Cher – If I Could Turn Back Time

The music video for “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher was directed by famed music video director Marty Callner, and takes place on board the battleship USS Missouri. It depicts Cher and her band performing a concert for the ship’s crew. The video was filmed in Los Angeles on Friday night, June 30, 1989 (single released the next day, July 1, 1989).
USS Missouri was the site of the Empire of Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945, thus ending World War II.
Lieutenant Commander Steve Honda from the Navy’s Hollywood Liaison office requested Callner suspend shooting and convince Cher to change into more conservative attire, but Callner refused.
Video quickly became controversial due to its sexually suggestive content. It sparked criticism from conservative groups, who argued that it was disrespectful to the military and inappropriate for public viewing.
Many television networks refused to show the video. MTV first banned the video, and later played it only after 9 PM.
Despite the controversy, the music video helped propel the song to the top of the charts in several countries.
Today, “If I Could Turn Back Time” and its iconic music video remain popular cultural touchstones and Cher continues to perform the song in her live shows.


Музыкальное видео Шер «If I Could Turn Back Time» было снято режиссером Марти Коллнером, действие происходит на борту линкора USS Missouri, где Шер выступает для его экипажа. Видео снято в Лос-Анджелесе вечером в пятницу, 30 июня 1989 года (сингл вышел 1 июля 1989 года).
На этом корабле Японская империя 2 сентября 1945 года подписала акт о капитуляции, что положило конец Второй мировой войне.
Лейтенант-коммандер Стив Хонда из голливудского офиса связи ВМС попросил режиссера приостановить съемки и убедить Шер переодеться в более консервативную одежду, но Коллнер отказался.
Сексуальное содержание видео мгновенно вызвало критику со стороны консервативных групп, утверждавших, что такое неуважение к военным неуместно для публичной демонстрации.
Многие телеканалы отказались показывать видео. MTV поначалу запретило, а в последующем демонстрировало его только после 21:00.
Несмотря на скандал, клип помог песне подняться на вершину хит-парадов в нескольких странах.
Сегодня икониическое «If I Could Turn Back Time» по-прежнему «камень преткновения», а Шер продолжает ее исполнение на концертах.

LYRICS:

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I’d take back those words that have hurt you
And you’d stay

I don’t know why I did the things I did
I don’t know why I said the things I said
Pride’s like a knife, it can cut deep inside
Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes

I didn’t really mean to hurt you
I didn’t wanna see you go
I know I made you cry, but baby

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I’d take back those words that have hurt you
And you’d stay
If I could reach the stars
I’d give ’em all to you
Then you’d love me, love me
Like you used to do
(If I could turn back time)

My world was shattered, I was torn apart
Like someone took a knife and drove it deep in my heart
When you walked out that door
I swore that I didn’t care
But I lost every thing, darlin’, then and there

Too strong to tell you I was sorry
Too proud to tell you I was wrong
I know that I was blind, and darlin’

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I’d take back those words that have hurt you
And you’d stay
If I could reach the stars
I’d give ’em all to you
Then you’d love me, love me
Like you used to do, ohh

If I could turn back time
(If I could turn back time)
If I could turn back time
(If I could turn back time)
If I could turn back time, ohh baby

I didnt really mean to hurt you
I didn’t wanna see you go
I know I made you cry
But ohh

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I’d take back those words that have hurt you
If I could reach the stars
I’d give them all to you
Then you’d love me, love me
Like you used to do

If I could turn back time
(Turn back time)
If I could find a way (Find a way)
Then maybe, maybe, maybe you’d stay
(Reach the stars)