How Am I Supposed to Live Without You

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
Single by Laura Branigan
from the album Branigan 2
B-side"Mama"
ReleasedJuly 1, 1983
GenrePop
Length4:29
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jack White
Laura Branigan singles chronology
"Solitaire"
(1983) 		"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
(1983) 		"Self Control"
(1984)
Audio
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" on YouTube

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" is a song co-written in 1982 by Doug James and Michael Bolton. The track was originally recorded by Laura Branigan in 1983, charting at number one in both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts. Bolton later recorded his own version of the song that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a worldwide hit.

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" was supposed to be recorded by Australian duo Air Supply, but when Arista President Clive Davis asked for permission to change the lyrics of the chorus, Bolton refused, and Davis let go of the song.[1] Subsequently Laura Branigan recorded it as written, and it became the first major hit for the two songwriters. Bolton's own rendition became a worldwide hit in early 1990.

Laura Branigan version

As the second single from Branigan's second album Branigan 2, "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number twelve on the Hot 100 in early October 1983.[2][3] Branigan's single also hit the number one spot on the Adult Contemporary chart in Canada.[4] This success came without benefit of a music video. Branigan performed the song on the syndicated music countdown show Solid Gold in late 1983 and on the popular holiday special Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Branigan 2 went out of print in 2004, but Branigan's original version can still be heard on the compilation albums The Best of Branigan (1995), The Essentials (2002) and The Platinum Collection (2006).

The single's B-side was a newly written song over the music to the Italian song "Mama", by Giancarlo Bigazzi and Umberto Tozzi. Branigan's first major hit had been with "Gloria", another English song written to an Italian hit by the duo.

Track listings

7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:29
2."Mama"3:56
7-inch single – Promo
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Short version)3:57
2."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:29
7-inch single (Canada)
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:29
2."Don't Show Your Love"3:30

Charts

1986 lawsuit

Laura Branigan demoed songwriter Gary William Friedman's "Promise Me I'll Feel This Way Tomorrow", several years before she recorded "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You".[10] Branigan did not meet the songwriters Michael Bolton and Doug James before the recording.[10] In 1986, songwriter Friedman filed lawsuit against Branigan, the songwriters, and other parties involved in the recording, alleging that "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" copied his song "Promise Me I'll Feel This Way Tomorrow".[10][11] In her testimony of the August 5, 1986, trial, Branigan performed Bolton and James's song and two other songs recorded by various artists, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" (recorded by Branigan for her 1984 album Self Control) and "MacArthur Park".[12] Toward the end of August 1986, juries of a New York federal court cleared the case defendants from the charges.[10]

Michael Bolton version

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
US retail cassette single; the US CD format was promo-only
Single by Michael Bolton
from the album Soul Provider
B-side"Forever Eyes"
ReleasedOctober 1989
GenreSoft rock[13]
Length
  • 4:48 (album version)
  • 4:15 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Michael Bolton
  • Doug James
Producer(s)Michael Omartian
Michael Bolton singles chronology
"Soul Provider"
(1989) 		"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
(1989) 		"How Can We Be Lovers?"
(1990)
Music video
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" on YouTube

Michael Bolton recorded a version of the song for his sixth studio album, Soul Provider (1989). The single reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts and also won Bolton a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The release marked a turning point in Bolton's career. After years of being primarily known as a songwriter,[1] the single got him recognition as a performer and made him a certified superstar.[14]

Chart performance

The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1989.[15] It slowly climbed the chart and by mid-January became the first new number one single of the 1990s.

Music video

Philip Rose and Greg Gold directed the song's music video.[16] The beginning of the video shows Bolton performing the selection whilst he is sitting in his living room, and small bits of story about his and his girlfriend's relationship are told through fade-outs. As he is about to leave the apartment, already having packed his suitcases, he thinks of her and the time they spent together and seemingly decides against the decision; he then cuddles with his girlfriend. It is revealed, the next night, that he plans to give her a bracelet, which he quickly hides as he reads a newspaper before she enters the room. She surprises him with breakfast and they cuddle again. Later on, the two have a fight about something and she storms out of the apartment, and Bolton visibly feels guilty.[17]

Track listings

7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Edit)4:14
2."Forever Eyes"4:23
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:18
2."Forever Eyes"4:23
3."(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (7-inch version)4:56
4."That's What Love Is All About" (Live)4:23

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] Platinum 70,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Silver 200,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Columbia
United Kingdom February 5, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • limited-edition CD
 CBS [48]
February 19, 1990 CD [49]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hyatt, Wesley. The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits, Billboard Books, 1999, p. 277, 354.
  2. ^ a b "Laura Branigan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4330." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 45. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 15, 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1983". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1983 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 31, 1983. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Lichtman, Irv, ed. (August 30, 1986). "Inside Track". Billboard. p. 92.
  11. ^ Lichtman, Irv, ed. (August 16, 1986). "Inside Track". Billboard. p. 82.
  12. ^ "Names in the News". Associated Press. August 6, 1986.
  13. ^ "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  14. ^ "Michael Bolton biography". MTV. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 28, 1989". Billboard. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Video Track". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 41. October 14, 1989. p. 66.
  17. ^ "Michael Bolton". MyVideo.
  18. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  19. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  20. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6644." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6674." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  23. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 10. March 10, 1990. p. IV. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  25. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  26. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  27. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  28. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  29. ^ "Michael Bolton: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  30. ^ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  32. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending January 27, 1990". Cash Box. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  34. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  35. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1990 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Vol. 53, no. 6. December 22, 1990. p. 8. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  37. ^ "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Vol. 53, no. 6. December 22, 1990. p. 17. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  38. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 36. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  39. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  40. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  41. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  42. ^ "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. March 2, 1991. p. 41. ISSN 0265-1548.
  43. ^ Copsey, Rob (May 14, 2021). "Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  44. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  46. ^ "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1990 – Top 50 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 29, 1990. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  47. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  48. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. February 3, 1990. p. 38. ISSN 0265-1548.
  49. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. February 17, 1990. p. 35. ISSN 0265-1548.
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