Move Closer
| "Move Closer" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Phyllis Nelson | ||||
| Released | 9 February 1985 | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length |
5:54 (album version) 4:35 (single re-recording) 4:01 (radio version) | |||
| Label | Carrere Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Phyllis Nelson | |||
| Phyllis Nelson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Move Closer" is a song by American singer-songwriter Phyllis Nelson, which topped the charts in the United Kingdom in April 1985.[1]
History
Nelson wrote the ballad in 1984. It was a complete departure from the type of music she had been recording; she had been recording dance and disco records, and decided to write her own record because, in her words, "not much music lets you dance close".[2] The lyrics of "Move Closer" were based on a long-term love affair she had with a much younger man in Philadelphia, who was struggling to start his own computer business.
British success
While "Move Closer" failed to make an impact on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song was hugely successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart, making her the first black woman to top the charts in Britain with her own composition.[3] The song was originally released in April 1984 but failed to chart, and was re-released in February 1985 after BBC Radio London started to play it. The song began to climb the charts, taking twelve weeks to reach the top spot.[4] "Move Closer" remained on the UK Singles Chart for just over five months during 1985, becoming Britain's seventh biggest-selling song of the year.[5] and the 82nd highest selling single of the decade.[6] In 1994 it was reissued and returned to the UK Singles Chart, this time peaking at number thirty four, on the back of it being featured in an anti-persperant television commercial.[4]
The song was also featured in the British film The Supergrass.
B-side
In the UK, the B-side was "Somewhere in the City".
Chart positions
The song failed to make any impact on the American charts, but did chart in Europe, Australia and New Zealand during 1984 and 1985.
| Chart (1984)/(1985) | Peak position | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles Chart | End of year | End of decade | |
| Australian Kent Music Report | 15 | ||
| Austrian Singles Chart | |||
| France Singles Chart | |||
| German Singles Chart | |||
| Irish Singles Chart | |||
| Italian Singles Chart | |||
| Dutch Top 40 | 47[7] | ||
| Belgium | 34[7] | ||
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 23[7] | ||
| Norwegian Singles Chart | |||
| Swedish Singles Chart | |||
| Swiss Singles Chart | |||
| UK Singles Chart | 1[1] | 7 | 82 |
Covers
- Marilyn Martin, on her eponymous debut album.
- The Bluetones, as a B-side to the single "Fast Boy/Liquid Lips". It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation album, A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03.
- Sir Tom Jones (1989, No. 49 on the UK Singles Chart).[4]
- Sammi Cheng, Cantonese version (named "纏綿"), released in 1997.
References
- 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 448. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ One-Hit Wonders at the BBC. 17 April 2015. BBC Four.
- ↑ "Move Closer by Phyllis Nelson Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
- 1 2 3 "Move Closer - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ↑ "1980s Singles Chart Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
- ↑ "Official Biggest Selling Singles Of The '80s". Buzzjack.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
- 1 2 3 Steffen Hung. "Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
| Preceded by "We Are the World" by USA for Africa |
UK number one single April 28, 1985 – May 4, 1985 |
Succeeded by "19" by Paul Hardcastle |