Strong Enough (Cher song)

"Strong Enough" is a song by American recording artist Cher from her twenty-second studio album Believe (1998). The song was released as the second single from the album. It was released on February 19, 1999 by Warner Bros, and WEA. The song's composition and musical style is strongly reminiscent of 1970s disco music. The song received positive reviews from music critics, many calling it a highlight to Believe. The song had less success in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number fifty-seven, but did top the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play charts. It also went to number one in Hungary and into the top ten in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

"Strong Enough"
Single by Cher
from the album Believe
ReleasedFebruary 19, 1999
Recorded1998
GenreDisco
Length
  • 3:44 (album version)
  • 3:33 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mark Taylor
Cher singles chronology
"Believe"
(1998)		 "Strong Enough"
(1999)		 "All or Nothing"
(1999)
Music video
"Strong Enough" on YouTube

Background and reception

"Strong Enough" was released as the second international single from Cher's twenty-third studio album Believe, which was released in 1998. However it was not successful in the US until it received more airplay following the release of promotional remixes. The song, along with "Believe", has become one of her most successful songs to date.

"Strong Enough" received favorable reviews from music critics. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet stated that the song "will be as great for the distressed" as Gloria Gaynors' "I Will Survive".[1] AllMusic wrote that "Cher herself merely moves through the beat factory with one drab vocal range, blending butt-shaker."[2] Randy Cordova from The Arizona Republic described the song as a "thumping retro-disco tune".[3] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that it "picks up right where "Believe" left off." He noted that the "retro-disco" song is "irresistibly catchy, jubilant as a prayer revival, and an ideal partner as kids prepare to buddy up with radio as school finishes up. Everything about this anthemic track is obvious from the rust listen: Cher is again in peak form, set in front of a string-laden, thump-happy beat that will have folks tapping toes and snapping fingers from Maine to Minnesota." He also added that "no doubt, this is the biggest no-brainer hit we've heard this year."[4] Matt Stopera and Brian Galindo from BuzzFeed commented, "Always overshadowed by "Believe", "Strong Enough" was also a great '90s dance song!"[5] The Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith said that "this is the most comfortable and relaxed she has ever sounded musically."[6] Irish Independent picked it as one of the "highlights" from the Believe album, noting it as "rousing".[7] Deborah Wilker from Knight Ridder said "Strong Enough" is the best song of the album, calling it a "catchy feminist chant" and "her very own "I Will Survive"".[8]

Chart performance

"Strong Enough" had peaked at number fifty-seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, staying in the charts for twelve weeks. The song did not receive much attention in the United States, but when the promo remixes were released, the song had peaked at number one on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play. It also peaked at number thirty-one on the U.S. Pop Songs, number twenty-nine on the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and number forty on the U.S. Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks.[9]

Elsewhere, the song was successful, mostly getting in the top ten in most countries. The song had peaked at number six in New Zealand, and also peaked at number eleven in Australia.[10] The song was also very well received in Europe. The song peaked at number one in Hungary, and had also peaked at number seven in Finland, until falling out the third week and number three in France, staying in the charts for twenty-four weeks.[11] The song had also peaked at number twenty-one in Sweden, five in Switzerland, four in Austria, eleven in The Netherlands and sixteen in Norway. The song also debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart, until descending the rest of the way, finally finishing at number fifty-six.[12]

Music video
Cher performing "Strong Enough" at her 2014 Dressed to Kill Tour during a gladiator-themed segment of the show.

The music video for Strong Enough was directed by Nigel Dick and was released worldwide in early 1999. A promo VHS tape and CD-R were also released in the U.S., but are very rare. The video promo also includes the remixed version of the video.

In this video, Cher is a computer virus and her role is an advisor who tells a bad boyfriend the reasons why his girlfriend (played by Shannyn Sossamon) will leave him. Teens in a party, two women, two robbers and many gothic instrument players also appear in the video.

