8EEZ Playlist: Corey Hart

Hello...I believe that's how it's said in Canada too!

The spotlight is on a favorite from my buddy, Calvin "Oates" Cherry, who discovered his true identity with this next artist — Montreal, Quebec native Corey Mitchell Hart. Just Corey Hart will do, though.

Many Canadian artists/groups have had massive success here in our shared continient — ranging from Percy Faith, Paul Anka, Anne Murray, Frank Mills, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morrissette, Mike Reno of The Band, Loverboy, Bryan Adams (his 'list is pending), Celine Dion, Nelly Furtado, Shania Twain and, of course, current IT boy, Justin Bieber. Corey is on the list due to his massive success in his native Canada, but he wasn't ignored here either. His debut hit, "Sunglasses at Night", was a hit-out-of-the-box, reaching Number 7 here and having a successful MTV video that showcased his good looks and his sense-of-urgency style.

A little bio, first. Born in 1962 in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants. He lived in many countries including Mexico, Spain and even Florida. Became fluent in many languages. He sang the Michael Jackson classic "Ben" to music legend Tom Jones and collaborated with fellow Canadian singer/superstar Paul Anka.

His debut album was called First Offense but was anything but. It earned him his first hit, "Sunglasses." It was, however, his followup Boy In The Box in 1985, that landed him some major airplay and respect with his empowerment anthem "Never Surrender" that had major success, going to Number 1 in Canada and Number 3 here in the US.

Other hits followed, but the star here faded, while it shown bright in his native homeland. A fellow Canandian by the name of Bryan Adams would however pave a course here in the states with hit after hit. Still, many Juno awards and "Box" going diamond is nothing to snark at!

As per requested by my buddy Oates, Hart has also had a strong gay base, and a song called "Truth Will Set U Free" (1988) was directed towards his LGBTQ fan base.

And here's my buddy's CH playlist as follows:

Cherry's Picks

A dream-like pop ballad that was a duet with singer Jane Siberry.

His final Top 40 hit, a very Springsteen-ish folksy ballad with more of an acoustic feel than his previous efforts.

Sweet ballad from his First Offense album.

His debut single that catapulted him into stardom here in the states. As mentioned, it went to Number 7 here and had a torture-like MTV video that received massive rotation. See my list for further details.

His most poignant record to date. My friend Oates has admitted that in his time of trials, this song got him through it. Also on my list...so, stay tuned.

My Picks

Torchy version of the Elvis Presley classic with Hart's vocals near perfect. The King would've been proud! Made before the most successful cover by the UK reggae band, UB40, in 1993.

Sexy new wave-y ballad with a nice percussive beat that adds a nice "beat" to the song's heart.

I share my friend's sentiment on this tender power ballad. For anyone who's been treated like second best, bullied, ostracized, and marginalized, it's a tried-and-true anthem.

Dancey rock/new wave number that showed an edgier Hart in the same "Sunglasses" vein. Lyrical content may be sketchy, but I'm going out on a limb to say it's about bullying and mistreatment.

Best of his musical catalog, bar none! His debut, no less! Word was that it had a concentration camp-style theme lyric-wise, but was told by EMI Records to "romanticize" the lyrics as they feared it may be too dark for listeners. Hmmmm — I wonder what that version would've sounded like! Anyway, it's still in my mp3 playlist to this day! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Mr. Hart!

I would like to thank the team at Beat/Vocal.media for giving me advice on how to punch up the 'list experience. Even as a novice blogger, it's still the first day of school for me!

That's it for now! Hope you enjoyed this entry. Next up! Aussie balladeers that made your hearts go a-flutter!