Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We Belong | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 121^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2023), we recollect and reflect on “Up Where We Belong” by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 121^st edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2023), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Up Where We Belong”, performed by 🎙 Joe Cocker and 🎙 Jennifer Warnes.

“Love lift us up where we belong / Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high.” Ah, 🎵 “Up Where We Belong”, one of the great pop classics from the 1980s.  “Up Where We Belong” enlisted the talents of the late, great English singer 🎙 Joe Cocker (1944 – 2014) and 🎙 Jennifer Warnes (1947 – ).  The chorus continues, in all its glory, “Love lift us up where we belong / Far from the world below, up where the clear winds blow.” Who penned this highlight from the 💿 An Office and a Gentleman Soundtrack (1982)? That would be 🎼 ✍ Bernard Nitzsche and Buffy Sainte-Marie.  Kudos to them!

It should come as no surprise that “Up Where We Belong” is a decorated classic.  First of all, it peaked at no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Secondly, it won the 🏆 Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocals, the sole Grammy win by Cocker. As for Warnes, she would win a second 🏆 Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for another gargantuan gem, 🎵 “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life”.  Of course, songwriters Nitzsche and Sainte-Marie would be awarded the highly coveted 🏆 Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1983. “Up Where We Belong” was THAT song.

Besides the catchy chorus, where the chemistry between Cocker and Warnes is incredible, the other sections of the song, and the respective solo vocals are sweet too.  Jennifer starts things off, setting the tone: “Who knows what tomorrow brings / In a world few hearts survive.” Sigh.  Of course, the always distinct and expressive Cocker puts his stamp on the song, singing the second half of the first verse, as well as the following refrain (or pre-chorus if you will). In the second verse, Cocker sings first, followed by Warnes. Beyond the love-driven songwriting, and elite vocal performance, and tuneful melodies, the production shines with its palette of keys shining particularly bright. 🎵 “Up Where We Belong” is a timeless classic that speaks for itself.

🎙 Joe Cocker • 💿 Ultimate Collection • 🏷 UMG Recordings, Inc. • 🗓 2004

Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes, Up Where We Belong: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 121 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; John Alan Sperry, PIRO via  Pixabay]