Can We Still Be Friends

"Can We Still Be Friends"
Single by Todd Rundgren
from the album Hermit of Mink Hollow
B-side "Out Of Control" (US), "Determination" (UK)
Released 1978
Recorded 1978
Genre Ballad
Length 3:34
Label Bearsville
Songwriter(s) Todd Rundgren
Producer(s) Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren singles chronology
"Good Vibrations"
(1976)		 "Can We Still Be Friends"
(1978)		 "Bang the Drum All Day"
(1983)

"Good Vibrations"
(1976)		 "Can We Still Be Friends"
(1978)		 "Bang the Drum All Day"
(1983)

"Can We Still Be Friends" is a song written and originally performed by Todd Rundgren.

Todd Rundgren version

Todd Rundgren released his version on his 1978 album Hermit of Mink Hollow. This was the only hit single on the album, reaching #29 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] It was a hit single in Australia, where it went to #8. The lyrics describe a relationship to which Rundgren and the woman to whom he is singing have given great effort to fix the relationship, but simply cannot work. Rundgren explains this, but wishes to part amicably, asking several times if he and his partner can "still be friends." The song is generally assumed to be about Rundgren's breakup with long-time companion Bebe Buell in 1977. Rundgren played all the instruments and performed all the vocals on the track, as he did with the rest of the album.

In 1994, this song made a prominent appearance in the movie Dumb and Dumber. It also appears on the soundtrack for the 2001 film Vanilla Sky, and the TV series Nip/Tuck.

Robert Palmer version

"Can We Still Be Friends"
Single by Robert Palmer
from the album Secrets
B-side "Too Good To Be True"
Released 1979
Genre Pop rock
Label Island
Songwriter(s) Todd Rundgren
Producer(s) Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer singles chronology
"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)"
(1979)		 "Can We Still Be Friends"
(1979)		 "Johnny and Mary"
(1980)

"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)"
(1979)		 "Can We Still Be Friends"
(1979)		 "Johnny and Mary"
(1980)

In 1979, "Can We Still Be Friends" became a hit again when Robert Palmer recorded a version for his album Secrets.

Mandy Moore version

"Can We Still Be Friends"
Song by Mandy Moore
from the album Coverage
Released 2003
Format CD single
Genre R&B
Length 3:38
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Todd Rundgren
Producer(s) John Fields

In 2003, Mandy Moore recorded her own version of the song from her fourth studio album Coverage.

Chart performance

Chart (1980) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] 52
Dutch Top 40[3] 32
Australian Top 40[4] 8

Other versions

  • Rod Stewart recorded this song as a track for his 1984 album Camouflage. This version is performed at a faster tempo than Rundgren's and Palmer's versions and features more prominent use of the synthesizer.
  • Marc Jordan recorded the song as a track for his 1990 album COW
  • In 2001, Vonda Shepard's version appeared on a soundtrack for the television show Ally McBeal; this is very first revived song of Shepard.
  • Mandy Moore recorded it on her 2003 album Coverage, which is composed entirely of remakes.
  • Kate Markowitz recorded it on her album Map of the World.
  • Argentine rock musicians Charly García and Nito Mestre, founding members of the band Sui Generis, recorded a Spanish version entitled "Yo soy su papá" ("I am his father"), which appeared on their 2000 album Sinfonías para adolescentes (Symphonies for Teenagers).
  • Colin Blunstone recorded a version on his 1979 album "Late Nights in Soho".

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100, Chart Listing For The Week Of sep 02 1978". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100, Chart Listing For The Week Of feb 16 1980". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  3. ↑ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 1, 1980". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  4. ↑ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 1, 1980". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
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