Loverboy (Billy Ocean song)
"Loverboy" was Billy Ocean's second single from his 1984 album, Suddenly. It was produced by Keith Diamond and reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (behind "Careless Whisper" by Wham!)[1] as well as hitting number 20 on the soul chart,[2] and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1985.[3] It also reached the top spot of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the U.S., in an extended version.[4] The track was released on the Jive label under the catalogue reference, JIVE 80.[3] The song was played in the first episode of the long-running BBC One medical drama Casualty on 6 September 1986.
"Loverboy" | ||||
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Standard artwork; the US release has a different front cover | ||||
Single by Billy Ocean | ||||
from the album Suddenly | ||||
Released | 15 November 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1984 | |||
Genre | Pop, Dance-pop | |||
Length | 5:15 (album version) 4:11 (single version) 3:58 (US single version) 8:08 (extended version) | |||
Label | Jive | |||
Songwriter(s) | Keith Diamond, Billy Ocean, Robert John "Mutt" Lange | |||
Producer(s) | Keith Diamond Robert John "Mutt" Lange (exec.) | |||
Billy Ocean singles chronology | ||||
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The single was also a massive success in South Africa, reaching No. 1 on the Springbok Charts, remaining in that position for 11 of the 26 weeks it charted. It was also the No. 1 single of 1985 on that country's year-end charts.
Music video
The sci-fi-themed music video was directed by Maurice Phillips[5] and it was shot at Durdle Door in Dorset, England, and features an alien rider on horseback riding up the coast to a bar built inside a cave. He tries to attract the attention of a female alien inside the cave, and after he shoots her partner with a laser, they ride off on the horse together at the end. The video is interspersed with scenes of Ocean (appearing in a pyramid hologram) performing the song.[6]
Track listings
7": Jive / JS1-9284 (US) JIVE 80 (UK)
- "Loverboy" - 3:58
- "Loverboy" (Dub Mix) - 4:59 [7]
12": Jive / JD1-9280 (US)
- "Loverboy" (Extended Club Remix) - 8:08
- "Loverboy" (Single Version) - 4:12
- "Loverboy" (Dub Mix) - 4:59 [8]
12": Jive / JIVE T 80 (UK - Limited Edition)
- "Loverboy" (Extended Club Remix) - 8:08
- "Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)"
- "Loverboy" (Dub Mix) - 4:59 [9]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Notable appearances in other media
- The song was played in an episode of the American television drama series The Fall Guy.
- The song was featured in a 1985 episode of the US daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless.
- The song was played in the pilot episode of Red Oaks.
- The song was played in the first episode of British television medical soap Casualty.
- The song was ranked by the "80 of the 80s" podcast as #38 of the decade.[14]
Boystar version
"Loverboy" | |
---|---|
Single by Boystar | |
Released | 6 October 2002 |
Recorded | 2002 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 3:37 |
Label | MRA Entertainment |
Songwriter(s) | Keith Diamond, Billy Ocean, Robert John "Mutt" Lange |
In 2002, Australian group "Boystar", consisting of Ian Starr, Decklyn Jaxx and Steven Childs, released a cover version of "Loverboy". It was their first and only release. it debuted at peaked at #12 on the ARIA singles chart.[15]
Track listing
"Loverboy" was released on a 5-track CD single[16]
- "Loverboy" (Radio Edit) (3:37)
- "This Ain't Love" (3:06)
- "Loverboy" (Diego V Euro Club) (5:21)
- "Loverboy" (DJ Nikko Dirty Club) (4:14)
- "Loverboy" (Diego V RNB) (4:30)
Other versions
- 2001: Jess & Crabbe (In Your Eer)
References
- "Billboard Hot 100". 23 February 1985. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 436.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 402–403. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 192.
- "Billy Ocean: Loverboy (1984)". IMDb. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- "Loverboy music video". Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- "Discogs.com - Billy Ocean "Loverboy" 7"". Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- "Discogs.com - Billy Ocean "Loverboy" 12"". Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- "Discogs.com - Billy Ocean "Loverboy" 12"". Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Ultratop.be – Billy Ocean – Loverboy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1985". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- "1985 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 97 no. 52. 28 December 1985. p. T-21.
- CK1, DJ. "#38: Billy Ocean - Loverboy". 80 of the 80s Music Podcast. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- Hung, Steffen. "australian-charts.com - Boystar - Loverboy".
- "Boystar - Loverboy".