I Can't Make You Love Me

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the unrelated song of the same name by Quiet Riot, see Guilty Pleasures (Quiet Riot album).

"I Can't Make You Love Me"
Single by Bonnie Raitt
from the album Luck of the Draw
ReleasedOctober 22, 1991
Recorded1990
GenrePop
Length5:33
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Bonnie Raitt singles chronology
"Something to Talk About"
(1991) 		"I Can't Make You Love Me"
(1991) 		"Not the Only One"
(1992)
Music video
"I Can't Make You Love Me" on
YouTube

"I Can't Make You Love Me" is a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin and recorded by American singer Bonnie Raitt for her eleventh studio album, Luck of the Draw (1991). Released as the album's second single in 1991, "I Can't Make You Love Me" became one of Raitt's most successful singles, reaching the top-20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the top-10 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

In August 2000, Mojo magazine voted "I Can't Make You Love Me" the eighth best track on its The 100 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[1] The song was ranked at number 339 on the Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, later placing at number 372 on the 2021 ranking.[2][3] On November 27, 2016, the Grammy Hall of Fame announced its induction, along with that of another 24 songs.[4]

Writing and recording

"I Can't Make You Love Me" was written by Nashville writers

Nashville Tennessean. "And we'd worked on this song for more than six months. One day, he said, 'Come up to the living room,' where his piano was. He sat down and started playing this melody, and it was one of the most moving pieces of music I'd heard. I mean, it hit me in a hard way ... Instantly, I knew it was the best thing I'd ever been a part of."[5] Reid and Shamblin were both country music songwriters, who according to some accounts originally wrote the song as a fast, bluegrass number. Upon slowing down the tempo considerably, they realized the song gained considerable power and thought about giving the song to one of three artists: Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler or Linda Ronstadt. Eventually, the song made its way to Bonnie Raitt, who recorded the track for her eleventh studio album, Luck of the Draw (1991). Raitt co-produced the song with Don Was, while Bruce Hornsby provided a piano accompaniment.[6]

Composition and inspiration

The idea for the song came to Reid while reading an article about a man arrested for getting drunk and shooting at his girlfriend's car. The judge asked him if he had learned anything, to which he replied, "I learned, Your Honor, that you can't make a woman love you if she don't."[7]

Raitt recorded the vocal in just one take in the studio, later saying that it was so sad a song that she could not recapture the emotion: "We'd try to do it again and I just said, 'You know, this ain't going to happen.'"[8]

A pensive ballad, "I Can't Make You Love Me" was recorded against a quiet electric piano-based arrangement, with prominent piano fills and interpolations supplied by Bruce Hornsby. Phil Collins described it as instantly recognizable as Hornsby's work.[9]

Critical reception and accolades

"I Can't Make You Love Me" received acclaim from

music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised the track, calling it a "strong song" and picking it as one of the album's best tracks.[10] Steve Hochman of Los Angeles Times hailed the song as one of Raitt's most elegant tracks.[11] Elysa Gardner wrote for Rolling Stone that "Raitt's gorgeously understated rendering of 'I Can't Make You Love Me,' in which sentiments such as 'I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power/But you won't' are delivered with a quiet resignation that's worth a hundred glissandi in emotional weight."[12]

"I Can't Make You Love Me" entered many lists of the greatest songs of all time. In 2000,

The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[2] The website "Ultimate Classic Rock" placed the song at number 24 on their "25 Saddest Songs Ever", praising Bonnie Raitt vocals, writing that "she sings in one of her most impassioned vocals ever. There's real ache in every word that drips from her pained lips."[13]

The song's popularity helped solidify her remarkable late-in-career commercial success that had begun two years before. In the time since, "I Can't Make You Love Me" has gone on to become a pop standard and a mainstay of adult contemporary radio formats. For Raitt, the song was notoriously difficult to sing, due to its required vocal range, difficult phrasing and breathing, and the emotional content involved. At the televised

Grammy Awards of 1992 Raitt performed it in an even more austere setting than on record, with just her and Hornsby highlighted. As she negotiated the final vocal line, she let out a big audible and visible sigh of relief that she had successfully gotten through it. Her live performance of the song was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III.[14]
Raitt has continued to sing the song in all her concert tours:

I mean, 'I Can't Make You Love Me' is no picnic. I love that song, so does the audience. So it's almost a sacred moment when you share that, that depth of pain with your audience. Because they get really quiet, and I have to summon ... some other place in order to honor that space.

