If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)

Background and composition

After the success of Faster Than the Speed of Night in 1983, Tyler went on to work with Jim Steinman on a second album. "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" was released as the third single from Tyler's 1986 album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire after the international success of first single "Holding Out for a Hero", which was originally released in 1985 from the soundtrack to the film Footloose. Steinman recruited Desmond Child for two tracks (the other being "Lovers Again"). Steinman told Child that he wanted a song about androgyny. "I want a special song. The verses have to sound like Tina Turner, the B Section has to sound like The Police, U2, or Hall & Oates, and the chorus has to sound like Bruce Springsteen," he continued.

After he had completed his work on Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire and the single had peaked, Child went to work with Bon Jovi a few months later. He co-wrote "You Give Love a Bad Name" with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora and made the song a hit. "I was sore at the record company for not pushing that song ["If You Were A Woman (And I Was a Man)"], and I said, "I'm going to prove that that song's a hit!" So we wrote it again."

Critical reception

The album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire received generally positive reviews from music critics. People magazine described the album as "bombastic", and that "most of the time the bombast is kept within tolerable limits." Allmusic retrospectively complimented "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)", though described the whole album as a substandard to Faster Than the Speed of Night for lacking "a cranium-blasting "Faster Than the Speed of Night" or chart-busting "Total Eclipse of the Heart"."

The song was described as a "typical Bonnie Tyler ballad" by Paul Speelman of The Age. He said that the song has "a good, solid arrangement."

Commercial performance

Upon its release, "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" debuted at number 42 in France, rising to number 6 two months later. It was certified Silver by the SNEP with sales of over 200,000 copies in France.

Elsewhere in continental Europe, "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" was a hit in Switzerland and Germany, where it peaked at number 16 and 32 respectively. The song failed to significantly impact the UK charts, however, spending three weeks in the chart, peaking at number 78. Across the Atlantic, the song peaked at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 99 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart.

Music video

In conjunction with the single release, Tyler recorded a music video for "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)". Two versions of the video were published. The original version opens with a monologue spoken by a woman depicting Bonnie Tyler at an old age, and the second version omits this opening.

Excerpts of the music video are shown on a TV during Tyler's 1992 music video for "The Desert Is in Your Heart".

Synopsis

In the longer version, the opens with no music, just an elderly woman (representing an old Bonnie Tyler) describing her work as a singer at a club (known as "The Dive") that she owned in war time England. As the music begins, the female stage manager at the club runs into Tyler's dressing room, telling her that "the show" is about to start. The video then cuts to a woman in a red gown escorting the viewer round the club, presenting the colours-only room, and the room of black and white. In the black and white room, Tyler begins singing as she descends from a platform onto the stage. The video occasionally cuts to scenes outside as the bombs begin to strike the streets outside. As women surround a pit of mud which contains four men fighting, another man crosses the club on a zip wire, landing on a raised platform. He turns to see Tyler and a crowd of women raising Venus symbols at him, which transform him into a woman. The woman then blows a kiss to Tyler before leaving the club.

The shorter version cuts out the opening monologue and begins with the woman in red welcoming the viewer to The Dive.

There is also another scene difference in them. One has the man "explode" visibly and the other has this part cut out.

Live performances

"If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" was performed live in Zaragosa, Spain, in 2005. The performance was recorded and released on Tyler's album Bonnie Tyler Live (2007) and the accompanying DVD Bonnie on Tour (2007).

Track listing and formats

1. "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" — 4:00
2. "Under Suspicion" — 4:20

1. "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" (extended version) — 4:46
2. "Straight from the Heart" — 3:38
3. "Under Suspicion" — 4:20

Re-recordings

As well as making regular appearances on compilation albums, Tyler has re-recorded the song multiple times. "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" featured on her 2004 album Simply Believe and on her 2005 EP Bonnie Tyler. In conjunction with the release of Wings in 2005, Tyler performed in Saragosa, Spain, and the concert was filmed for her DVD Bonnie on Tour and CD Bonnie Tyler Live, which include the song on the track list.

Cover versions

The song was covered by Robin Beck for her 1989 album Trouble Or Nothin', produced by Child and his longtime collaborator Sir Arthur Payson. The album also features other songs written by Child originally recorded by Tyler, including "Hide Your Heart" and "Save Up All Your Tears".

RuPaul recorded the song for her album Foxy Lady (1996). The album received a negative review from AllMusic, opining that the album was "an attempt to expand RuPaul's pop culture phenomenon status into a genuine career," but that it lacked any catchy songs.