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Hazard (song)

December 15, 2023

"Hazard" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer-songwriter Richard Marx. The song is about a woman named Mary who mysteriously disappears and a social pariah who is accused of orchestrating Mary's disappearance, despite claiming to be innocent. The song's music video follows this plot. "Hazard" was released as the second single from Marx's third studio album, Rush Street (1991), on January 28, 1992, in the United States.

"Hazard"
Single by Richard Marx
from the album Rush Street
B-side
  • "Big Boy Now"
  • "Thunder and Lightning"
  • "Ride with the Idol"
ReleasedJanuary 28, 1992 (1992-01-28)
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length
  • 5:17 (album version)
  • 4:48 (edit)
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Richard Marx
Producer(s)Richard Marx
Richard Marx singles chronology
"Keep Coming Back"
(1991) 		"Hazard"
(1992) 		"Take This Heart"
(1992)

In April 1992, "Hazard" peaked at No. 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and shortly thereafter topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, becoming Marx's third number-one single on that chart.[2] Internationally, "Hazard" reached No. 1 in Australia, the top three in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, and the top 10 in New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden.

Song overview edit

"Hazard" tells the story of a relationship of some kind between the narrator and a woman named Mary. Mary disappears in suspicious circumstances, and the narrator, already shunned by many in the small village where he has lived since the age of seven ("That boy's not right"), is immediately considered the main suspect. However, the narrator maintains his innocence throughout the song, and the matter of culpability is left open to the listener's interpretation.

Liking the lyric "this old Nebraska town", Richard Marx wrote to the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, asking for a list of Nebraska towns with two syllables, finding Hazard ideal for its double meaning. (The lyrics refer to a river; the real Hazard does not possess one, although there is a muddy creek.) Locals invited Marx to be Grand Marshal at Sherman County's Fourth of July parade in 1993, which he accepted.

Marx considered it a "stupid song that no one would pay attention to" and only recorded it to prove his wife wrong, who had told him it was going to be a huge hit song.[3]

Music video edit

Overview edit

The music video for "Hazard", directed by Michael Haussman,[4] reveals additional video cues and other details that led viewers to speculate about the question of the protagonist's innocence while still following the song's lyrics and ultimately leaving the outcome open to interpretation. The narrator also refers to the state of Nebraska, United States, and specifically a village in that state called Hazard. "Mary" is played by actress Renee Parent.[5] The Sheriff is played by actor Robert Conrad.[6]

Video synopsis edit

The music video opens with the protagonist cutting his hair by the side of a creek. Suddenly the ghost of a woman is seen hovering over the creek. Several older men are seen teasing the protagonist as a child with his mother in the background. Mary is depicted as having features very similar to those of the protagonist's mother. The town's sheriff is shown taking photographs of the couple and following one or both of them in his vehicle.

The protagonist goes to see Mary but catches her making love to an unidentified person as the police car arrives. He remembers a time in his childhood when he sees his mother committing adultery. In present time, the protagonist flees the scene, leaving his scarf behind.

Mary is at the river, with a look of surprise on her face, then she appears to be lying in water. The next morning several people assist in arresting the male character in connection with her disappearance.

While in the interrogation room, the protagonist is shown a white cloth, which the sheriff identifies as the item used to strangle Mary. He then denies that he and Mary were romantically involved. He remembers himself as a child seeing his father leave his mother for another woman. He remembers running out of a burning house.

Locals are shown vandalizing the male character's home, breaking its windows and setting fire. He cannot be proved guilty so the sheriff drops him off at his ruined home. A woman walking by covers her young son's eyes. The protagonist leaves town by hitchhiking. He remembers the girl saying to him: "You know, everyone thinks I should be afraid of you. But I'm not."

Track listings edit

Personnel edit

  • Richard Marx – lead and backing vocals
  • Michael Egizi – keyboards, programming
  • Bruce Gaitsch – acoustic guitar
  • Chris Trujillo – percussion

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 28, 1992 CD Capitol [39]
Japan March 11, 1992 Mini-CD [40]
United Kingdom March 30, 1992
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD1
  • cassette
 [41]
April 13, 1992 CD2 [42]