— Raitt, 2002 NPR interview[15]

Music video

The video for this song uses the shorter single version of the song. Filmed in color, but transferred to video for black-and-white, with vibrant lighting effects, it features Raitt performing the song in front of a curtain with a silhouette of a pianist in the background (played by Bruce Hornsby, who actually plays piano on the record), while in other scenes, a scorching fire is taking place outdoors and many shadows of trees, branches, and even people at times are seen swaying to the song's rhythm. The music video was directed, photographed and edited by acclaimed director/photographer/illustrator Matt Mahurin, who has directed videos for artists including U2, Peter Gabriel, REM and Sting.

Chart performance

The song was a big hit for Raitt, reaching number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[16] The song placed at number 100 on the Billboard Year-End chart of 1992.[17] In New Zealand, the song was Raitt's highest charting-single, reaching number 22,[18] while in Netherlands, the song charted moderately at number 43.[19]

Charts

George Michael version

"I Can't Make You Love Me"
Single by George Michael
from the album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
A-side"Older"
Released20 January 1997
Length5:23
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)George Michael
George Michael singles chronology
"Spinning the Wheel"
(1996) 		"Older" / "I Can't Make You Love Me"
(1997) 		"Star People '97"
(1997)

English singer

UK Singles Chart
.

Background and release

After the release of his second studio album,

Dreamworks Records label in the United States and Virgin in the rest of the world.[28] In 1996, the singer released the song "Jesus to a Child", which became a huge hit worldwide, followed by "Fastlove" and "Spinning the Wheel", which also became successful songs from his third studio album, Older (1996).[29][30]

While choosing the fourth single from the album, the title track "

UK Singles Chart at number three.[30]

Charts

Chart (1997) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[32] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[30]
 3

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Boyz II Men version

"I Can't Make You Love Me"
Single by Boyz II Men
from the album Love
ReleasedOctober 27, 2009
Recorded2008
GenreR&B
Length5:17
Label
Songwriter(s)
Boyz II Men singles chronology
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"
(2008) 		"I Can't Make You Love Me"
(2009) 		"
Iris
"
(2009)

American R&B vocal group

cover album, Love (2009). Their version was released as the album's first single on October 27, 2009. Having a more R&B approach, "I Can't Make You Love Me" received generally favorable reviews from music critics, while it has achieved minor success on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart.

Background and release

After releasing their second

iTunes store.[36] For the band members, "We wanted to stay true to our roots, and it's a very beautiful song. And with our sound, we gave it an R&B twist. It's always been a favorite of ours, and we hope people will fall in love with it again."[37]

Reception

A writer for Soul Bounce wrote that "The biggest surprise on this album is the bluesy interpretation of Bonnie Rait's country hit, 'I Can't Make You Love Me.' Starting with strong lyrics and a deep fried instrumental, the Boyz make this song their own with their unique flow providing good contrast to a familiar melodic line."[38] Los Angeles Theatre called it an "impassioned" performance.[39] On the charts, the song performed very modestly, reaching number 75 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[40]

Chart performance

Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[40]
 75

Adele version

"I Can't Make You Love Me"
Sony
Songwriter(s)

In 2011, English singer

UK Singles Chart
, reaching the top-forty, although it was never released as a single.

Background and live performances

In addition to receiving positive reviews from music critics, Adele's second album

iTunes Festival London 2011. On the setlist, Adele performed tracks from 21 and a cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me". Before performing the track, Adele stated that it was one of her favorite songs and described it as "perfect in every way". She added that Bonnie Raitt has a "stunning voice" and went on to compliment the lyrics, calling them "mind-blowing".[41]

After the positive response of the iTunes Festival performance, Adele covered once again the track, during her first

live album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, recorded on 22 September 2011. She made further comment over the song, saying, "It blows me away" and further adding that she thought the song was "incredibly moving". Adele also commented on the emotions the song gives her, saying, "It makes me really, really happy and really, really devastated and depressed at the same time. It makes me think of my fondest and best times in my life, and it makes me think of the worst as well, and combined, probably is a recipe for disaster, but I do love this song. It's just fucking stunning."[42]

