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How Can We Be Lovers

{{Short description|1990 single by Michael Bolton}}

{{Infobox song

| name = How Can We Be Lovers

| cover = How Can We Be Lovers by Michael Bolton US cassette.png

| alt =

| caption = US retail cassette variant of standard artwork; the US CD edition was promo-only

| type = single

| artist = Michael Bolton

| album = Soul Provider

| B-side = That's What Love Is All About

| released = 1990

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:55

| label = Columbia

| writer =

| producer =

  • Desmond Child
  • Michael Bolton {{small|(co.)}}

| prev_title = How Am I Supposed to Live Without You

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = When I'm Back on My Feet Again

| next_year = 1990

}}

"How Can We Be Lovers" is a song written by Michael Bolton, Diane Warren, and Desmond Child and performed by Bolton. Released as the third single from Bolton's sixth studio album, Soul Provider (1989), it peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1990. The song also reached number two in Canada, number three in Australia, number 10 in Sweden, and number 18 in Ireland.

Track listings

US and Australian 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=US 7-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Columbia Records|id=38-73318}}{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=CBS Records|id=655806 4}}{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=Japanese mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=CBS/Sony|id=CSDS 8129}}

  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "That's What Love Is All About" – 3:56

UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=CBS Records|id=655918 7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=CBS Records|id=655918 4}}

  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "The Hunger" – 4:18

UK 12-inch single and CD1{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=CBS Records|id=655918 6}}{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=CBS Records|id=655918 2}}

  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "Fools Game" – 3:50
  3. "The Hunger" – 4:18

UK CD2{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=CBS Records|id=655918 5}}

  1. "How Can We Be Lovers"
  2. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (live)
  3. "The Hunger"
  4. "I Almost Believed You"

European 7-inch and mini-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=European 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=CBS Records|id=655836 7}}{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=European mini-CD single liner notes|publisher=CBS Records|id=655836 1}}

  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "Call My Name" – 4:15

European mini maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=How Can We Be Lovers|others=Michael Bolton|year=1990|type=European mini maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=CBS Records|id=655836 3}}

  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "Call My Name" – 4:15
  3. "Fools Game" – 3:50

Personnel

  • Michael Bolton – lead and background vocals
  • Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards
  • Bobby Chouinard – drums
  • John McCurry – electric and acoustic guitar
  • Hugh McDonald – bass guitar
  • Eric Rehl – synthesizer
  • Myriam Valle, Jon Fiore, Kyf Brewer, Kate McGunnigle, Joe Cerisano, Patty Darcy, Louis Merlino, Bernie Shanahan, Desmond Child – background vocals
  • Sir Arthur Payson – engineer, mixing
  • Joe Pirrera, Keith Goldstein, Roy Hendrickson, Danny Mormando, Mike Kowiak – assistant engineers
  • John Herman – assistant mix engineer
  • Steve Savitt – production manager

Charts

{{col-begin}}

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=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990)

!Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=Michael Bolton|song=How Can We Be Lovers|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|Flanders|30|artist=Michael Bolton|song=How Can We Be Lovers|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=9138|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|11|chartid=9027|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-06-09.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|date=June 9, 1990|page=|accessdate=June 19, 2021|magazine=Music & Media}}

|28

{{single chart|Ireland2|18|song=How Can We Be Lovers|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/michael-bolton/michael-bolton-how-can-we-be-lovers-15189|title=Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers|accessdate=June 22, 2021|publisher=top40.nl}}

|8

{{single chart|Dutch100|38|artist=Michael Bolton|song=How Can We Be Lovers|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|27|artist=Michael Bolton|song=How Can We Be Lovers|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|Sweden|10|artist=Michael Bolton|song=How Can We Be Lovers|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|UK|10|date=19900602|rowheader=true|access-date=July 18, 2019}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|3|artist=Michael Bolton|rowheader=true|access-date=January 12, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|3|artist=Michael Bolton|rowheader=true|access-date=January 12, 2020}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1990/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1990|publisher=ARIA|access-date=July 18, 2019}}

|41

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9139&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9139.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9139|title=Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=July 18, 2019}}

|41

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

|87

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1990|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1990|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706053853/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1990|archive-date=July 6, 2009|access-date=September 15, 2009}}

|52

scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/adult-contemporary-songs|title=Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs 1990|magazine=Billboard|url-access=subscription|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128210425/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/adult-contemporary-songs|archive-date=January 28, 2021|access-date=March 12, 2021}}

|34

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|certref=|access-date=July 18, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Michael Bolton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1989 songs

Category:1990 singles

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Michael Bolton songs

Category:Songs written by Desmond Child

Category:Songs written by Diane Warren

Category:Songs written by Michael Bolton

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