Can’t Fight This Feeling

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic power ballad "Can’t Fight This Feeling" by REO Speedwagon from their 1984 album Wheels Are Turnin’, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the love. This song, written by lead singer Kevin Cronin, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for three consecutive weeks from March 9 to March 23, 1985, marking the band’s second chart-topping hit after "Keep on Loving You." Cronin revealed in a Songfacts interview that the song’s roots go back to the mid-1970s when he briefly left the band and made a demo of it. Years later, while struggling to write for Wheels Are Turnin’, he revisited the track during a solo retreat in Molokai, Hawaii, transforming it into a heartfelt anthem about overcoming fear to express love. Interestingly, the band initially called it "that stupid ballad," but its pretty melody and strong instrumentation won over both adult contemporary and rock radio, as noted by Chicago Tribune critic Jan DeKnock.

Another tidbit comes from Cronin himself, who shared that the song was inspired by an amalgamation of past relationships, reflecting his personal struggle with emotional vulnerability in an Irish-Catholic upbringing where showing weakness wasn’t encouraged. The song’s universal theme of a friendship turning into romance resonated widely, appearing in movies like Not Another Teen Movie and TV shows like South Park and Supernatural. At the 1985 Live Aid concert, introduced by Chevy Chase, REO Speedwagon performed it with members of the Beach Boys and Paul Shaffer on backing vocals, a moment that amplified its cultural impact. Two music videos were made: one showing the band goofing in rehearsal, and a more elaborate one by Kevin Dole depicting a life cycle from birth to death, showcasing 1984’s cutting-edge effects.

REO Speedwagon began in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois, when keyboardist Neal Doughty, then a junior in electrical engineering at the University of Illinois, met drummer Alan Gratzer. Their first jam session happened in the basement of their dorm, playing Beatles covers. Doughty, who’d taught himself piano, soon joined Gratzer’s band, and after guitarist Joe Matt suggested forming a new group, they recruited bassist Mike Blair. The name REO Speedwagon came from a 1915 truck, the REO Speed Wagon, spotted by Doughty in a History of Transportation class. Pronouncing each letter ("R-E-O") to stand out, they started gigging at campus bars and fraternity parties, hauling gear in a friend’s station wagon. Their first paying gig, a frat party, famously turned into a food fight, setting the tone for their gritty, energetic early years.

By 1971, they signed with Epic Records and released their debut album, R.E.O. Speedwagon, with "157 Riverside Avenue" becoming a live favorite. The band cycled through vocalists until Kevin Cronin joined in 1972, solidifying their sound. Despite early struggles, their persistence paid off in the 1970s Midwest club circuit, leading to their 1980 breakthrough album Hi Infidelity, which sold over 10 million copies. Over their career, they’ve sold more than 40 million records and charted 13 Top 40 hits. You can connect with the band on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans, or Zoo Freaks, can join communities like the REO Speedwagon Fan Club on Facebook or visit fan sites such as Kevin Cronin’s personal website for more band lore and updates.