Critical reception

While reviewing her iTunes Festival performance, David Smyth of

Allmusic wrote that the cover "made all the more tender by the rarely heard frailties in Adele's voice."[44] Donald Gibson of Seattle Pi wrote that "she breathes new life into Bonnie Raitt's 'I Can't Make You Love Me,' with similar intimacy and conviction."[45]

While reviewing her

The Wrap called it "a classic of unrequited love that you'd have to swear she wrote if Bonnie Raitt hadn't turned it into the ultimate female weepie back when Adele was 2."[50]

Chart performance

Despite not being released as a single, "I Can't Make You Love Me" debuted at number 53 on the

UK Singles Chart week of 30 September 2012.[51] It later peaked at number 37, on the following week, 6 October 2012,[52]
becoming her eighth top-forty song and first non-single top-forty hit.

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart[53] 78
Scottish Singles Chart[54] 34
UK Singles Chart[52]
 37

Priyanka Chopra version

"I Can't Make You Love Me"
Single by Priyanka Chopra
Released22 April 2014 (2014-04-22)
Genre
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Manual "DJ Manian" Reuter
Priyanka Chopra singles chronology
"Exotic"
(2013) 		"I Can't Make You Love Me"
(2014)
Music video
"I Can't Make You Love Me" on
YouTube

In 2014, Indian actress and singer Priyanka Chopra recorded a version of "I Can't Make You Love Me" for her debut studio album. Speaking about the song, Chopra said "This is one of my favorite tracks on the album. It's my ode to a classic, a song that I love, and one that says so much – this is for the actor in me."[55] Chopra's version of the song incorporates electronic dance music (EDM) and electropop in its production,[56][57] which comes courtesy of German producer Manuel "DJ Manian" Reuter. Andy Gensler from Billboard commented on how different Chopra's version was from the original by Raitt, saying that "Chopra's more uptempo take on the song is more likely to connect with a generation of ravers with no idea of the song's origin"[58] The up-tempo version was demoed by American singer Ester Dean at the request of Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine.[58]

It was released on 22 April 2014, by

2101 Records and Interscope Records.[59][60] It is the third internationally released single following "In My City" (featuring will.i.am), which failed to achieve airplay in the United States,[61] and "Exotic". In the United Kingdom, "I Can't Make You Love Me" was originally planned to be Chopra's debut single.[57]

Promotion and music video

Chopra's version of "I Can't Make You Love Me" was used to promote

Beats by Dre. In a press release, it was revealed that the song would be used in the launch of a new campaign for the popular Beats Pill XL portable Bluetooth speaker. Chopra and her new track would be featured in the national ad campaign, that ran nationwide from May 1 through May 25.[62]

An accompanying music video was filmed in Los Angeles in February 2014.[63] It was conceptualised and directed by duo Jeff Nicholas and Jonathan Craven of The Uprising Creative.[60] Actor Milo Ventimiglia plays Chopra's love interest and scenes include Chopra throwing coloured paint at Ventimiglia as part of celebrations for the Indian festival of Holi, as well as embraces between the couple and solo scenes with Chopra.[63] According to NDTV, the video charts a fictional relationship that "goes from loving to hellish".[64] Behind the scenes footage was released to Access Hollywood.[65] It premiered in New York City on 30 April 2014.[56] Gensler noted that the video also contained product placement for Nokia and Beats by Dre speakers.[58]

Critical reception

News18 said, "The singer certainly sounds great, so much that it's almost unbelievable it is Priyanka Chopra. The number is definitely foot-tapping and you're going to be hearing this one at every restaurant and club in the days to come" and added that Chopra had "definitely done a great job recreating the Bonnie Raitt song".[66]

Chart performance

Chart (2014) Peak
position
US
Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[67]
 28

