(I've Had) The Time of My Life

Theme song of the 1987 film Dirty Dancing (I've Had) The Time of My Life Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time of My Life alternate single cover.jpg US single single Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes Dirty Dancing: Original Soundtrack from the Vestron Motion Picture "Love Is Strange" by Mickey & Sylvia July 10, 1987 Los Angeles, California Dance-rock soft rockhttps://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1019/p13s02-almp.html Annie Lennox, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and Jennifer Warnes all deliver singer showcases October 19, 2007 Christian Science Monitor 6:46 4:50 (LP and single version) RCA John DeNicola Donald Markowitz Franke Previte Michael Lloyd Bill Medley Loving on Borrowed Time 1986 He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother 1988 Jennifer Warnes single Bird on the Wire 1987 (I've Had) The Time of My Life 1987 Rock You Gently 1992 single 4BQLE_RrTSU "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" is a song composed by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz.Roberts David British Hit Singles & Albums Guinness World Records Limited London 19th 2006 136 1-904994-10-5 It was recorded by American singers Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes and used as the theme song for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. The song has won a number of awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. History Singer-songwriter Previte was the lead singer of the band Franke and the Knockouts. He had success with the song "Sweetheart" in 1981, but by 1986 was without a recording contract. In late 1986 or early 1987, producer and head of Millennium Records, Jimmy Ienner, asked Previte about writing some music for "a little movie called Dirty Dancing". Previte initially turned the request down because he was still trying to get a record deal,http://americansongwriter.com/2014/10/times-life-qa-franke-previte/ The Times In His Life: A Q&A With Franke Previte Robert Dye October 10, 2014 American Songwriter December 17, 2015 December 22, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222121048/http://americansongwriter.com/2014/10/times-life-qa-franke-previte/ dead and he thought the film was a pornographic film based on the title,Yates Henry How we made Dirty Dancing's (I've Had) The Time of My Life https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/09/how-we-made-dirty-dancing-ive-had-the-time-of-my-life The Guardian April 9, 2019 January 13, 2022 but Ienner was persistent, declaring that it would "change his life", and got Previte to write several songs for the film, including "Hungry Eyes", later recorded by singer Eric Carmen, which also became a top 10 hit. Previte wrote the lyrics, and the music was written by John DeNicola and Don Markowitz. He compared writing the song to the writing process of "MacArthur Park". The title was conceived at random while he was traveling down the Garden State Parkway. He suggested that Ienner's pleading inspired the lyric.Dye Robert Behind The Song: "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-ive-had-the-time-of-my-life/ American Songwriter May 22, 2020 January 13, 2022 After getting further approval, Previte, along with DeNicola and Markowitz, created a demo of the song, performing on it himself, along with singer Rachele Cappelli. The demo showcased how the harmonies were to be used, employing a "cold open", or a slow build-up of the song to its finale. A song by Lionel Richie was initially planned to be used as the finale of Dirty Dancing,https://www.songfacts.com/facts/bill-medley-jennifer-warnes/ive-had-the-time-of-my-life (I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes Song Facts September 1, 2024 but choreographer Kenny Ortega and his assistant Miranda Garrison (who also played Vivian in the film) selected "The Time of My Life" instead. This demo wasn't used in the final cut of the film − the more polished version with Warnes and Medley was. However, because the Warnes/Medley track was not ready by the time the finale was filmed (it was shot first, due to the tight budget), Previte and Cappelli's much lighter and more youthful version was used as a backing track, so that the actors, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, and the dancers, could have something to dance to. (Swayze later remarked that it was his favorite version, even including all the subsequent remakes.) The demo version finally appeared on the 1998 CD reissue of Previte's 1981 album Franke and the Knockouts, but is only listed as a "Bonus Track". The movie's writer, Eleanor Bergstein, wanted a famous 1960s singer to perform