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Body Rock by Maria Vidal achieved international success in the mid-80s, reaching No.8 on the US Dance Charts, No.48 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No.11 on the UK Singles Chart in 1985…
It wasn’t uncommon in the 80s for films that tanked to still be blessed with a decent soundtrack, and Body Rock, a breakdance movie in an oversubscribed market, was a prime example.
Florida singer Maria Vidal, a long-time associate of songwriter-to-the-stars Desmond Child, was asked to record the track while working on her first solo album. Defining all good titular soundtrack songs, it had a mighty chorus that was catchy enough to make people sing it the moment the movie’s name was mentioned. It featured on a soundtrack album with many star turns, amongst them Roberta Flack and Laura Branigan.
Body Rock
Co-written by Carpenters’ lyricist John Bettis, the song was issued as a single in conjunction with the movie’s release in the US autumn of 1984, and made only minor inroads into the Billboard Hot 100 as critics pelted the movie with rotten fruit.
It fared much better in Europe over the next 12 months, and with the movie out of the equation and Vidal’s powerful, throaty vocals earning praise, it became a UK radio staple in late 1985, peaking at No.11 and earning a place on Now 6.
Vidal’s solo album belatedly emerged in 1987 but Body Rock was, unsurprisingly, not included. She continued to release music but became mainly known as a backing singer and composer. As a songwriter, Vidal wrote the hit single Summer Rain for Belinda Carlisle, which was covered in 2004 by Slinkee Minx, as well as the title track to Carlisle’s LP A Woman And A Man.
Listen to Maria Vidal here
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