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Love Can Build a Bridge

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"Love Can Build a Bridge"
Single by the Judds
from the album Love Can Build a Bridge
B-side"This Country's Rockin'"
ReleasedDecember 3, 1990 (1990-12-03)
GenreCountry[1]
Length5:23 (album version)
3:52 (single version)
Label
Songwriters
ProducerBrent Maher
The Judds singles chronology
"Born to Be Blue"
(1990)		 "Love Can Build a Bridge"
(1990)		 "One Hundred and Two"
(1991)

"Love Can Build a Bridge" is a song written by Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet, and John Barlow Jarvis, and recorded by American country music duo the Judds. It was released in 1990 as the second single and title track from their album of the same name. It was a top-five country hit in mid-1991. The song has inspired several cover versions, including one by Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry, and Eric Clapton that topped the UK Singles Chart in 1995.

Content and composition

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The song is about the importance of always standing together, and was co-written by Naomi Judd and dedicated to the Judd family and fans as almost a goodbye, as at the time, Naomi was chronically ill with Hepatitis C and was forced to retire as it had been speculated that she had only three years left to live.[citation needed] "Love Can Build a Bridge" is performed in the key of B major with a tempo of 66 beats per minute in common time. The vocals span from E3 to D5.[2]

Charts

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Comic Relief version

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"Love Can Build a Bridge"
Single by Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton
ReleasedMarch 6, 1995 (1995-03-06)[9]
Length4:16
LabelLondon
Songwriters
ProducerPeter Asher
Cher singles chronology
"I Got You Babe"
(1993)		 "Love Can Build a Bridge"
(1995)		 "Walking in Memphis"
(1995)
Chrissie Hynde singles chronology
"Spiritual High (State of Independence)"
(1992)		 "Love Can Build a Bridge"
(1995)		 "Straight Ahead"
(2004)
Neneh Cherry singles chronology
"7 Seconds"
(1994)		 "Love Can Build a Bridge"
(1995)		 "Woman"
(1996)
Eric Clapton singles chronology
"Motherless Child"
(1994)		 "Love Can Build a Bridge"
(1995)		 "Change the World"
(1996)

A new version of "Love Can Build a Bridge" recorded by American singers Cher and Chrissie Hynde, Swedish singer Neneh Cherry, and British singer-guitarist Eric Clapton was released as 1995's official Comic Relief single.[10] This version, released by London Records, topped the UK Singles Chart for one week in March 1995; it was Cher's second solo UK number-one hit, Hynde's first UK number one outside the Pretenders, and the only UK number-one single for both Cherry and Clapton.[11]

Critical reception

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John Robinson from NME commented, "Interesting architectural advice here from that well-known construction firm Cher, Hynde, Cherry and Clapton. This, as such an unlikely combination of talents may have already suggested, is this year's Comic Relief record – and bloody shocking it is too."[12]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1995) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13]18
Europe (European Hot 100)[14] 7
Europe (European Hit Radio)[15] 12
Finland (IFPI)[16] 15
Germany (GfK)[17]62
Ireland (IRMA)[18]5
Israel (IBA)[19] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[20] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21]41
Scotland Singles (Official Charts)[22]1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23]21
UK Singles (Official Charts)[24]1

Year-end charts

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Chart (1995) Position
Latvia (Latvijas Top 50)[25] 182
UK Singles (OCC)[26] 43

Certifications and sales

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other cover versions

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The song was covered by Children for Rwanda as a charity single in aid of Save the Children. This version was released on August 30, 1994, and reached number 57 on the UK Singles Chart the following month.[28][29] In 1992, at the age of 10, Britney Spears performed a cover of the song on the US television show Star Search.[30]

References

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  1. ↑ "Love Can Build a Bridge - the Judds | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ↑ "Love Can Build A Bridge Sheet Music | The Judds | Piano, Vocal & Guitar Chords". www.sheetmusicdirect.com. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Image 1459". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Judds Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ↑ "The Judds Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Judds Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  7. ↑ "RPM 100 Country Tracks of 1991". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 21, 1991. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Best of 1991: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1991. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 4, 1995. p. 31. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Comic Relief's biggest selling singles revealed!". Official Charts Company. March 15, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 578. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ↑ Robinson, John (March 11, 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 48. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Hits of the World Continued > Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 14. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. April 8, 1995. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  15. ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 16. April 22, 1995. p. 25. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  16. ↑ Week 15, 1995
  17. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Can Build a Bridge". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Israeli Charts". Retrieved June 26, 2026. Search "Cher" for Israeli chart history.
  20. ↑ "Cher & Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 19/3/1995 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Search results for "Cher" | Official Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Latvian Airplay Top Chart - 1995". Lanet.lv. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. January 13, 1996. p. 9.
  27. ↑ "British single certifications – Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton – Love Can Build a Bridge". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 16, 2021. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Love Can Build a Bridge Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton in the "Search:" field.
  28. ↑ "Single Releases". Music Week. August 27, 1994. p. 27.
  29. ↑ "Children for Rwanda". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  30. ↑ [FULL] Little Britney Spears at Star Search - Love Can Build a Bridge, June 12, 2011, retrieved February 13, 2024
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