Chain Reaction (song)

"Chain Reaction" is an R&B song, sung by Diana Ross, and written by the Bee Gees, with Barry Gibb on backing vocals. The track was released as the second single on November 28, 1985 from her album Eaten Alive, and again in 1986.

This article is about the Diana Ross song. For the John Farnham song, see Chain Reaction (John Farnham song).
"Chain Reaction"
Single by Diana Ross
from the album Eaten Alive
B-side"More And More"
Released28 November 1985 (US) / 13 February 1986 (UK)
Recorded1985
Genre
Length3:49
Label
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)Gibb-Galuten-Richardson
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Eaten Alive"
(1985)		 "Chain Reaction"
(1985)		 "Experience"
(1985)
Music video
"Chain Reaction" on YouTube

According to the Gibbs’ biography, the brothers had initial reservations about offering the song to Ross in case it was too Motown-like for her.

The single became Ross's second No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart. The song also hit No. 1 in Australia, also reaching the top of the charts in Ireland and Zimbabwe. In New Zealand, it peaked at No. 3 and also made the top 5 in South Africa. In 1993, the song broke the UK top 20 again (also breaking the top 40 in the Republic of Ireland and France) when it was re-released to commemorate her 30th anniversary in show business.

The song fared poorly in the US, where it initially peaked at a disappointing No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 late in 1985. A few months later, a remixed version of the song was issued as a single (Ross performed this version of the song on the American Music Awards, which she hosted that year). The new version re-entered the chart and performed better, but with diminished momentum, it stalled at No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 77 on Cash Box.

Music video

At the beginning of the video in black-and-white, Ross enters the TV studio and proceeds to perform the song in front of dancing spectators in a '60s-style live TV. The performance is intercut with a view from the station control room where producers are shown additional scenes appearing in color, confounding them on where the scenes are coming from. Half-way through Ross walking is up a desolate street with barrels of fire littered around and dancers in the background. Careful lighting and fog help create the effect Ross is performing on a real street. It is the only time the street is shown and the video eventually returns to the TV studio performance. The final style of scene has Ross performing in what is supposed to be the glamorous front exterior of the TV studio. A quick shot of the control room is shown with the lead producing yelling in shock or frustration, before the scene continues. It's assumed the producers have lost control of the broadcast. The video ends with intercuts of the TV performance, the exterior, and the control room. The band finishes in the black and white scenes of their show, dancing with the audience and using a combination of both color scenes. A producer gets in a cab from a nervous breakdown.[1]

Charts and certifications

"Chain Reaction '93"
"Chain Reaction '93"
Single by Diana Ross
B-side"Upside Down"
ReleasedJune 1993
Recorded1992
GenreDance
Length3:50
Label
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Diana Ross singles chronology
"When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
(1991)		 "Chain Reaction '93"
(1993)		 "Take Me Higher"
(1995)

In 1993, Diana Ross released "Chain Reaction '93". Producing the remix herself, the single was also successful in the United Kingdom. This version's purely instrumental sound differs it from the original. A music video was not recorded for the song.

Track listing

CD single

  1. Chain Reaction '93 - 3:47
  2. Upside Down - 4:07

12" UK remix single

  1. "Chain Reaction" (Original 12" Version) - 6:50
  2. "Chain Reaction" (Reaction Dub, remix by E-Smoove) - 6:34
  3. "Chain Reaction" (Low End Mix, remix by Dewey B and Spike) - 6:15
  4. "Chain Reaction" (Low End Dub, remix by Dewey B and Spike) - 6:15
  5. "Chain Reaction" (Smoove Reaction Instrumental, remix by E-Smoove) - 8:40

French 2-track CD single

  1. Original Single Version - 3:47
  2. '93 Remix

Italy 12"

  1. "Chain Reaction" (Original Single Version) - 3:47
  2. "Love Hangover" (Tribal Hangover - remix and additional production by Frankie Knuckles for Def Mix Productions) - 9:31
  3. "Upside Down" ('93 Remix - Remix and additional production by Satoshi Tomiie and David Morales for Def Mix Productions.) - 8:09
  4. "Upside Down" (Dub 2 - Remix and additional production by Satoshi Tomiie and David Morales for Def Mix Productions.) - 7:37
  5. "Someday We'll Be Together" ('93 Remix - Remix and additional production by Frankie Knuckles for Def Mix Productions) - 8:45

Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 20

Steps version
"Chain Reaction"
Single by Steps
from the album Gold: Greatest Hits
B-side"Stop Me From Loving You"
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2001
Recorded2001
GenrePop
Length3:56
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
Producer(s)Graham Stack & Mark Taylor
Steps singles chronology
"Here and Now / You'll Be Sorry"
(2001)		 "Chain Reaction"
(2001)		 "Words Are Not Enough" / "I Know Him So Well"
(2001)

In 2001, British pop group Steps covered "Chain Reaction". The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, behind Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head". The song was performed by the top four finalists on the sixth season of American Idol.

