"Lost in Emotion" is a song by urban contemporary band Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam that appeared on their 1987 album Spanish Fly. The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 17, 1987. The song was their second number-one single, after "Head to Toe" earlier in the year. The song also went to number one on the Black Singles chart,[2] and number eight on the dance chart.[3]

"Lost in Emotion"
Single by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
from the album Spanish Fly
B-side"Motion Is Lost"
ReleasedJuly 1987
Genre
Length
  • 5:07 (album version)
  • 4:36 (single mix version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
  • Curt Bedeau
  • Gerry Charles
  • Hugh L Clarke
  • Brian George
  • Lucien George
  • Paul George
Producer(s)Full Force
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam singles chronology
"Head to Toe"
(1987)
"Lost in Emotion"
(1987)
"Someone to Love Me for Me"
(1987)

Full Force member Lou George describes "Lost in Emotion" as "a combination" of two Mary Wells' hits: "Two Lovers" and "You Beat Me to the Punch", an idea which occurred to George as the result of his playing Wells' Greatest Hits album on which "Two Lovers" and "You Beat Me to the Punch" were sequential tracks. George - "We didn't steal the riffs: all we did was get the flavoring...We [used] a xylophone and some bells because back in the Motown days they always used those simple instruments."[4]

Video

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The video for the song was filmed at the 116th Street Festival in Harlem. With the exception of the group dance routine, the video was filmed in a way that gave it an unrehearsed feel, meant to match the carnival setting.[5] In a 2020 interview with NJArts.net, Lisa Lisa recalled telling the director, “Look, just have the camera follow us and we’re going to have fun with this.”[6]

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 19, 2021). "The Number Ones: Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam's "Lost In Emotion". Stereogum. Retrieved November 7, 2023. ...Full Force could make '60s structures work in an '80s dance-pop setting. They made it sound easy.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 354.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 157.
  4. ^ Bronson, Fred (2003). Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th ed.). New York: Billboard Books (Crown Publishing Group). ISBN 978-0823076772.
  5. ^ "Throwback Video of the Week: Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam "Lost in Emotion". Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  6. ^ "Lisa Lisa interview: 'Just let me sing!' - NJArts.net". Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0896." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam – Lost in Emotion". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  13. ^ "Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  15. ^ "Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  16. ^ "Hot Crossover 30" (PDF). Billboard. September 12, 1987. p. 16. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  17. ^ "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-22.
  19. ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Hot Crossover Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-27. Retrieved April 8, 2022.