"To Deserve You"
Single by Bette Midler
from the album Bette of Roses
ReleasedJune 1995 (1995-06)
GenrePop
Length4:36
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Maria McKee
Producer(s)Arif Mardin
Bette Midler singles chronology
"In My Life"
(1992)
"To Deserve You"
(1995)
"In This Life"
(1995)
Music video
"To Deserve You" on YouTube

"To Deserve You" is a song recorded by American singer Bette Midler for her eighth studio album Bette of Roses (1996).[1] The song was written by Maria McKee and produced by Arif Mardin.

Music video

The music video was directed by Marcus Nispel, it was released in rotation simultaneously with the release of the single.[2] In the video, Midler poses and dances on the set in a white dress.[3] The video for the remixed version was remounted from the original.

Critical reception

Larry Flick of Billboard stated that Midler has released a sparkling pop gem that perfectly demonstrates her delightfully theatrical style.[4] Commenting on the remixes, Flick wrote that the DJs with their production tried to melt the diva's voice in rocking rhythms, and that they would definitely stir up the imagination of the dance floor regulars with solid results. He also suggested that although it is difficult to imagine an airy pop ballad in a stylistic setting that ranges from harsh and underground to festive, it actually works well, mainly thanks to Midler's performance, which is strong enough to withstand such aggressive grooves.[5]

Commercial performance

The song became the lead single from the album. Thanks to the released remixes, the song was a great success on the US Dance Club Songs chart, reaching number two.[6] The song was also popular in the Netherlands, where the remix was added to the extended European reissue of the compilation Experience the Divine: Greatest Hits, the album itself topped the chart, and the single entered the top ten.[7]

Track listing

MC single[12]
  1. "To Deserve You" – 4:36
  2. «Up! Up! Up!» – 2:44

Charts

References

  1. ^ Bego, Mark; Coolidge, Rita (2002). "Bette of Roses". Bette Midler: Still Divine (Illustrated ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 252. ISBN 9780815412328.
  2. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 27. August 7, 1995. p. 36. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ^ Piatkowski, Peter (July 28, 2022). "Bette Midler's 1995 LP 'Bette of Roses' Is a Warm Embrace". PopMatters. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (July 1, 1995). "Single Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 26. p. 93. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. ^ Flick, Larry (October 7, 1995). "Erasure Waves A Plusher Pop Tapestry". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 40. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ a b "Bette Midler Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Bette Midler – To Deserve You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "To Deserve You (1995, Vinyl)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "To Deserve You (1995, Vinyl)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "To Deserve You (1995, Vinyl)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "To Deserve You (1995, CD)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "To Deserve You (1995, Cassette)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2776." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  14. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bette Midler" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  16. ^ ""Bette Midler Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)"". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1996" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "The Year in Music - Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-44. ISSN 0006-2510.

External links