Kool & The Gang, Cherish | Throwback Vibez

In the 130^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Cherish” by Kool & The Gang. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 130^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Cherish”, performed by Kool & The Gang. 

Theme & Lyrics

“Let’s cherish every moment we have been given / For time is passing by.” So true, Kool & The Gang.  The R&B collective is responsible for a host of hits, including “Cherish”, which just missed the top spot on the pop charts in 1985. It was the highest charting of the two top 10 hits from the group’s 1984 album, Emergency.  “Cherish” is an exquisitely produced, midtempo ballad that encourages cherishing love. “If you receive your calling before I wake / Could I make it through the night?” It is, indeed, food for thought.

The chorus, of course, serves as the centerpiece of “Cherish,” repeating the titular lyric a total of five times:

“Cherish the love we have

We should cherish the life we live

Cherish the love, cherish the life, cherish the love.”

The words are simple but absolutely prudent – sound, sound advice.  The second verse focuses on an ever-changing world highlighting the fact that “Love will stand the test of time.” Good stuff! Also great is the following lyrics: “The next life that we live in remains to be seen / Will you be by my side?” We can only hope, right?

Final Thoughts

Oh, my goodness, do I cherish the musical gift that Kool & The Gang unleashed with “Cherish”.  Yes, the collective’s ace-in-the-hole is “Celebration” rightfully, but “Cherish” is absolutely stunning.  It is a solid representation of the adult contemporary brand of R&B that evolved in the 1980s. While it sounds characteristic of the era, it certainly does NOT sound like an anachronism in the 2020s.  This is an epic R&B joint!

Kool & The Gang • Emergency • UMG Recordings Inc. • 1984

Kool & The Gang, “Cherish”: Throwback Vibez No. 130 (2022) [: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype, UMG Recordings Inc.]