Notes

  1. ^ "Lennon track voted the best by songwriters". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
  3. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  4. ^ Kreps, Daniel (29 November 2016). "Nirvana, Bowie, R.E.M. Songs Among Grammy Hall of Fame's 2017 Inductees". Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ Moore, Rick (3 June 2013). "Bonnie Raitt, "I Can't Make You Love Me"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b Cooper, Peter (10 May 2012). "Peter Cooper On Music: 'I Can't Make You Love Me' endures". Tennessean. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  7. ^ 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time and the Artists, Stories and Secrets Behind Them, Toby Creswell
  8. ^ 107.1 KGSR - Radio Austin Archived 1 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  9. SiriusXM. YouTube. 20 January 2011. Archived
    from the original on 15 December 2021.
  10. Rovi Corporation
    . Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  11. ^ Hochman, Steve (23 June 1991). "ALBUM REVIEW : ***1/2 BONNIE RAITT "Luck of the Draw" Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  12. ^ Gardner, Elysa (17 June 1997). "Luck of the Draw | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  13. ^ Gallucci, Michael. "25 Saddest Songs Ever". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Amazon. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  15. ^ Raitt, Bonnie (4 May 2002). "NPR Music: Bonnie Raitt Shakes it Up". Npr.org. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  16. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 199.
  17. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1992". Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Bonnie Raitt – I Can't Make You Love Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Bonnie Raitt – I Can't Make You Love Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  20. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 229.
  21. ^ RPM Adult Contemporary, December 14, 1991
  22. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 18 January 1992. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  23. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 14 December 1991. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  24. ^ "Bonnie Raitt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Bonnie Raitt Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1992". billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  27. ^ "1992 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 52. 26 December 1992. p. YE-38. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  28. Rovi Corporation
    . Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  29. ^ "George Michael | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  30. ^ a b c "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Older EP - George Michael". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  33. ^ "British single certifications – George Michael – I Can't Make You Love Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  34. ^ Aleman, Annie. "Boyz II Men bring harmonies to NCC stage". Beacon News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  35. ^ "Music: Boyz II Men: I Can't Make You Love Me - New Single". This Is R&B. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  36. ^ "I Can't Make You Love Me - Single Boyz II Men". iTunes. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  37. ^ France, Lisa Respers (17 November 2009). "Boyz II Men sending out 'Love'". CNN. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  38. ^ "Getting 'Love' From Boyz II Men". Soul Bounce. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  39. ^ "Fox Performing Arts Center Riverside, CA - Boyz II Men". Los Angeles Theatre. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  40. ^
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  41. ^ "Adele - I Can't Make You Love Me (Live) Itunes Festival 2011 HD". YouTube. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  42. ^ "Adele - I Can't Make You Love Me (Live At The Royal Albert Hall DVD)". YouTube. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  43. London Evening Standard. Archived from the original
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  44. Allmusic
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  45. ^ Gibson, Donald (16 July 2011). "Music Review: Adele - iTunes Festival: London 2011 [EP]". Seattle Pi. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  46. ^ Gill, Andy (25 November 2011). "Album: Adele, Live at The Royal Albert Hall, XL". The Independent. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  47. Consequence of Sound
    . Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  48. ^ O'Toole, Kit (14 December 2011). "Music DVD Review: Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall". Blogcritics. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  49. ^ Schurr, Maria (10 January 2012). "Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall [DVD]". PopMatters. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  50. The Wrap
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  53. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Adele". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  54. The Official Charts Company
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  55. ^ "Priyanka Chopra Releases New Single 'I Can't Make You Love Me', Shoots Holi-Themed Music Video with Milo Ventimiglia". International Business Times. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  56. ^ a b "Priyanka Chopra launches 'I Can't Make You Love Me' video - Bollywood News". Digital Spy. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  57. ^ a b "Priyanka Chopra confirms 'I Can't Make You Love Me' release date - Bollywood News". Digital Spy. 20 April 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  58. ^ a b c "Priyanka Chopra Covers 'I Can't Make You Love Me' By Bonnie Raitt: Video". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  59. ^ "I Can't Make You Love Me: Priyanka Chopra: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  60. ^ a b "Interscope Records Recording Artist Priyanka Chopra Releases New Single 'I Can't... - SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/" (Press release). Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  61. ^ Gerrick D. Kennedy (20 November 2012). "Bollywood's Priyanka Chopra as pioneering pop act in America - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  62. ^ "Priyanka Chopra's New Song Tapped for Beats By Dre Ad (Audio)". Billboard. 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  63. ^ a b "Priyanka Chopra shoots Holi scene for 'I Can't Make You Love Me' video - Bollywood News". Digital Spy. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  64. ^ "Priyanka Chopra Has Her Heart Broken In I Can't Make You Love Me Video". NDTV.com. 1 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  65. ^ "Priyanka Chopra Exclusive: 'I Can't Make You Love Me'". Access Hollywood. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  66. News18
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  67. ^ "Artist Charts Search: Priyanka Chopra". Billboard Chart Search. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
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