A couple of months after the release of the original music video for Strong Enough, Dan-O-Rama (best known for his work remixing videos) created the "Vocal Club Edit" video for this song. He used the Strong Enough (Pumpin' Dolls Vocal Epic Club) remix and Club 69 Future Edit* promo only for DJs in 2000. The original music video is also featured on 'The Very Best Of Cher: The Video Hits Collection'

Live performances

Cher performed the song on the following concert tours:

Legacy

In 2020, the Chicago Tribune listed "Strong Enough" as one of the "25 Pride anthems of all time", and stated that "one could easily interpret the lyrics to be about a repressive society that she is no longer willing to tolerate."[13]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of all single releases of "Strong Enough".

US/Canadian maxi-single (9 44644-2)[14][15]

  1. "Strong Enough"
  2. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Future Anthem Mix 1)
  3. "Strong Enough" (Pumpin' Dolls Vocal Epic Club)
  4. "Strong Enough" (Male Version)
  5. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Phunk Mix)
  6. "Strong Enough" (Marc Andrews Remix Edit)
  7. "Strong Enough" (Pumpin' Dolls Cashmere Club Mix)
  8. "Strong Enough" (D-Bop's Melt Mix)
  9. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Future Anthem Short Mix Edit)
  10. "Strong Enough" (Pumpin' Dolls Radio Edit)

Canadian 2 x 12" vinyl (2 27570)[15][16]

Same track list of the US 2 x 12 Vinyl.[15]

US 2 x 12" vinyl (PRO-A-9719)[15][17]

  • A1. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Future Anthem Mix 2)
  • A2. "Strong Enough"
  • B1. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Phunk Mix)
  • B2. "Strong Enough" (Marc Andrews Remix Edit)
  • C1. "Strong Enough" (Pumpin' Dolls Vocal Epic Club)
  • C2. "Strong Enough" (D-Bop's Melt Mix)
  • D1. "Strong Enough" (Pumpin' Dolls Cashmere Club Mix)
  • D2. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Future Anthem Short Mix)

Japananese Strong Enough/Believe EP (JPN-WPCR-10224 )[15][18]

  1. "Strong Enough"
  2. "Strong Enough" (Pumpin' Dolls Remix Edit = Phat 'N' Phunky Club Mix)
  3. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Future Anthem Mix 2)
  4. "Strong Enough" (Marc Andrews Remix)
  5. "Believe" (Album Version)
  6. "Believe" (Phat'n Dolls Remix Edit = Phat 'N' Phunky Club Mix)
  7. "Believe" (Almighty Definitive)
  8. "Believe" (Club 69 Phunk Club Mix)

UK CD single pt. 1 (WEA 201 CD1)[15][19]

  1. "Strong Enough"
  2. "Strong Enough" (Club 69 Future Anthem Short Mix Edit)
  3. "Strong Enough" (Marc Andrews Remix Edit)

Germany CD single pt. 2 (WEA 201 CD2)[15][20]

  1. "Strong Enough"
  2. "Strong Enough" (Male Version)
  3. "Strong Enough" (D-Bop's Melt Mix)

Promo CD Mexican (PCD1217) [15]

  1. "Strong Enough" (Album Version) 3:44
  2. "Strong Enough" (Marc Andrews Remix Edit) 7:31

Official mixes
  • Album Version (3:44)
  • Edit (3:33)
  • Male Version (3:32)

D-Bop remixes

  • D-Bop's Melt Mix (7:49)

Marc Andrews remixes

  • Marc Andrews Remix (aka "Marc Andrews Remix Edit" on some releases) (7:31)
  • Marc Andrews Remix (Extended) (7:56)

Club 69 remixes

  • Club 69 Future Anthem Mix (11:00)
  • Club 69 Future Anthem Mix (11:00) (Japan single edition)
  • Club 69 Future Anthem Mix (9:25) (Promo only)
  • Club 69 Future Anthem Short Mix (8:56)
  • Club 69 Future Anthem Short Mix Edit (8:39)
  • Club 69 Phunk Mix (8:32)
  • Club 69 Future Anthem Instrumental (11:00)
  • Club 69 Future Anthem Edit (Promo only) (5:33)
  • Club 69 Future Beats (5:29)

Pumpin' Dolls remixes

  • Pumpin' Dolls Cashmere Club Mix (8:34)
  • Pumpin' Dolls Vocal Epic Club (7:22)
  • Pumpin' Dolls Remix Edit (3:48)

Wayne G remix – Not Official

  • Sleaze Sisters Remix (8:59)

Charts and certifications

Cover versions

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