Two Generations of Stardom Find a Shared Sanctuary on Stage
The world of celebrity often spins so fast that the stars themselves rarely collide in meaningful ways. Yet, the pairing of Petula Clark and David Cassidy—the reigning British Pop Queen of the 1960s and the American Teen Idol phenomenon of the 1970s—on the song “Cherish” offers a poignant moment of artistic convergence. Their collaboration took place on the stage, not in the recording studio, as they starred together in the critically acclaimed and emotionally heavy Broadway and West End musical, Blood Brothers, beginning in 1993. This context is crucial, for it imbued their shared moments with a dramatic, almost theatrical intimacy.
Before this stage pairing, “Cherish” was already a cornerstone of David Cassidy’s solo career. His cover of The Association’s 1966 chart-topper was his very first solo single, released in October 1971. It immediately proved that his appeal extended far beyond the fictional Partridge Family band. Cassidy’s rendition was a huge global success: it peaked at a strong No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and spent a week at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. More remarkably, it soared to No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand, and was released as a double A-side with “Could It Be Forever” in the UK, where it peaked at No. 2—marking the true beginning of his explosive, non-Partridge solo superstardom abroad.
The original meaning of “Cherish” is a straightforward, heartfelt declaration of unconditional love and devotion, a sweet-tempered soft-rock classic. However, when you place Cassidy and Clark together, years later, their duet performances of the song become something entirely different—a beautiful, unexpected dialogue between two artists who navigated the unrelenting pressures of show business across different eras. Petula Clark, whose elegant sophistication defined hits like “Downtown,” brought a mature, grounded grace to the melody. David Cassidy, his voice now bearing the lived-in quality of his tumultuous journey, brought a raw, almost desperate sincerity to the lyric, “I do cherish you.”
Their real-life friendship, forged backstage while playing the role of mother and son (and their respective twin sons) in the tragic tale of Blood Brothers, lent an incredible depth to their shared music. This particular version of “Cherish” is a time capsule of that unique moment when their paths intertwined. It serves as a reminder that the enduring power of classic pop music is its ability to adapt and reflect the changing lives of both the performer and the listener. For us older fans, seeing the teen idol who adorned our walls and the sophisticated songstress who filled the airwaves together was a powerful affirmation that the music we cherish is truly timeless. Their duet was not about climbing the charts; it was about sharing a mutual respect and a beautiful song, a moment of genuine human connection amidst the dazzling, often isolating, world of fame.