it to blend then-contemporary musical elements with the aesthetics of the period.Kring-Schreifels Jake How "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" Saved 'Dirty Dancing' https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/8/20/21376386/dirty-dancing-song-time-of-my-life-history The Ringer August 20, 2020 July 30, 2021Goldstein Patrick https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-22-ca-23667-story.html Another Hit Film Song Has Jennifer Warnes Dancing Los Angeles Times November 22, 1987 September 1, 2024 limited The song was initially intended for Donna Summer and Joe Esposito, but Summer turned it down because she did not like the title of the film.http://popdose.com/lost-soundtrack-classics-youre-the-best/ Lost Soundtrack Classics: "You're the Best" February 12, 2007 popdose.com August 28, 2018 Afterwards, producer Michael Lloyd approached Richie, Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates and singer-songwriter Kim Carnes to perform; they declined as well.Browne David The 'Dirty Dancing' Soundtrack: 10 Things You Didn't Know http://rollingstone.com/feature/the-dirty-dancing-soundtrack-10-things-you-didnt-know-203885/ Rolling Stone March 19, 2022 August 21, 2017 Meanwhile, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers was approached by Jimmy Ienner repeatedly over two months to do the recording, but he also turned it down because his daughter McKenna was due to be born, and he had promised his wife he would be there. He was also concerned about appearing in another song that would flop (as had happened with "Loving on Borrowed Time" with Gladys Knight, from the soundtrack for Cobra) and also thought the film's title was "like a bad porno movie".Hunt Dennis https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-24-ca-4138-story.html Bill Medley's life is righteous again Los Angeles Times October 24, 1987 September 1, 2024 limited Ienner then approached Jennifer Warnes, who had released a cover of Leonard Cohen songs the previous year. She initially expressed reluctance upon hearing Previte's demo but was persuaded (because of Ienner offering a large sum of money) by her then-boyfriend to take the offer, on the condition that she could sing it with Medley, whom she admired. As a result, after the birth of his daughter, Medley was approached again, this time with Warnes' offer.Medley Bill Bill Medley The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir https://books.google.com/books?id=8pX_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA129 Da Capo Press 138–139 April 24, 2014 978-0306823169 Medley then agreed to record the track.https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/bill-medley-of-the-righteous-brothers Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers Prato Greg Song Facts June 25, 2014 September 1, 2024 Stephen Holden of The New York Times compared the duo of Medley and Warnes to the lead characters' romance in Dirty Dancing, for a "blend of the earthy and the pristine".Holden Stephen https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/movies/the-pop-life-428487.html The pop life The New York Times December 9, 1987 September 1, 2024 subscription https://web.archive.org/web/20090802011608/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/movies/the-pop-life-428487.html August 2, 2009 live To give emotional depth to the song, Warnes had a video playback machine and footage of the final scene brought in to synchronize her singing with the movie's ending scene, particularly "the lift". After completing the main vocals, Medley and Warnes were asked by Lloyd to add additional harmonies and flourishes for the song. The song was completed in around one hour. The resulting mix was described as a "Righteous Brothers-type song" by DeNicola. The song was originally released on July 10, 1987; it was intended to be released alongside the film, but the film's producer Vestron Pictures had moved the American release date to August without notifying RCA Records. Ienner quickly edited the song from the original 6:46 to 4:50 for radio airplay. Initially, radio stations were reluctant to add the song before the release of Dirty Dancing. With the release of the film it became a worldwide hit and is one of the most frequently played songs on radio. Music video A music video was produced for this song in October 1987. The video features Medley and Warnes along with several couples dancing like in the movie, and it also featured clips from it. Personnel additional musician credits (keyboards, etc.) November 2021 Bill Medley – lead vocals Jennifer Warnes – lead vocals and additional backing vocals Michael Lloyd - keyboards (probably) Gary Herbig – saxophone