Can We Still Be Friends
"Can We Still Be Friends" is a song written and originally performed by Todd Rundgren.
| "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 | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 3:34 | |||
| Label | Bearsville | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Producer(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Todd Rundgren singles chronology | ||||
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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, the song made a prominent appearance in the film Dumb and Dumber, for which Rundgren had composed the score. 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 | ||||
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In 1979, "Can We Still Be Friends" became a hit again when Robert Palmer recorded a version for his album Secrets.
Chart performance
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] | 52 |
| Dutch Top 40[3] | 32 |
| Australian Top 40 | 8 |
Mandy Moore version
| "Can We Still Be Friends" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Mandy Moore | |
| from the album Coverage | |
| Released | 2003 |
| 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, composed entirely of remakes.
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.
- 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".
- Filipino singer, actress and TV host Toni Gonzaga covered the song as part of the soundtrack of the 2017 film of the same name starring Gerald Anderson and Arci Muñoz.
References
- "Billboard Hot 100, Chart Listing For The Week Of sep 02 1978". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
- "Billboard Hot 100, Chart Listing For The Week Of feb 16 1980". Retrieved November 19, 2008.
- "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 1, 1980". Retrieved November 19, 2008.