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Can We Still Be Friends
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Wikipedia article
"'Can We Still Be Friends'" is a song written and originally performed by Todd Rundgren.
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 US 'Billboard' Hot 100, and also peaking at #8 in Australia. 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'.
Charts
Robert Palmer version
{{Infobox song
| name = Can We Still Be Friends
| cover = Robert Palmer Can We Still Be Friends single cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Robert Palmer
| album = Secrets
| B-side = Too Good To Be True
| released = 1979
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Island
| writer = Todd Rundgren
| producer = Robert Palmer
| prev_title = Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)
| prev_year = 1979
| next_title = Johnny and Mary
| next_year = 1980
}}
In 1979, "Can We Still Be Friends" became a hit again when Robert Palmer recorded a version for his album 'Secrets'.
Chart performance
Mandy Moore version
In 2003, Mandy Moore recorded her own version of the song from her third studio album 'Coverage', composed entirely of cover songs.
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 Garca and Nito Mestre, founding members of the band 'Sui Generis', recorded a Spanish version entitled "Yo soy su pap" ("I am his father"), which appeared on their 2000 album 'Sinfonas 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 Muoz.
References
Category:1970s ballads
Category:Todd Rundgren songs
Category:Robert Palmer (singer) songs
Category:Rod Stewart songs
Category:1978 singles
Category:1979 singles
Category:Songs written by Todd Rundgren
Category:Song recordings produced by Todd Rundgren
Category:1978 songs
Category:Rock ballads
Category:Bearsville Records singles
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Mandy Moore songs
Category:Songs about friendship
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