song I dedicated to Alexander Vaughn as well as to the son that I still have, Donovan Ray, This song is dedicated to my family and loved ones and to my Soul Mate, when I finally find him. All My Love to your Gang, Tammy Darlene Stenson
Georgina from Laredo, Txi love this song it remind me when i was a little girl and i would lip sing this song with my friends in 1985

see more comments

More Songfacts:

She BangsRicky Martin

The Ricky Martin song "She Bangs" found new life when William Hung performed it so horribly on a 2004 episode of American Idol that it went viral.

Big Yellow TaxiJoni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi" is about the commercialization of Hawaii. On her first trip to the islands, she looked out of her hotel window and saw a parking lot as far as the eye could see.

Rock LobsterThe B-52s

Sea creatures mentioned in "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's include a jellyfish, piranha, bikini whale and narwhal.

PillowtalkZayn

Zayn's "Pillowtalk" reached #1 on the Hot 100, something his former One Direction bandmates never achieved.

I Kissed a GirlKaty Perry

Katy Perry's breakout hit, "I Kissed A Girl," was surprising to those familiar with her past: Her parents were pastors and she started off singing Christian music.

I'm A BelieverThe Monkees

Neil Diamond wrote "I'm A Believer" early in his career. It was a hit for The Monkees and revived by Smash Mouth in 2001 for the movie Shrek, helping make Diamond cool again.