Chain Reaction

“Chain Reaction” is the mid 1980’s R&B song sung by American singer and songwriter Diana Ross, written by the musical group the Bee Gees, featuring Barry Gibb from the group on the backing vocals. The Bee Gees also produced the song and was released as a single twice – once in 1985 and again in 1986. The song appears on Ross’ sixteenth studio album “Eaten Alive”.

The R&B and Motown tinged track was originally not intended for Ross, with the Gibbs’ revealing in their biography that they did had initial concerns and reservations about offering the song to Ross, due to it being “too Motown-like” for her. Sadly, the song failed to make as big as an impression as was initially intended, despite the song’s catchy tune and quite sexually imaginative lyrics.

The music video was released in 1985, and was directed by David Mallet. Uploaded to a YouTube channel under the name of “Pat.Patrice.Musiques”, the video is shot in black & white, and shows Ross entering a tv studio to perform the track, where she eventually leaves covered in smoke and men chasing after her, with shots of Ross now in full colour and others still in black & white. The video has over 100 thousand views and 1 thousand likes.

Release Date: 29th November 1985 (US) & 13th February 1986 (UK)

Songwriter/s: Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb

Producer/s: Gibb-Galuten-Richardson

Label/s: RCA & Capitol

Music Video Release Date: 1985

Music Video Director: David Mallet

Chart Rankings & Certifications: In its year of release, “Chain Reaction” charted at:

– #1 in Australia
– #35 in Belgium
– #25 and #40 on Canada
– #20 in France
– #1 in Ireland
– #40 in the Netherlands
– #3 in New Zealand
– #4 in South Africa
– #20 in Switzerland
– #1 on the UK Singles
– #66 on the US Billboard Hot 100
– #25 on the US Billboard Adult Chart
– #7 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart
– #85 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart
– #77 on the US Cash Box Top 100
– #11 on the West Germany Charts

“Chain Reaction” is certified Gold in the UK.

The lyrics to “Chain Reaction” can be read here: : https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/dianaross/chainreaction.html

Diana Ross’ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MdG05syQeRYPPcClLaUGl?si=80Tq96GRS2G6ymyADLQfCA

Diana Ross’ Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/diana-ross/47566