soloGary Herbig @Lastudiomusicians.org Retrieved November 14, 2020. Laurence Juber – guitarCallwood, Brett (2017). "Laurence Juber is the ultimate Wing-man". Culver City News, 18 November 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2021. Dennis Belfield – bass"The Dirty Dancing Soundtrack: the inside story from its hitmaking songwriters". The Strange Brew Retrieved November 21, 2021. Paul Leim – drums"My Pro" (4 May 2015 post) @Facebook. Retrieved November 20, 2021. Paulinho Da Costa – percussion Marcy Levy – backing vocals Produced by Michael Lloyd Arranged by Gene Page; additional arrangements by Michael Lloyd and John D'Andrea Recording (at The Village Recorder) and Mix by Carmine Rubino; First engineer: Dan Nebenzal (Second engineer: Jeff DeMorris) Pavel Farkas, Concertmaster, Lo 47 AFM contract leader John Edward Acosta, Lo 47 AFM cello Remixed by Carmine Rubino, Dan Nebenzal, Jimmy Ienner and Michael Lloyd Published by Knockout Music Inc., Jemava Music Corp., Donald Jay Music and R U Cyrius Music. Reception Critical reception Robert Christgau panned the song as having "technocratic ardors", in a review grading the Dirty Dancing soundtrack a D.Christgau Robert Consumer Guide Album: Dirty Dancing [RCA Victor, 1987] https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4668 Christgau's Consumer Guide September 1, 2024 In 2004, the American Film Institute ranked "Time of My Life" 86th in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs, its list of the 100 greatest songs written for film.AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-songs/ American Film Institute https://web.archive.org/web/20050205074626/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/songs.aspx February 5, 2005 September 2, 2024 dead In a 2009 retrospective about movie theme songs, Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly ranked "Time of My Life" as "great schlock".Greenblatt Leah https://ew.com/article/2009/11/16/best-worst-movie-theme-songs/ Movie theme songs: What are the best and worst of all time? https://web.archive.org/web/20091120031350/http://music-mix.ew.com:80/2009/11/16/best-worst-movie-theme-songs November 20, 2009 Music Mix Entertainment Weekly November 16, 2009 September 1, 2024 dead Greenblatt also described it as "oddly '80s" for a film set in 1963.Greenblatt Leah Coming-of-age film soundtracks: Happy anachronisms PopWatch https://ew.com/article/2009/07/05/happy-anachronisms/ Entertainment Weekly July 5, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090710050947/http://popwatch.ew.com:80/popwatch/2009/07/happy-anachronisms.html July 10, 2009 September 1, 2024 dead Then in 2023, Lindsay Martell of Entertainment Weekly ranked Dirty Dancing as having the fourth best movie soundtrack of the 1980s and called "Time of My Life" the "unofficial anthem for every dreamy-eyed teen in the summer of '87".Martell Lindsay https://ew.com/movies/the-best-80s-movie-soundtracks/ The best '80s movie soundtracks Entertainment Weekly January 4, 2023 September 1, 2024 Tim McNelis, film studies lecturer at the University of Liverpool, defended the inclusion of "Time of My Life" in Dirty Dancing, describing Medley's voice as having "a rough timbre that approximates classic soul singers more than any of the other new songs in the film".McNelis Tim Dancing in the Nostalgia Factory: Anachronistic Music in Dirty Dancing https://books.google.com/books?id=vJl4ou_wRyoC The Time of Our Lives: Dirty Dancing and Popular Culture Lincoln Siân Tzioumakis Yannis Wayne State University Press 2013 978-0-8143-3624-3 239–256251 Chart performance In the United States, the single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1987 for one week and also reached number one on the Adult Contemporary for four weeks.Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001 Whitburn Joel Joel Whitburn 2002 Record Research 167 In the United Kingdom the song had two chart outings: in November 1987, after the film's initial release, the song peaked at No. 6; in January 1991, after the film was shown on mainstream television, the song reached No. 8.Roberts David British Hit Singles & Albums Guinness World Records Limited London 19th 2006 359 1-904994-10-5 Awards Academy Award for Best Original Song, 1987 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, 1988 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, 1988 ASCAP "Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures" and "ASCAP Songwriter Of The Year" for its writer.http://john-denicola.com/Bio/index.html John DeNicola Bio dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160114031102/http://john-denicola.com/Bio/index.html January 14, 2016 Formats and track listings 7" single "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" – 4:47 "Love Is Strange" by Mickey & Sylvia – 2:52 12" maxi and cassette "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" – 4:47 "In the Still of the Night" by The Five Satins – 2:59 "Love Is Strange" by Mickey & Sylvia – 2:53 "Overload" by Zappacosta – 3:39 CD single "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" – 6:50 "In the Still of the Night" by The Five Satins – 3:05 "Love Is Strange" by Mickey & Sylvia – 2:52 "Overload" by Zappacosta – 3:39 Charts Weekly charts Chart (1987–1988)PeakpositionAustralia (Australian Music Report)Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 Kent David David Kent (historian) Australian Chart Book St Ives, NSW 1993 0-646-11917-61Austria 3 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeFlanders 1 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeCanada (The Record)Nanda Lwin Nanda Lwin Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide Music Data Canada 1999 1-896594-13-12Canada RPM 1 5576 April 24, 2025Canada RPM AC 3 9888 April 24, 2025Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)European Hot 100 Singles Music & Media 5 8 18 February 20, 19888Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=278 Timo Pennanen 2021 Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 Jennifer Warnes 278 Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava Helsinki July 11, 2022 Finnish21Ireland2 5 The Time of My Life April 24, 2025Italy Airplay (Music & Media)https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-12-12.pdf European Playlist Reports: RAI - Italy Music & Media 4 49 13 12 December 19873Dutch40 1 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeDutch100 1 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeNew Zealand 3 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeSouth Africa (Springbok Radio)http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(W).html SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs W September 5, 20181Spain (AFYVE)Salaverri Fernando Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 1st Fundación Autor-SGAE Spain 84-8048-639-2 September 20055Sweden 12 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeSwitzerland 5 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My LifeUKsinglesbyname 6 Bill Medley 25057 April 24, 2025 Billboardhot100 1 Bill Medley May 13, 2017Billboardadultcontemporary 1 Bill Medley May 13, 2017West Germany 5 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life 1718 Chart (1991)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Music & Media 8 4 27 January 26, 199133Ireland2 17 The Time of My Life April 24, 2025UKsinglesbyname 8 Bill Medley 25057 April 24, 2025 UK Airplay (Music Week)https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-01-26.pdf Playlist Chart Music Week January 26, 1991 iii October 22, 202515 Chart (1992)PeakpositionEurope (Eurochart Hot 100)Eurochart Hot 100 Singles Music & Media 9 31 33 August 1, 199228France 5 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life Chart (1993)PeakpositionFrance 48 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life Chart (2007)PeakpositionUKdownload 81 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes 20071028 July 20, 2024 "UKdownload" Chart (2013)PeakpositionSlovenia (SloTop50)http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2013&week=7 SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart SloTop50 sl February 17, 2013 December 22, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161222082555/http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2013&week=7 dead 16 Chart (2017)PeakpositionPoland 40 2017 2305 May 15, 2017 Year-end charts Chart (1987)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?IdNumber=765&app=rpm Top 100 Singles of '87 RPM Library and Archives Canada April 24, 202532US Billboard Hot 100http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1987.htm Top 100 Hits of 1987/Top 100 Songs of 1987 2018-09-11 2016-10-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20161009100920/http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1987.htm dead27 Chart (1988)PositionAustralia (ARIA)https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1988/singles-chart ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1988 ARIA April 24, 20251Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1988 Jahreshitparade Singles 1988 de April 24, 202528Belgium (Ultratop)https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1988 Jaaroverzichten 1988 Ultratop nl April 24, 20251Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)1988 Year End Eurocharts: Hot 100 Singles Music & Media 6 52/1 30 January 1, 