References edit

  1. ^ "Richard Marx, now and forever". Inquirer Entertainment. Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 160.
  3. ^ "Richard Marx Story Behind the Song Hazzard CVE Live!". YouTube.
  4. ^ Richard Marx: Hazard IMDb.com
  5. ^ Renee Parent IMDb.com
  6. ^ Robert Conrad IMDB.com
  7. ^ Hazard (US & Canadian cassette single sleeve). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. 4KM-44796.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Hazard (Australasian cassette single sleeve). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. 2046394.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Hazard (US CD single liner notes). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. C2-15807.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Hazard (European CD single liner notes). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. 20 4639 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Hazard (Australasian CD single liner notes). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. 2047302.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Hazard (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. CL 654, 20 4758 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Hazard (UK cassette single sleeve). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. TCCL 654, 20 4758 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Hazard (UK CD1 liner notes). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. CDCLS 654, 20 4758 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Hazard (UK CD2 liner notes). Richard Marx. Capitol Records. 1992. CDCL 654, 20 4759 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  17. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7741." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2110." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 29. July 18, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  20. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Hazard". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  23. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  24. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard". VG-lista. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  25. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  26. ^ "Richard Marx – Hazard". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  28. ^ "Richard Marx Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  29. ^ "Richard Marx Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1992". ARIA. from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  31. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 56, no. 25. December 19, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  32. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  33. ^ "1992 Year-End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  34. ^ "End of Year Charts 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  35. ^ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. January 16, 1993. p. 8.
  36. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  37. ^ "1992 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. December 26, 1992. p. YE-38. (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  38. ^ "British single certifications – Richard Marx – Hazard". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  39. ^ "Hazard". Amazon. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  40. ^ "ハザード | リチャード・マークス" [Hazard | Richard Marx] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  41. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 28, 1992. p. 21. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  42. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. April 11, 1992. p. 19. Retrieved July 15, 2021.

