B-side "Run Wild" Length 3:49 | Released August 16, 1980 | |
Format Vinyl record (7") , 12" , CD(reissue) Recorded February 1980
(Middle Ear, Miami Beach) Genre Adult Contemporary, Soft Rock | ||
"Woman in Love" is a song performed by Barbra Streisand and taken from her 1980 album, Guilty. The song was written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, who received the 1980 Ivor Novello award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. It is her fourth of four Platinum records, and is considered her greatest international hit.
Contents
After the success enjoyed by the Bee Gees in the late 1970s, the band was asked to participate in musical endeavors for other artists, and Streisand asked Barry Gibb to write an album for her. This album ultimately became Guilty. "Woman in Love", as the lead single, became one of the most successful songs of Streisand's music career. It reached the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Streisand's fifth (and last to date) number one hit on that chart. It notably replaced Queen's mega smash hit "Another One Bites the Dust", spent three weeks at number one, and was itself replaced by "Lady" by country singer Kenny Rogers. It also spent five weeks atop the adult contemporary chart, her sixth number one on that tally. The song also proved very popular internationally, reaching number one in many countries, including in the UK Singles Chart. The song sold more than 2.5 millions till December 1981, according to Billboard. The lyrics refer to Streisand's eternal devotion to her lover. No matter the obstacles they face, they will always be in love with one another.
Streisand has openly stated that she doesn't like "Woman In Love" because she doesn't believe in the meaning of the lyrics. She has rarely performed the song live; she did, however, sing it on a couple of dates on her 2013 European tour and the Barbra: The Music, The Mem'ries, The Magic.
Music video
The music video for the song was taken from A Star Is Born, starring Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.
Barry Gibb's version
"Woman in Love" is the first demo Barry Gibb recorded for Barbra Streisand's album Guilty. This composition by the Gibb brothers Barry and Robin would become the album's very successful first single. And it was due to this demo that Barry Gibb became the first male artist to sing the song, though it was originally recorded for Streisand alone in order for her to sing the song for her album.
Personnel
Other versions
The Bulgarian singer Lili Ivanova recorded an original English version especially for a show program that aired on Channel One of Central Television in USSR in 1980.The Greek singer Anna Vissi recorded a Greek version of the song "Το Ξέρω Θα 'Ρθεις Ξανά" ("To Xéro Tha 'Rtheis Xaná") for her album Ναι ("Yes") in 1980. Legendary French singer Mireille Mathieu recorded a French version ("Une Femme Amoureuse") in 1980. Danish songstress Gitte Hænning recorded a German version titled "Die Frau, die dich liebt". Eleni Tzoka, a Polish singer of Greek descent, recorded a Polish cover of the song titled "Zrobię ten błąd" (I'll Make that Mistake). The lyrical idea is completely different from the original version. Turkish pop star Nilüfer recorded a Turkish version of the song called "Ben Seni Seven Kadin"(I am the woman who loves you) in 1981. In 1982 the Hungarian singer Kati Kovács sang it in English on Top 12 album.
Czech singer Helena Vondráčková made minor hit in 1980 with her cover "To je štěstí (This Is Happiness)"
Slovenian singer Ditka Haberl recorded a version of the song called Ko sem zaljubljena (When I'm in Love). It was released on her 2006 compilation album Vse je igra (Everything is a Game).
British vocalist Rebekah Ryan released a version of the track as a single in 1997, on MCA records.
Jamaican singer Echo Minott did a 1982 version called 'Man In Love' which provided the rhythm for Dillinger's 'Five Man Army', and for the Massive Attack song of the same name.
In 1991, Italian singer Dora Carofiglio, known as the lead singer of Novecento and voice of Valerie Dore, covered "Woman in Love" under the moniker "Sissy Taylor".
A Finnish-language version of the song, "Rakastunut Nainen", was recorded by Arja Koriseva in 1995. The same title had previously been used in Finland for A Woman in Love by Frank Loesser.
"Woman in Love" was covered by CoCo Lee in 1995, Dana International in 1999, S.H.E in 2002 and Young Divas in 2006.
British band, The Bluetones, covered the song on the B-side of their 2002 single, "After Hours". It was included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03.
In 2006, the Italian singer Filippa Giordano recorded a Spanish version of "Women in Love" called "Me he enamorado de ti". It was released in Mexico on her album, Primadonna.
On February 13, 2006, Liz McClarnon from Atomic Kitten, released a cover of "Woman in Love" as her first solo single. The track was produced by Robin Gibb who co-authored the song. McClarnon's version peaked at number five in the UK Top 40.
The song was used as the basis for Baggalútur's 2008 satirical Christmas song, Það koma vonandi jól.
In 2011, the famous Moroccan singer Sofia Marikh recorded an Arabic version of the song تهواك Tahwak (she adores you).
In March 2012, former Pussycat Dolls member Kaya Jones released her own version of the song featuring Captain G.Q. and it was eventually included in her debut album Kaya released a month after.
In October 2012, the all-male vocal quartet The Tenors (formerly The Canadian Tenors) released a version in Spanish ("Me he enamorado de ti") on their album "Lead With Your Heart".
In April 2013, Mando sang this song, as Barbra Streisand on the Greek edition of Your Face Sounds Familiar reality show. In October 2015, actor Krzysztof Respondek sang this song live on the Polish edition of this TV show (Twoja twarz brzmi znajomo, season 4), also performing as Streisand.