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The Promise You Made

1985 single by Cock Robin


1985 single by Cock Robin

FieldValue
nameThe Promise You Made
coverThe_promise_you_made.jpg
typesingle
artistCock Robin
albumCock Robin
B-sideHave You Any Sympathy?
releasedNovember 1985
* new wave<ref>{{cite weburlhttp://www.liketotally80s.com/2007/03/new-wave-hits/title=New Wave Hits of the 80sdate=March 1, 2007access-date=December 11, 2018archive-date=February 20, 2020archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220095224/http://www.liketotally80s.com/2007/03/new-wave-hits/url-status=live}}
labelColumbia
writerPeter Kingsbery
producerSteve Hillage
prev_titleWhen Your Heart Is Weak
prev_year1985
next_titleThought You Were On My Side
next_year1986
misc

| B-side = Have You Any Sympathy?

  • Soft rock
  • new wave
  • 3:54
  • 6:36 (extended version)

"The Promise You Made" is a song by American pop rock band Cock Robin. Written by Peter Kingsbery, the song appeared on the group's self-titled debut album. It was released as a single first in the US in November 1985, then in early 1986 in Europe, where it became a big hit.

Chart performance

"The Promise You Made" was a notable hit in many European countries, particularly in the Flanders region of Belgium, where it topped the chart for five weeks out off a 11-week chart run, as well as in the Netherlands where it was also number one on the Dutch Top 40 and number two on the Dutch Top 100 Singles. In the latter country, it achieved Platinum status, and ranked in the top ten on the 1986 year-end chart. In France, it spent 12 weeks in the top ten, including three weeks at number four, its highest position, and remained in the top 50 for 24 weeks, thus becoming Cock Robin's best charting single in the country, and was certified Gold disc by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.

Other countries with a peak position within the top ten include Germany where it attained number six and appeared on the chart for 18 weeks, Switzerland and Italy, where it reached number seven and four, respectively. It missed the top ten by one place in Ireland where it charted for seven weeks, and was a moderate hit in the UK where it peaked only at number 28 but had a 13-week chart trajectory. On the Music & Medias European Hot 100 Singles chart, it spent six weeks in the top ten with a peak at number six twice, and fell off the chart after 34 weeks of presence. Regularly aired on radios, it spent 27 weeks on the Eurochart Airplay Top 50 with a peak at number eight twice.

Music video

The video opens with an elderly woman stroking her dog; she then encounters some passers-by and Peter Kingsbery enters the recording studio. As Kingsbery starts singing, people loiter around the entrance to the studio and other members of the band also arrive inside and set up the instruments, with Anna LaCazio joining Kingsbery singing. As a fruit stand is knocked over outside, the last band member goes into the studio. In no time all the instruments are in place. Most of the video is made up of fade-outs, alternating the scenes inside the studio showing the band with images of the members of the public outside the studio entrance. The clip ends with pictures of Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio leaving the studio together.

Track listings

All songs written and composed by Peter Kingsbery.

  • 7-inch vinyl single

  • 12-inch vinyl single

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)Peak
positionEurope (European Hot 100 Singles)Europe (European Airplay Top 50)Italy (Musica e dischi)
6
8
4

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)PositionBelgium (Ultratop)Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)Netherlands (Single Top 100)West Germany (Media Control)
17
11
8
10
29

Certifications

Kate Ryan cover version

| B-side = Can You Fix This French lyrics by Jo Lemaire

A cover version of "The Promise You Made", together with a French-language version, "La Promesse", were released as a 2004 single by Belgian singer Kate Ryan. The French lyrics were written by Jo Lemaire. The single was released in the U.S. in 2005, when it reached number 13 on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart.

Track listings

CD single

  • Belgium: Antler-Subway, EMI / AS 9108, AS 9111 (Promo)

  • Spain: Vale Music / VLDP 288-6 (Promo)

  • Belgium: Antler-Subway, EMI / AS 9112

  • Germany: Sushi Tunes / 0010132MIN

  • U.S.: Water Music Dance / 302 060 569 2

12-inch vinyl single

  • Belgium: EMI / 549498 6
  • Germany: Sushi Tunes / Sushitunes015 (Promo)

Charts

Chart (2004)Peak
positionPoland (Polish Music Charts)US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)
5
13

Other versions

In December 1996, Chris Roberts recorded a German-language version with his wife, Claudia Roberts, titled "Ich will nicht, daß wir uns verlier'n", following their marriage. It was released as a single on November 13, 1997. A version was also recorded in the original English language, but was never published. The B-side was "Du kannst nicht immer 17 sein".

References

References

  1. (March 1, 2007). "New Wave Hits of the 80s".
  2. "maxdome - Video on Demand".
  3. (June 7, 1986). "European Hot 100 Singles".
  4. (April 12, 1986). "European Airplay Top 50".
  5. "Classifiche". [[Musica e dischi]].
  6. "19868 Belgian Flanders Singles Chart". Ultratop.
  7. (December 27, 1986). "European Hot 100 Singles: Hot 100 of the Year 1986". [[Music & Media]].
  8. "Single top 100 over 1986". Dutch Top 40.
  9. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986". [[MegaCharts]].
  10. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1986". Offiziellecharts.de.
  11. (December 26, 1987). "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987 – Holland Platinum Singles". [[Music & Media]].
  12. "allmusic ((( Kate Ryan > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))".
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