198962Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1988 Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1988 Dutch Top 40 nl April 24, 20251Netherlands (Single Top 100)https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1988&cat=s Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988 MegaCharts nl April 24, 20252New Zealand (RIANZ)https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1988-12-31 End of Year Top 50 Singles 1988 Recorded Music NZ April 24, 202537South Africa (Springbok Radio)http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1988.html Top 20 Hit Singles of 1988 rock.co.za September 2, 20182US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)No. 1 Awards: Top Adult Contemporary Singles Billboard 100 52 Y-26 December 24, 198812West Germany (Media Control)https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1988 Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1988 GfK Entertainment de April 24, 202525 All-time charts +All-time chart rankings for "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"ChartRankDutch Love Songs (Dutch Top 40)https://www.top40.nl/love-top40 Love Top 40 nl Dutch Top 40 January 19, 2026 19 Certifications Certifications for "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" single 1987 Australia Gold 1998 yearchart September 22, 2020 single 1987 Brazil Gold 2021 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life July 1, 2021 single 1987 Canada Gold 1988 Jennifer Warnes I've Had the Time of My Life August 2, 2023 single 1987 Denmark Platinum Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life 2023 12176 August 2, 2023 single 1987 2022 Germany Gold Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life December 22, 2022 single 1987 2018 Italy Gold Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life 5957 September 22, 2020 single 1987 1988 Netherlands Platinum J. Warnes & B. Medley I've Had the Time of My Life September 22, 2020 single 1987 New Zealand Platinum Dean Scapolo The Complete New Zealand Music Charts: 1966–2006 Maurienne House 2007 978-1-877443-00-8 single 2007 United Kingdom Platinum 2020 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life xyzzy September 22, 2020 14901-4646-1 single 1987 United States Gold 1989 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (I've Had) The Time of My Life September 22, 2020 yes Other versions The Black Eyed Peas' 2010 single "The Time (Dirty Bit)" features interpolations of the song performed by Will.i.am and Fergie.Herrera Monica 2010-10-21 Black Eyed Peas Drop New Single, ‘The Time’ https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/black-eyed-peas-drop-new-single-the-time-953054/ 2026-07-02 Billboard en-US In the ninth episode of the second season of Glee, "Special Education", the New Directions performed this song. It was released as a single from Glee: The Music, Volume 4 and peaked at No. 38 in the Billboard Hot 100.Glee Cast https://www.billboard.com/music/glee-cast/chart-history Billboard Medley re-recorded the song with his daughter McKenna in 2016, and released it under the Righteous Brothers name as part of their eponymous album with Bucky Heard. One of the writers of the song, John DeNicola, released his own version of "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" on his debut album The Why Because, released in 2019.Staff Rock Cellar Magazine 2020-09-22 John DeNicola Re-Records His 'Dirty Dancing' Classics for Solo LP https://rockcellarmagazine.com/john-denicola-the-why-because-dirty-dancing-songwriter-listen-stream/ 2026-05-28 Rock Cellar Magazine en See also List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1987 (U.S.) List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1987 (U.S.) List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1988 References 30em Awards for "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" background: lightblue Category:1987 songs Category:1987 singles Category:1992 singles Category:1980s ballads Category:Bill Medley songs Category:Jennifer Warnes songs Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songs Category:Best Original Song Golden Globe–winning songs Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Cashbox number-one singles Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Category:Male–female vocal duets Category:Number-one singles in Australia Category:Number-one singles in South Africa Category:RCA Records singles Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles Category:Song recordings produced by Michael Lloyd Category:Songs from Dirty Dancing Category:Songs written by Franke Previte Category:Songs written by John DeNicola Category:American soft rock songs Category:Dance-rock songs Category:Film theme songs