Summary
"Swept Away" is a song by American R&B singer Diana Ross for her album of the same name. Ross released the song as the album's second single on August 14, 1984, by the RCA. It was written by Daryl Hall, Sara Allen and produced by Hall and Arthur Baker. Ross wrote the spoken lyrics at the beginning of the song and Hall also provided background vocals on it.
| "Swept Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Diana Ross | ||||
| from the album Swept Away | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | August 14, 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Studio | Unique Recording Studios (New York City)[1] | |||
| Length | 5:25 (album version) 4:01 (single edit) | |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Diana Ross singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Swept Away" on YouTube | ||||
The song talked about how the narrator thought she was in love with a special person only to find out that she had just been "swept away" after catching her lover cheating on her sending her into a rage and panic.
Baker had been a club DJ turned remixer who was just breaking into production, and the twelve-inch version became one of Ross' most successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Dance/Disco chart and #3 on the Cash Box 12" singles sales chart.[2] The single also reached nineteen on the US pop singles chart and number three on the R&B singles chart.[3]
Music video edit
In the sensual music video, directed by Dominic Orlando in Manhattan and on location in Long Island, Diana is seduced by a Frenchman and falls in love with him only to find out, after arriving unannounced in a bar, that he's cheating on her with another French girl in a stylized Apache Dance. She then confronts the man - hitting him repeatedly - who ends up being knocked unconscious by the singer. Later in the video, the Frenchman tries to fight his way back into her life only to have Ross push him from a lighthouse tower into the water. It was one of her most popular videos, and her first to air on MTV.
The music video was blown up to 35mm for projection during Diana Ross' live performances at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. There's also an extended version of the video edited for the 12" dance club remix.
Charts edit
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] | 28 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] | 17 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] | 36 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] | 36 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 19 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[9] | 1 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 3 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts)[11] | 63 |
Personnel edit
- Lead vocals by Diana Ross
- Background vocals by Daryl Hall and Diana Ross
- Guitar solo by Jeff Beck
- Produced by Daryl Hall and Arthur Baker
See also edit
References edit
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/UniqueRecordingStudios/photos/a.649655181769411/649657191769210/?type=3&theater [user-generated source]
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 357.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 222.
- ^ "Diana Ross – Swept Away" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 8962." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Diana Ross – Swept Away" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Swept Away" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
External links edit
- Swept Away at Discogs (list of releases)