"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.[3] It is her fourth of four Platinum records, and is considered her greatest international hit.[4]
"Woman in Love" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Barbra Streisand | ||||
from the album Guilty | ||||
B-side | "Run Wild" | |||
Released | August 16, 1980 | |||
Recorded | February 1980 | |||
Studio | Middle Ear (Miami)[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:49 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Gibb-Galuten-Richardson | |||
Barbra Streisand singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio | ||||
"Barbra Streisand - Woman in Love (Audio)" on YouTube |
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.[5] 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 replaced Queen's big-selling 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.[6] The song also proved very popular internationally, reaching number one in many countries, including on the UK Singles Chart. The song sold more than 2.5 million copies up to December 1981, according to Billboard.[7] In 2023, American Songwriter and The Guardian ranked the song number one and number seven, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Barbra Streisand songs.[8][9]
Music video
editThe music video for the song included clips from A Star Is Born, starring Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, and from other movies she made in the 1970s.
Track listing
editSide | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
A | "Woman in Love" | 3:48 |
B | "Run Wild" | 4:05 |
Personnel
edit- Barbra Streisand – lead vocals
- Barry Gibb – acoustic guitar, arrangement
- Pete Carr – lead guitar
- Richard Tee – keyboards, electric piano
- Harold Cowart – bass guitar
- Steve Gadd – drums
- Joe Lala – shaker
- Denise Maynelli – background vocals
- Myrna Mathews - background vocals
- Marti McCal – background vocals
- Jerry Peel – French horn
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
All-time chartsedit
|
Certifications and sales
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[52] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[53] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[54] | Gold | 500,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[55] | Gold | |
Japan | — | 60,000[24] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] | Gold | 780,000[56] |
United States (RIAA)[58] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Liz McClarnon version
edit"Woman in Love" | |
---|---|
Single by Liz McClarnon | |
A-side | "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" |
Released | February 13, 2006 |
Length | 3:35 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
|
Atomic Kitten member Liz McClarnon covered "Woman in Love" after the band's split in 2005. Produced by original songwriter Robin Gibb—whom McClarnon accompanied on his 2005 tour—the cover was released in February 2006 as McClarnon's debut solo single. In the United Kingdom, the song was released as a double A-side with a cover of Jackie Wilson's 1968 hit "I Get the Sweetest Feeling". The double A-side peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart on February 19, 2006, staying in the top 100 for six weeks. Elsewhere, "Woman in Love" reached number 21 in Ireland and became a minor hit in Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
McClarnon would go on to record another song entitled "Lately", but the track was not released as a single.
Track listings
editUK CD single[59]
- "Woman in Love"
- "I Get the Sweetest Feeling"
Scandinavian CD single[60]
- "Woman in Love" (radio edit)
- "Woman in Love" (Dancing DJs remix)
- "Woman in Love" (K-Klub remix)
- "Woman in Love" (Soul Seekerz dub)
Australian and New Zealand maxi-single[61]
- "Woman in Love" (radio edit)
- "Woman in Love" (K-Klass Klub remix)
- "Woman in Love" (Soul Seekerz dub)
- "Woman in Love" (Dancing DJs remix)
Charts
editChart (2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[62] | 77 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[63] | 2 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[64] | 9 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[65] with "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" |
20 |
Ireland (IRMA)[21] | 21 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[66] | 77 |
Scotland (OCC)[67] with "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" |
2 |
UK Singles (OCC)[68] with "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" |
5 |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | February 13, 2006 | CD | All Around the World | [69] |
Australia | April 17, 2006 | [70] |
Barry Gibb version
edit"Woman in Love" | |
---|---|
Song by Barry Gibb | |
from the album The Guilty Demos | |
Released | November 2006 |
Recorded | October 1979 |
Studio | Criteria (Miami, Florida) |
Genre | R&B |
Length | 3:53 |
Label | iTunes |
Songwriter(s) | Barry & Robin Gibb |
Producer(s) | Barry Gibb |
"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.[71] 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 to perform alone on her album.
Personnel
editSee also
edit- List of best-selling singles in France
- List of best-selling singles of the 1980s in the United Kingdom
- List of Top 25 singles for 1980 in Australia
- List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1980
- List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1980
- List of European number-one hits of 1980
- List of number-one hits of 1980 (France)
- List of number-one hits of 1980 (Germany)
- List of number-one singles of 1980 (Ireland)
- List of number-one hits in Norway
- List of number-one hits (Sweden)
- List of number-one hits of 1980 (Switzerland)
- List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)
- List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1980 (U.S.)
- List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1980 (U.S.)
References
edit- ^ "Gibb Songs: 1980". Columbia.edu. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ Smith, Troy L. (May 13, 2021). "Every No. 1 song of the 1980s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
- ^ Lister, David, "Pop ballads bite back in lyrical fashion", The Independent, 28 May 1994
- ^ "Song artist 143 - Barbra Streisand". Tsort.info. October 8, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, 500 nr.1 hits uit de Top 40, 9023009444 [book in Dutch]
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- ^ "Streisand Disks Dominate Global Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media Inc. December 6, 1980. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ Patton, Alli (January 28, 2023). "Top 10 Barbra Streisand Songs". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (October 27, 2023). "Barbra Streisand's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 10 January 1981. p. 36.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1981". Kent Music Report. January 4, 1982. p. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4701a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 0260." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ Timo (August 13, 2015). "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit STEP - SUE". Sisältää hitin. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Les Tubes de chaque artiste commençant par S". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Topp 10 vinsælustu lögin". Vísir (in Icelandic). December 5, 1980. p. 17. Retrieved October 29, 2020 – via Timarit.is.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Woman in Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. March 7, 1981. p. 73. Retrieved June 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Barbra Streisand".
- ^ a b Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 978-4-87131-077-2.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Barbra Streisand" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love". VG-lista.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Barbra Streisand Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Top 100 1980-11-08". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries: BARBRA STREISAND". World singles charts and sales TOP 50 in 58 countries. November 25, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1980". www.dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1980 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Nztop40.co.nz. December 31, 1980. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1980". Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1980" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
- ^ "UK Singles of the Year" (PDF). Record Mirror. December 27, 1980. p. 30. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ "Pop Singles" Billboard December 20, 1980: TIA-10
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1980". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- ^ Vicente, Eduardo. "Listagens Nopem 1965-1999". Academia.edu. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ "French single certifications – Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love" (in French). InfoDisc. Select BARBRA STREISAND and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Barbra Streisand; 'Woman in Love')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
- ^ "International Certifications" (PDF). Cash Box. February 21, 1981. p. 31. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ Rob Copsey (February 26, 2021). "The Official Top 50 best-selling songs of 1980". Official Charts. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American single certifications – Barbra Streisand – Woman in Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
- ^ Woman in Love / I Get the Sweetest Feeling (UK CD single liner notes). Liz McClarnon. All Around the World Productions. 2006. CXGLOBE476.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Woman in Love (Scandinavian CD single liner notes). Liz McClarnon. Bonnier Music. 2006. 33441641.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Woman in Love (Australian & New Zealand maxi-single liner notes). Liz McClarnon. All Around the World Productions. 2006. CDRS007.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Issue 844" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "Liz McClarnon – Woman in Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Liz McClarnon – Woman in Love" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 27th February 2006" (PDF). ARIA. February 27, 2006. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- ^ "Liz McClarnon – Woman in Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 11, 2006. p. 27.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 17th April 2006" (PDF). ARIA. April 17, 2006. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2006. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ "Gibb Songs : 1979". Columbia.edu. Retrieved March 29, 2014.