December 15, 2023
hazard, song, hazard, song, written, produced, performed, american, singer, songwriter, richard, marx, song, about, woman, named, mary, mysteriously, disappears, social, pariah, accused, orchestrating, mary, disappearance, despite, claiming, innocent, song, mu. Hazard is a song written produced and performed by American singer songwriter Richard Marx The song is about a woman named Mary who mysteriously disappears and a social pariah who is accused of orchestrating Mary s disappearance despite claiming to be innocent The song s music video follows this plot Hazard was released as the second single from Marx s third studio album Rush Street 1991 on January 28 1992 in the United States Hazard Single by Richard Marxfrom the album Rush StreetB side Big Boy Now Thunder and Lightning Ride with the Idol ReleasedJanuary 28 1992 1992 01 28 GenreSoft rock 1 Length5 17 album version 4 48 edit LabelCapitolSongwriter s Richard MarxProducer s Richard MarxRichard Marx singles chronology Keep Coming Back 1991 Hazard 1992 Take This Heart 1992 In April 1992 Hazard peaked at No 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and shortly thereafter topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart becoming Marx s third number one single on that chart 2 Internationally Hazard reached No 1 in Australia the top three in Canada Ireland and the United Kingdom and the top 10 in New Zealand Norway and Sweden Contents 1 Song overview 2 Music video 2 1 Overview 2 2 Video synopsis 3 Track listings 4 Personnel 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications 7 Release history 8 ReferencesSong overview edit Hazard tells the story of a relationship of some kind between the narrator and a woman named Mary Mary disappears in suspicious circumstances and the narrator already shunned by many in the small village where he has lived since the age of seven That boy s not right is immediately considered the main suspect However the narrator maintains his innocence throughout the song and the matter of culpability is left open to the listener s interpretation Liking the lyric this old Nebraska town Richard Marx wrote to the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce asking for a list of Nebraska towns with two syllables finding Hazard ideal for its double meaning The lyrics refer to a river the real Hazard does not possess one although there is a muddy creek Locals invited Marx to be Grand Marshal at Sherman County s Fourth of July parade in 1993 which he accepted Marx considered it a stupid song that no one would pay attention to and only recorded it to prove his wife wrong who had told him it was going to be a huge hit song 3 Music video editOverview edit The music video for Hazard directed by Michael Haussman 4 reveals additional video cues and other details that led viewers to speculate about the question of the protagonist s innocence while still following the song s lyrics and ultimately leaving the outcome open to interpretation The narrator also refers to the state of Nebraska United States and specifically a village in that state called Hazard Mary is played by actress Renee Parent 5 The Sheriff is played by actor Robert Conrad 6 Video synopsis edit The music video opens with the protagonist cutting his hair by the side of a creek Suddenly the ghost of a woman is seen hovering over the creek Several older men are seen teasing the protagonist as a child with his mother in the background Mary is depicted as having features very similar to those of the protagonist s mother The town s sheriff is shown taking photographs of the couple and following one or both of them in his vehicle The protagonist goes to see Mary but catches her making love to an unidentified person as the police car arrives He remembers a time in his childhood when he sees his mother committing adultery In present time the protagonist flees the scene leaving his scarf behind Mary is at the river with a look of surprise on her face then she appears to be lying in water The next morning several people assist in arresting the male character in connection with her disappearance While in the interrogation room the protagonist is shown a white cloth which the sheriff identifies as the item used to strangle Mary He then denies that he and Mary were romantically involved He remembers himself as a child seeing his father leave his mother for another woman He remembers running out of a burning house Locals are shown vandalizing the male character s home breaking its windows and setting fire He cannot be proved guilty so the sheriff drops him off at his ruined home A woman walking by covers her young son s eyes The protagonist leaves town by hitchhiking He remembers the girl saying to him You know everyone thinks I should be afraid of you But I m not Track listings editUS Canadian and Australasian cassette single 7 8 Hazard Big Boy Now US and European CD single 9 10 Hazard 5 17 Thunder and Lightning 4 48 Ride with the Idol 3 42Australasian CD single 11 Hazard album version 5 17 Should ve Known Better live 5 18 Endless Summer Nights live 5 28 Right Here Waiting live 4 52 UK 7 inch and cassette single 12 13 Hazard edit 4 45 Right Here Waiting LP version 4 23UK CD1 14 Hazard LP version Right Here Waiting LP version Too Late to Say Goodbye Edge of a Broken Heart UK CD2 15 Hazard edit Keep Coming Back quiet storm mix Thunder and Lightning Endless Summer Nights LP version Personnel editRichard Marx lead and backing vocals Michael Egizi keyboards programming Bruce Gaitsch acoustic guitar Chris Trujillo percussionCharts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1992 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 16 1Canada Top Singles RPM 17 3Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 18 1Europe Eurochart Hot 100 19 11Germany Official German Charts 20 42Ireland IRMA 21 2Netherlands Single Top 100 22 60New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 23 7Norway VG lista 24 7Sweden Sverigetopplistan 25 6Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 26 26UK Singles OCC 27 3US Billboard Hot 100 28 9US Adult Contemporary Billboard 29 1 Year end charts edit Chart 1992 PositionAustralia ARIA 30 10Canada Top Singles RPM 31 11Canada Adult Contemporary RPM 32 16Europe Eurochart Hot 100 33 72New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 34 25UK Singles OCC 35 14US Billboard Hot 100 36 56US Adult Contemporary Billboard 37 9Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 30 Platinum 70 000 United Kingdom BPI 38 Silver 200 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Release history editRegion Date Format s Label s Ref United States January 28 1992 CD Capitol 39 Japan March 11 1992 Mini CD 40 United Kingdom March 30 1992 7 inch vinylCD1cassette 41 April 13 1992 CD2 42 References edit Richard Marx now and forever Inquirer Entertainment Philippine Daily Inquirer March 18 2016 Retrieved March 31 2017 Whitburn Joel 2002 Top Adult Contemporary 1961 2001 Record Research p 160 Richard Marx Story Behind the Song Hazzard CVE Live YouTube Richard Marx Hazard IMDb com Renee Parent IMDb com Robert Conrad IMDB com Hazard US amp Canadian cassette single sleeve Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 4KM 44796 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard Australasian cassette single sleeve Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 2046394 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard US CD single liner notes Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 C2 15807 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard European CD single liner notes Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 20 4639 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard Australasian CD single liner notes Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 2047302 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard UK 7 inch single vinyl disc Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 CL 654 20 4758 7 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard UK cassette single sleeve Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 TCCL 654 20 4758 4 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard UK CD1 liner notes Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 CDCLS 654 20 4758 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Hazard UK CD2 liner notes Richard Marx Capitol Records 1992 CDCL 654 20 4759 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Richard Marx Hazard ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved January 12 2015 Top RPM Singles Issue 7741 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved January 12 2015 Top RPM Adult Contemporary Issue 2110 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved April 14 2019 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 9 no 29 July 18 1992 p 17 Retrieved January 31 2020 Richard Marx Hazard in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved February 27 2019 The Irish Charts Search Results Hazard Irish Singles Chart Retrieved July 28 2020 Richard Marx Hazard in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved January 12 2015 Richard Marx Hazard Top 40 Singles Retrieved January 12 2015 Richard Marx Hazard VG lista Retrieved January 12 2015 Richard Marx Hazard Singles Top 100 Retrieved January 12 2015 Richard Marx Hazard Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved January 12 2015 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved January 12 2015 Richard Marx Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved January 12 2015 Richard Marx Chart History Adult Contemporary Billboard Retrieved January 12 2015 a b ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1992 ARIA Archived from the original on October 6 2017 Retrieved April 14 2019 The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1992 PDF RPM Vol 56 no 25 December 19 1992 p 8 Retrieved April 14 2019 The RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary tracks of 1992 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved April 14 2019 1992 Year End Sales Charts PDF Music amp Media Vol 9 no 51 52 December 19 1992 p 17 Retrieved January 31 2020 End of Year Charts 1992 Recorded Music NZ Retrieved January 31 2020 Year End Charts Top Singles Music Week January 16 1993 p 8 Billboard Top 100 1992 Billboard Retrieved July 30 2010 1992 The Year in Music PDF Billboard Vol 104 no 52 December 26 1992 p YE 38 Archived PDF from the original on June 28 2021 Retrieved August 15 2021 British single certifications Richard Marx Hazard British Phonographic Industry Retrieved April 14 2019 Hazard Amazon Retrieved July 15 2021 ハザード リチャード マークス Hazard Richard Marx in Japanese Oricon Retrieved September 11 2023 New Releases Singles PDF Music Week March 28 1992 p 21 Retrieved July 15 2021 New Releases Singles PDF Music Week April 11 1992 p 19 Retrieved July 15 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hazard song amp oldid 1174956481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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