"Save Up All Your Tears" is a song written by Desmond Child and Diane Warren, and originally released by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. The song was subsequently covered by other artists including Robin Beck, Cher, and Freda Payne. The original Bonnie Tyler version of the song was featured on the album called Notes From America in the United States, Brazil and entitled Hide Your Heart throughout the rest of the world. The song was produced by its co-writer, Desmond Child, who was enjoying chart success in the US with singles by Bon Jovi including "Livin' on a Prayer". The single, released in 1988, did not approach the success of previous releases like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero", and charted only on airplay charts in Europe. The London Mix mixed by Desmond Child.
Robin Beck version
In 1989, Robin Beck included her version on the album Trouble Or Nothin'. As with Bonnie Tyler's original recording, the Beck version was produced by the song's co-writer, Desmond Child. Beck's version featured Steve Lukather on guitar and KISS' Paul Stanley on background vocals. Beck's single was the follow-up single to her European #1 breakout hit "First Time". While not the smash of that song, "Save Up All Your Tears" was a significant hit for Beck in Germany and Switzerland, where it went to #10 and #5 respectively, and was also a success in Sweden and Austria. A video was made for the single, and although it received some airplay in the US and UK, it failed to garner any national success in the United States and was only a minor hit in the United Kingdom.
Chart performance
Cher version
In 1991, Cher released a cover of the song as the second US and third European single from her 20th album, Love Hurts. While Beck was the only artist to take the song top ten, Cher's version of the song did the best in the US and the UK, cracking the top 40 to peak at #37 in both markets.
Promotion and performances
Cher performed the song live in Dame Edna's TV Show and in David Letterman's Late Night Show. During Cher's ABC Coca-Cola Concert Special, as a part of the promotional campaign for her album, she also performed the song live—even though she actually lip-synched. This special was taped in a studio; Cher lip-synched to four songs of her latest album and had her band play along.
Music video
Cher's music video for "Save Up All Your Tears" was rather racy, but not as racy as its predecessor "If I Could Turn Back Time". In the video Cher sports three different wigs as well as three different outfits. She first wears a light pink lingerie nighty and a large red curly wig and next another skimpy black lingerie outfit with a dark brown curly wig. The final outfit she wears was one of her most extravagant to date, a dominatrix-themed black leather and chain top, with fishnet stockings and leather nets for sleeves, accompanied by Cher's signature long straight black hair. Twice during the video she turns around to display that she is wearing a thong which reveals a rather large tattoo across her backside. A photograph of this outfit taken by Herb Ritts would be used for the poster for her Love Hurts Tour. Under the banner of "Cher's Back!" with this buttock-revealing poster Cher performed several dates in Europe during her Love Hurts Tour. Later she also performs the song during the rehearsal for her Farewell Tour, this performance is available only as a Bonus Material in the DVD of the show.
Critical reception
Allmusic highlighted the song and called it "pleasantly melodic."
