Think of Laura

"Think of Laura"
Single by Christopher Cross
from the album Another Page
Released	1983
Format	7" (45 rpm)
Genre	Adult contemporary, Pop
Length	3:22
Label	Warner
Writer(s)	Christopher Cross
Producer	Michael Omartian

"Think of Laura" is the title of a popular song by the American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Christopher Cross. Released as a single in late 1983 from Cross' second studio album, Another Page, "Think of Laura" became the singer's fourth (and, to date, final) single to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at #9 in early 1984. The song spent eleven weeks in the Top 40. In addition, the song became Cross' third single to hit #1 on the adult contemporary chart, following "Never Be the Same" and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)". "Think of Laura" remained at #1 on this chart for four weeks.^[1] The song was written by Cross and produced by Michael Omartian.

The song became popularized when the American television network ABC began playing "Think of Laura" in reference to characters on the soap opera General Hospital. One of the program's supercouples, Luke and Laura, were quite popular at the time, and the song came to be associated with the characters and their portrayers, Genie Francis and Anthony Geary. Cross allowed ABC to use his song in this context; however, he has stated that he wrote "Think of Laura" to mourn the death of Denison University college student Laura Carter who was killed tragically when she was struck by a stray bullet fired over a block away, during an altercation between four men.^[2]

Carter, a lacrosse player from Wayne, Pennsylvania, was sitting in the back seat of a car, being driven by her father, who with his wife, was visiting their daughter for the college's annual homecoming weekend. They planned to take her and two friends to dinner in Columbus, having just watched them compete in a lacrosse match.^[3]

Cross had come to meet Laura through her college roommate Paige, whom Cross was dating at the time. Paige was pictured on the inner sleeve of the "Another Page" album, sitting on a stool. Cross wrote the song as a way of offering comfort to Paige, and honoring Carter's memory.

"Think of Laura" has a relatively straightforward arrangement, with the singer's vocals and a piano accompaniment. The lyrics express the sorrow felt by those who knew the woman but ask that she be remembered with happiness: When you think of Laura, laugh, don't cry / I know she'd want it that way.

References

1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
2. ^ Christopher Cross home page
3. ^ Dead Before Deadline by Robin Yocum