Music video

The first scene is two paramedics lifting a patient from the ambulance onto the ground on a stretcher. H is the patient and Lee is one of the paramedics. Then, Lee pushes H into the hospital. The next scene is a receptionist and this turns out to be Claire. She sings her verse. Then, the camera goes over to a nurse who is Faye. She sings her verse. Then, the camera follows Faye over to Lee and H. We now know that Faye loves Lee so she touches his hand. Then Faye calls Claire over and they start making their way over to the operating theatre. Lee then calls a doctor over which turns out to be Lisa. We now also know that Lisa loves H.

The next scene is H singing his verse while the others are acting their parts. Then, Lisa sings her verse and then Faye holds the operating camera and the light shines into the camera and then we see Steps in a change of clothes which are brown and white. We also see them dancing. They have close up shots and are each seen with a particular piece of furniture. Claire appears with a corner sofa. Faye appears on a furry staircase. Lee appears with a set of five dining chairs. Lisa appears with three tall pillar lamps, while H appears with a high back armchair. The video ends with Steps close together singing the last line of the song. The video was filmed at Greenwich Hospital and a studio in London.

Track listings

CD1

  1. Chain Reaction - 3:56
  2. One for Sorrow [Tony Moran US Remix] - 3:29
  3. Stop Me From Loving You - 3:45

CD2 (Limited Edition Club Mixes CD - Sold Out On Day Of Release)

  1. Chain Reaction [Graham Stack Extended Mix] - 6:28
  2. One for Sorrow [Tony Moran Extended Club Mix] - 6:38
  3. One for Sorrow [Sleazesisters 12" Anthem Mix] - 6:48

Cassette single

  1. Chain Reaction - 3:56
  2. One for Sorrow [Tony Moran US Remix] - 3:29

Australian CD Single (JIVE/EBUL)

  1. Chain Reaction 3:56
  2. One For Sorrow (Tony Moran US Remix) 3:29
  3. Stop Me From Loving You 3:45

CDR UK EBUL/JIVE, 2001 [PROMO ONLY]

  1. Chain Reaction (Kool De Sac Mix) 8.03
  2. Chain Reaction (Xenomania Remix) 6.19
  3. Chain Reaction (Xenomania Trance Remix) 7.33
  4. Chain Reaction (Hit Squad Remix) 6.30
  5. Chain Reaction (Tribal Remix) 4.19

Remixes
  • Chain Reaction (Graham Stack Extended Mix)
  • Chain Reaction (Xenomania Mix)
  • Chain Reaction (Almighty Mix)
  • Chain Reaction (Hit Squad Mix)
  • Chain Reaction (Xenomania Edit)

Personnel

Charts and certifications

Other cover versions
  • The Shadows did an instrumental version on Simply Shadows (1987).
  • Cliff Richard did a cover with Steps in 2001 on the ITV show Cliff Richard: The Hits I Missed.
  • Australian group Young Divas recorded a cover of the song for their second album New Attitude, released in 2007.
  • Swedish pop-dance singer Daniela Vecchia recorded cover of the song and released it as a stand-alone CD single in January 2010.
  • UK car insurance comparison site Confused.com covered the song on a 2011 advert starring Louise Dearman.[32]

See also

References
  1. "Diana Ross - Chain Reaction". Dailymotion.com. 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  4. Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Mississauga, Ontario: Music Data Canada. ISBN 1-896-594-13-1.
  5. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
  6. "Lescharts.com – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction" (in French). Les classement single.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Diana Ross". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. "Charts.nz – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction". Top 40 Singles.
  10. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  11. "Swisscharts.com – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction". Swiss Singles Chart.
  12. "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  13. "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. "Diana Ross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  15. "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  16. "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  18. "End of Year Charts 1986". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  19. "Top 100 1986 - UK Music Charts". www.uk-charts.top-source.info.
  20. "1986 Year End". www.bullfrogspond.com.
  21. "British single certifications – Diana Ross – Chain Reaction". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Chain Reaction in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chain Reaction". Irish Singles Chart.
  23. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  24. "Australian-charts.com – Steps – Chain Reaction". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  25. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19 no. 42. 13 October 2001. p. 15. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  26. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Chain Reaction". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  27. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  29. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  30. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  31. "British single certifications – Steps – Chain Reaction". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Chain Reaction in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  32. "Confused.com". February 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-01-13. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
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