Bridge to Your Heart
Encyclopedia
"Bridge to Your Heart" is a song by English pop duo Wax
from their second studio album American English
(1987).
The song became the group's most popular single in their home country of the United Kingdom
, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart
and reaching the top ten in other European countries such as the Netherlands
and Sweden
.
in 1986 spawned the single "Right Between the Eyes". The song became Wax's most successful song in the United States
, reaching #43 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart, the song was considered a commercial failure in the United Kingdom, only reaching #60 on the UK Singles Chart. Several follow-up singles failed to chart.
In the March of 1987, band members Andrew Gold
and Graham Gouldman
started writing and recording songs for the follow-up to Magnetic Heaven, American English. One of these songs was "Bridge to Your Heart".
The song was later released as the album's second single in July 1987, on RCA Records
. The song then debuted at #98 on the UK Singles Chart, and slowly rose to its peak position of #12 on the chart. The song instantly became their breakout hit, and the American English album became the duo's first and only album to chart in the UK, peaking at #59 on the UK Albums Chart
. The song became their only successful hit in the UK; it was their only top 40 hit, making them a one-hit wonder
there. Their only song after the release of "Bridge to Your Heart" to chart was "Anchors Away", which barely scraped the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #95 on the chart.
, opened by Gold shouting "Horn!". The section starts after the song's final verse.
The song's lyrics talk about a failed relationship between a man and a woman, the man trying to rekindle the relationship by promising the woman a new beginning, and that he will treat her better ("I won't make you sad / but I'll be on my best behavior"). He then states on the chorus that he is "building a bridge" to the woman's heart.
, was released in 1987 and featured stop-motion animation, with shifting backgrounds and some scenes with more traditional animation. These scenes follow the context of the song's lyrics.
The video received some MTV
airplay, including Weird Al Yankovic's AL-TV special.
, where two men known as the Singing Builders performed the song during the Talent Trek grand final.
A "Bridge to Your Heart" — 3:51
B "Ready or Not" — 3:31
German maxi-12" single
A "Bridge to Your Heart" (The Unabridged version) — 5:15
B1 "Bridge to Your Heart" (7" version) — 3:51
B2 "Ready or Not" — 3:31
UK/Australian 7" single
A "Bridge to Your Heart" — 3:51
B "Heaven in Her Bed" — 5:36
UK/U.S. 12" single
A "Bridge to Your Heart" (The Unabridged version) — 5:15
B1 "Bridge to Your Heart" (7" version) — 3:51
B2 "Heaven in Her Bed" — 5:36
Wax (pop band)
Wax was a 1980s pop rock group consisting of Andrew Gold and 10cc guitarist/bassist Graham Gouldman. In the US, they were listed as Wax UK. The band is best known for the hit singles "Right Between the Eyes" and "Bridge to Your Heart".-History:...
from their second studio album American English
American English (album)
American English is a 1987 album by Wax, and includes their hit single "Bridge to Your Heart". The album cover, designed by Storm Thorgerson, shows objects that all refer to wax.-Track listing:...
(1987).
The song became the group's most popular single in their home country of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and reaching the top ten in other European countries such as the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Background
The release of the duo's debut album Magnetic HeavenMagnetic Heaven
Magnetic Heaven is a 1986 album by Wax. The album cover, painted by Jason Bradley, shows the band members.-Track listing:All songs were written, arranged and performed by Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman.-Side one:# "Right Between The Eyes" – 4:08...
in 1986 spawned the single "Right Between the Eyes". The song became Wax's most successful song in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, reaching #43 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, the song was considered a commercial failure in the United Kingdom, only reaching #60 on the UK Singles Chart. Several follow-up singles failed to chart.
In the March of 1987, band members Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
and Graham Gouldman
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
started writing and recording songs for the follow-up to Magnetic Heaven, American English. One of these songs was "Bridge to Your Heart".
The song was later released as the album's second single in July 1987, on RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. The song then debuted at #98 on the UK Singles Chart, and slowly rose to its peak position of #12 on the chart. The song instantly became their breakout hit, and the American English album became the duo's first and only album to chart in the UK, peaking at #59 on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. The song became their only successful hit in the UK; it was their only top 40 hit, making them a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
there. Their only song after the release of "Bridge to Your Heart" to chart was "Anchors Away", which barely scraped the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #95 on the chart.
Music and lyrics
The song opens with Gold counting from one to two, backed by drums; he then restarts the countdown, counting to four - "hold it.. NOW!". A majority of the song features Gold singing, backed by drums and pop-influenced music. The song also features a horn sectionHorn section
In music, a horn section can refer to several groups of musicians. It can refer to the musicians in a symphony orchestra who play the horn . In a British-style brass band it refers to the tenor horn players. In popular music, it can also refer to a small group of wind instrumentalists who augment a...
, opened by Gold shouting "Horn!". The section starts after the song's final verse.
The song's lyrics talk about a failed relationship between a man and a woman, the man trying to rekindle the relationship by promising the woman a new beginning, and that he will treat her better ("I won't make you sad / but I'll be on my best behavior"). He then states on the chorus that he is "building a bridge" to the woman's heart.
Music video
The song's music video, directed by Godley & CremeGodley & Creme
Godley & Creme were an English pop music duo composed of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. The pair began releasing albums as a duo after splitting from the pop band 10cc. In 1979 they directed their first music video for their own single "An Englishman in New York"...
, was released in 1987 and featured stop-motion animation, with shifting backgrounds and some scenes with more traditional animation. These scenes follow the context of the song's lyrics.
The video received some MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
airplay, including Weird Al Yankovic's AL-TV special.
In popular culture
It featured on the sixth episode of the first series of Peter Kay's Phoenix NightsPeter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights was a BAFTA-nominated English sitcom about The Phoenix Club, a working men's club in the northern English town of Farnworth, Greater Manchester. The show was written by Neil Fitzmaurice, Peter Kay and Dave Spikey, produced by Goodnight Vienna Productions and Ovation...
, where two men known as the Singing Builders performed the song during the Talent Trek grand final.
Formats and track listings
German 7" singleA "Bridge to Your Heart" — 3:51
B "Ready or Not" — 3:31
German maxi-12" single
A "Bridge to Your Heart" (The Unabridged version) — 5:15
B1 "Bridge to Your Heart" (7" version) — 3:51
B2 "Ready or Not" — 3:31
UK/Australian 7" single
A "Bridge to Your Heart" — 3:51
B "Heaven in Her Bed" — 5:36
UK/U.S. 12" single
A "Bridge to Your Heart" (The Unabridged version) — 5:15
B1 "Bridge to Your Heart" (7" version) — 3:51
B2 "Heaven in Her Bed" — 5:36
Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
6 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
9 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
12 |