“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” Spends 2,184th week at #1 on Hells Hot 100!
Recognized in 1999 by BMI publishing as the most played record of the century, with over eight million spins, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” is not only an undisputed classic, but a pioneer as well.
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” celebrates another milestone as it spends its 2,184th week - a full forty-two years - at number one on Hells Hot 100. In celebration of this achievement, I sat down with Hells number one dj, Satan, to discuss the durability of this classic recording.
Me: Satan, forty-two years at number one; that’s quite an achievement. To what do you attribute the durability of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” in Hell?
Satan: You know, I’ve given that a lot of thought over the years and I gotta tell ya, it’s all about the raw honesty of that lyric. It’s quite selfish in its observations, much like a paranoiac in the way that it doesn’t take the time to ask why.
Me: The ultimate victim?
Satan: Yea, but it’s something that everyone has felt, or will feel. Even if you find true love, it’s pretty much a given that you’re gonna have your heart broken a few times before, if not after. You know, everyone has noted the way Bill Medley’s opening line, “you never close your eyes, anymore when I kiss your lips” – brilliant, by the way - sounds like a finger is holding the record back from its normal speed but, if you think about it… It’s really more like an aural version of the way your stomach feels when you’ve discovered some horrible truth. ‘Like the realization didn’t come from your head but from deep down in your gut.
Me: But what about the music? It’s a pretty revolutionary pop song. Nothing preceding it ever sounded quite like it.
Satan: It certainly was new. The way it works in those little jazz rhythms, its symphonic structure. And it’s actually a little frightening in places – the percussion at times kinda sounds like it’s gonna hit you back… the bongos on the bridge in particular. But it’s hard to pin down - there are so many hooks within that record that, even now, you can find something new to experience. It’s almost overloaded.
Me: Is there a particular hook or piece that you favor?
Satan: Well, the descending bass thing is as sneaky as.. well, hell. It insinuates something menacing is following the vocalist and kinda underscores that realization thing that I mentioned. You know, first the thought, and then reconciling the thought to a new reality. That’s a nifty little trick. But I really love the open throated “ahhhh” thing that occurs during the bridge – very frightened… pained, a little higher in pitch. I’ll tell you a little known fact about that…
Me: What’s that?
Satan: Well, Phil sure wouldn’t admit it – it’s one of his dirty like secrets - like the fact that he didn’t actually produce “Unchained Melody”…
Me: There’s been rumor…
Satan: He wasn’t even there; it was all Bill Medley. But anyway, the choir on “…Lovin’ Feeling”… that wasn’t just the Blossoms you know…
Me: Well, it’s been documented that Phil had just about everyone he knew in there; Sonny and Cher…
Satan: Yeah, yeah… but that choir was sweetened by not only yours truly, but a little vocal group we have down here.
Me: Wait. You’re telling me that you are on “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”?
Satan: Yep. I was standing right between Cher and Darlene Love.
Me: No way!
Satan: Way! I got Cher’s autograph that day. I knew she was gonna be huge one day… Anyway, I’m a little bit more prominent in the stereo mix but that’s a mess so… But I’m not the only representative from down here. I brought in the Zealot Evangelical Choir for some extra support.
Me: Zealot Evangelical Choir?
Satan: Who better to back up persecution than the evangelicals?
Me: You’ve got a point. I’m just surprised to hear that they’re down there. How did that happen?
Satan: What? You thought they were gonna go to heaven?! Besides, it gives the rest of us a chance to make fun of bad outfits.
Me: Of course. So, I have to mention that I’ve done a little number crunching and it appears that “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” either took a while to hit number one, or hasn’t been number one every week since it was released…
Satan: Philly gave me an acetate and I started spinning it out of the box – it went in at number one. Thank God!
Me: What do you mean?
Satan: The song it replaced was “Dominique” by The Singing Nun. Fifty some odd weeks of that…
Me: Ouch! That, to me, just may be the definition of hell.
Satan: Not on my watch. But anyway, in ’65, I think it was February, The Shangri-Las’ “Give Him A Great Big Kiss” popped up to number one for two weeks.
Me: Really?
Satan: Yea. That whole “he’s good bad, but he’s not evil” still makes me chuckle.
Me: That still leaves about four weeks…
Satan: Well, I don’t like to admit it ‘cause I take pride in the fact that I never manipulate the charts, no matter how much Goldner tried…
Me: Yes…
Satan: Around 1996 I put Debbie Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” at number one for four weeks…
Me: For the love of… um, Satan, why would you do such a cruel thing?
Satan: A bunch of anti-smoking nuts started making noise so… I mean, it’s HELL people! How ya wanna designate no smoking in Hell? Well, I thought it was a good way to shut them up and I thought it was funny as Hell. “You Light Up My Life”, get it?!
Me: That is pretty funny, actually. Do you regret it?
Satan: Yes, actually I do.
Me: Cruel and unusual punishment, and all that?
Satan: Nope. I regret it because it kinda tarnished my reputation. You know, the devil has all the best tunes and all that.
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