Square Rooms
"Square Rooms" is a New Wave song recorded by American singer, actor and producer Al Corley. It was the first single from his album of he same name. First released in 1984, the song was a hit in some European countries and a minor hit in the U.S. in 1985.
Background and writing
After two seasons playing one of the first gay leading characters an American TV series, Dynasty, Al Corley left the nighttime soap opera to become a singer. With Harold Faltermeyer and Peter John Woods, he composed the text of his first song, "Square Rooms."
The media-savvy singer affected the brooding look and attitude popular among pop stars and GQ models at the time: pouty, dark glances and tousled hair. His choice of image worked best in France, where his television performances elicited the unbridled enthusiasm of teenage girls. However, according to Elia Habib, a French charts specialist, his success was not only based on his physical appearance. Indeed, "Square Rooms"' music had a large popular appeal and had a production designed for the dance floor. It was produced and composed by the German musician Harold Faltermeyer, who had previously arranged "Self Control", a worldwide pop and dance-floor smash for Laura Branigan in 1984 which featured a similar vocal hook. Faltermeyer would achieve his greatest personal success later the same year, composing, performing and producing the score to Beverly Hills Cop, a 1984 film directed by Martin Brest, including its hit instrumental theme, "Axel F"[1].
Chart performances
"Square Rooms" was released first in Switzerland, where it was a success, peaking at #6 on October 21, 1984, and staying in the top 30 for ten weeks[2].
The single debuted at number 47 in the French charts on January 5, 1985. It climbed quickly and was #1 for five nonconsecutive weeks, from March 9 to April 13, 1985. After its peak, it lingered on the charts until its 27th week, on July 20, 1985.[2]
The song also achieved success in Italy (#12), Germany (#13) and Austria where it reached #15 in April 1985.[2]
"Square Rooms" was released last in Corley's native U.S., where the single was only a minor pop hit, reaching #80 on the Hot 100 on June 1, 1985.[3] American dancefloors were more receptive than its airwaves; Corley reached #26 on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart the week of June 22, 1985.[4]
After this first success, Corley recorded a second single, "Cold Dresses", also written by himself and produced by Harold Faltermeyer. That single spent 17 weeks on the French charts, peaking at #5 in September. A third single there, "Face To Face", was only a minor hit.
A French cover was recorded by France Lise under the title "On vit à deux".[5]
Formats and track listings
Vorlage:Col-begin Vorlage:Col-2
- 7" single
- "Square Rooms" — 3:40
- "Don't Play With Me" — 4:20
- 12" maxi
- "Square Rooms" (long version) — 8:02
- "Square Rooms" (single version) — 3:40
- "Don't Play With Me" — 4:20
- The 12-inch (long) version includes an entire additional verse prior to the first chorus. This verse is excised in both the single and album versions of the song.
Charts
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Singles Chart[2] | 6 |
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
| Austrian Singles Chart[2] | 15 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 13 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart[2] | 1 |
| German Singles Chart[2] | 13 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] | 80 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Play Chart[6] | 26 |
Vorlage:Start box Vorlage:S-bef Vorlage:S-ttl Vorlage:S-aft Vorlage:S-bef Vorlage:S-ttl Vorlage:End box
References
- ↑ Elia Habib, Muz hit. tubes, 2002, p. 35 (ISBN 2-9518832-0-X)
- ↑ a b c d e f g "Square Rooms" in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved December 16, 2007)
- ↑ Billboard.com
- ↑ Billboard.com
- ↑ Nos années Top, clips et 45 tours : 1984-1991, Marc Lemonier, 2008, p. 31-32 (ISBN 225807648X)
- ↑ a b Billboard [Square Rooms bei AllMusic (englisch) Allmusic.com] (Retrieved September 14, 2008)