If You Were a Woman and I Was a Man
Encyclopedia
"If You Were a Woman" is a song that was written and composed by Desmond Child
and recorded by Bonnie Tyler
.
Produced by Jim Steinman
, the dramatic, rock
-leaning song was released as the first single from her 1986
album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire
. The track features a saxophone
solo by Lenny Pickett, formerly of Tower of Power
and then a member of the Saturday Night Live
band. Critics have noted that this song's chorus has a melody and chord progression similar to the #1 Bon Jovi
hit "You Give Love a Bad Name
", which was also co-written by Child and released later that same year.
A music video
received some early MTV
play but not the heavy rotation of previous Tyler videos such as "Total Eclipse of the Heart
" and "Holding Out for a Hero
". "If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man)" debuted on the Hot 100 the week ending April 12, 1986, and became Bonnie Tyler's last U.S. chart single to date, peaking at #77.
The song did make the top 40 in Germany
, notably peaking at #16 in Switzerland
and #6 in France
, where the single was certified Silver for sales of more than 200,000 copies, and Tyler would enjoy some continued success in Europe with successive releases.
In Europe, the song was Tyler's second single from the album, following "Loving You Is A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It", a duet with Todd Rundgren
released in 1985. The album also contained "Holding Out for a Hero", a 1984 hit single for Tyler from the soundtrack album to the film Footloose.
12" maxi
for her 1989 album Trouble Or Nothin'
, produced by Child and his longtime collaborator Sir Arthur Payson. The album featured a number of Child compositions previously recorded by other artists; like Tyler's recording, it fared better in Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe than it did in the U.S.
In 1996 RuPaul
recorded the song for her Foxy Lady
album.
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
and recorded by Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
.
Produced by Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
, the dramatic, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
-leaning song was released as the first single from her 1986
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire
Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire
Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire is the sixth studio album by Bonnie Tyler. Released in 1986 peaked at no.24 on the UK album chart and no.106 in the US, though the album gained success in continental Europe....
. The track features a saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
solo by Lenny Pickett, formerly of Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
and then a member of the Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
band. Critics have noted that this song's chorus has a melody and chord progression similar to the #1 Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
hit "You Give Love a Bad Name
You Give Love a Bad Name (song)
"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song written by Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, and Richie Sambora about a woman who has jilted her lover. Although originally written for the band Loverboy, the song was recorded by Bon Jovi...
", which was also co-written by Child and released later that same year.
A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
received some early MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
play but not the heavy rotation of previous Tyler videos such as "Total Eclipse of the Heart
Total Eclipse of the Heart
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a song written and produced by Jim Steinman and recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night...
" and "Holding Out for a Hero
Holding Out for a Hero
"Holding Out for a Hero" is a song written by Jim Steinman and Dean Pitchford, originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler. It was released in 1984 on the soundtrack to the film Footloose. It later appeared on Tyler's Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire album. It hit #96 for the first time in UK in 1984,...
". "If You Were A Woman (And I Was A Man)" debuted on the Hot 100 the week ending April 12, 1986, and became Bonnie Tyler's last U.S. chart single to date, peaking at #77.
The song did make the top 40 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, notably peaking at #16 in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and #6 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where the single was certified Silver for sales of more than 200,000 copies, and Tyler would enjoy some continued success in Europe with successive releases.
In Europe, the song was Tyler's second single from the album, following "Loving You Is A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It", a duet with Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
released in 1985. The album also contained "Holding Out for a Hero", a 1984 hit single for Tyler from the soundtrack album to the film Footloose.
Track listings
7" single- "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" — 4:00
- "Under Suspicion" — 4:20
12" maxi
- "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" (extended version)
- "Under Suspicion"
- "Straight from the Heart"
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified | Physical sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Silver | 1986 | 200,000 | 271,000 |
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 6 |
| German Singles Chart | 32 |
| Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
16 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
78 |
| UK Club Chart | 16 |
| Australia | 77 |
| New Zealand | 20 |
| U.S. Billboard Singles Chart Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
77 |
| Canada RPM | 87 |
Cover versions
The song was covered by Robin BeckRobin Beck
Robin Beck is an American singer. She topped the singles chart in the UK in 1988, and Germany in 1989 with her single "First Time", which had come to the public's attention via its use in a Coca-Cola commercial....
for her 1989 album Trouble Or Nothin'
Trouble Or Nothin'
Trouble or Nothin' is an 1989 album by female artist Robin Beck. It was produced by Desmond Child and recorded and mixed by Sir Authur Payson.-Track listing:...
, produced by Child and his longtime collaborator Sir Arthur Payson. The album featured a number of Child compositions previously recorded by other artists; like Tyler's recording, it fared better in Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe than it did in the U.S.
In 1996 RuPaul
RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles , best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta...
recorded the song for her Foxy Lady
Foxy Lady (RuPaul album)
-Chart positions:-Personnel:*Pete Lorimer Arranger, Producer*Richard "Humpty" Vission Arranger, Producer*Rachel Gutek Art Direction, Design*Diana Germano Assistant Engineer*Jason Perez Assistant Engineer*Charles Barwick Engineer...
album.