My One True Friend

"My One True Friend"
Single by Bette Midler
from the album Bathhouse Betty
ReleasedAugust 1998 (1998-08)
GenrePop
Length3:49
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)David Foster
Bette Midler singles chronology
"You Don't Own Me"
(1996) 		"My One True Friend"
(1998) 		"I'm Beautiful"
(1999)
Music video
"My One True Friend" on YouTube

"My One True Friend" is a song recorded by American singer Bette Midler for her ninth studio album Bathhouse Betty (1998).[1] The song was written by Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster, the latter also acted as producer.[2][3]

The song was released as the lead single from the album in August 1998 and reached number 16 on the Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[4] The song also became the soundtrack to the Carl Franklin film One True Thing.[5]

Critical reception

The reviewer of Billboard magazine gave a positive assessment of the song, calling it "a refreshing pop ballad that is designed to touch the hearts of everyone who has not yet moved away from "Wind Beneath My Wings"". He also noted how producer David Foster dresses Midler in a wonderfully great orchestration, and co-author Carole King surrounds the diva with sweeping piano lines, while Midler herself, in his opinion, gives a touching, appropriately melodramatic performance.[6]

Track listing

CD single (Europe)[7]
  1. "My One True Friend" – 3:49
  2. "Heaven" – 3:29
  3. "I'm Hip" – 2:45
CD single (Germany)[8]
  1. "My One True Friend" – 3:49
  2. "Heaven" — 3:29
CD promotional single (USA)[9]
  1. "My One True Friend" – 3:49

Charts

Chart performance for "My One True Friend"
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[10] 49
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 87
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 58
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[4] 16

References

  1. ^ "Bette Midler's 'Show' Will Go On" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 49. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. December 5, 1998. p. 89. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ Bayer Sager, Carole (2017). "They're Playing Our Song: A Memoir" (Illustrated ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 258. ISBN 9781501153273.
  3. ^ Bego, Mark; Coolidge, Rita (2002). "Discography". Bette Midler: Still Divine (Illustrated ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 339. ISBN 9780815412328.
  4. ^ a b "Bette Midler Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Midler Makes Warner Bros. Debut With "Bathhouse Betty"" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 36. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. August 29, 1998. p. 15. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (August 29, 1998). "Reviews & Previews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 35. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "My One True Friend (1998, CD)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "My One True Friend (1998, CD)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "My One True Friend (1998, CD)" at Discogs. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7059." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Bette Midler – My One True Friend" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 21, 2023.