Wikipedia

How Can We Be Lovers

"How Can We Be Lovers" is a song written by American singer and songwriter Michael Bolton, Diane Warren, and Desmond Child and performed by Bolton. Released in 1990 by Columbia Records as the third single from Bolton's sixth studio album, Soul Provider (1989), it peaked at numbers three and four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and US Cash Box Top 100, and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1990. The song also reached number two in Canada, number three in Australia, number nine in Luxembourg, number 10 in Sweden, and number 18 in Ireland.

"How Can We Be Lovers"
US retail cassette variant of standard artwork; the US CD edition was promo-only
Single by Michael Bolton
from the album Soul Provider
B-side"That's What Love Is All About"
Released1990
Length3:55
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
ProducerDesmond Child
Michael Bolton singles chronology
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
(1989)		 "How Can We Be Lovers"
(1990)		 "When I'm Back on My Feet Again"
(1990)

Track listings

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  • US and Australian 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese mini-CD single[1][2][3]
  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "That's What Love Is All About" – 3:56
  • UK 7-inch and cassette single[4][5]
  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "The Hunger" – 4:18
  • UK 12-inch single and CD1[6][7]
  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "Fools Game" – 3:50
  3. "The Hunger" – 4:18
  1. "How Can We Be Lovers"
  2. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (live)
  3. "The Hunger"
  4. "I Almost Believed You"
  • European 7-inch and mini-CD single[9][10]
  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "Call My Name" – 4:15
  • European mini maxi-CD single[11]
  1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
  2. "Call My Name" – 4:15
  3. "Fools Game" – 3:50

Personnel

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  • Michael Bolton – lead and background vocals
  • Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards
  • Bobby Chouinard – drums
  • John McCurry – electric and acoustic guitar
  • Hugh McDonald – bass guitar
  • Eric Rehl – synthesizer
  • Myriam Valle, Jon Fiore, Kyf Brewer, Kate McGunnigle, Joe Cerisano, Patty Darcy, Louis Merlino, Bernie Shanahan, Desmond Child – background vocals
  • Sir Arthur Payson – engineer, mixing
  • Joe Pirrera, Keith Goldstein, Roy Hendrickson, Danny Mormando, Mike Kowiak – assistant engineers
  • John Herman – assistant mix engineer
  • Steve Savitt – production manager

Charts

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Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Columbia
Australia April 16, 1990 CBS [33]
Japan April 21, 1990 Mini-CD CBS/Sony [34]

References

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  1. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 1990. 38-73318.
  2. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (Australian cassette single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655806 4.
  3. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). CBS/Sony. 1990. CSDS 8129.
  4. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (UK 7-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 7.
  5. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (UK cassette single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 4.
  6. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (UK 12-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 6.
  7. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (UK CD1 liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 2.
  8. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (UK CD2 liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 5.
  9. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (European 7-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 7.
  10. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (European mini-CD single liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 1.
  11. ↑ How Can We Be Lovers (European mini maxi-CD single liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 3.
  12. ↑ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 9138". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Image 9027". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. June 9, 1990. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  17. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – How Can We Be Lovers". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  18. ↑ Radio Luxembourg Singles. May 20, 1990.
  19. ↑ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers". top40.nl. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 2/6/1990 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  26. ↑ Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
  27. 1 2 "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved July 18, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  29. ↑ "Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on February 16, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LIV, no. 22. December 29, 1990. p. 9. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
  33. ↑ "New Release Summary: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 14. April 15, 1990. p. 18.
  34. ↑ "マイケル・ボルトン | ラバーズ" [Michael Bolton | Lovers] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
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