How Am I Supposed to Live Without You

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" is a song written in 1982 by Doug James and Michael Bolton. The ballad has been recorded by many artists around the world, in several languages, becoming something of a modern pop standard. Instrumental versions of the song have been recorded featuring variously the piano, guitar, saxophone, pan flute, steel drum, and music box.

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
Single by Laura Branigan
from the album Branigan 2
ReleasedJuly 1, 1983
Recorded1982
GenrePop
Length4:29
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jack White
Laura Branigan singles chronology
"Solitaire"
(1983)		 "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
(1983)		 "Self Control"
(1984)

"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" was supposed to be recorded by Australian duo Air Supply, but when Arista President Clive Davis asked for permission to change the lyrics of the chorus, Bolton refused, and Davis let go of the song.[1] Subsequently Laura Branigan recorded it as written, and it became the first major hit for the two songwriters. Bolton's own rendition became a worldwide hit in early 1990.

Laura Branigan version

As the second single from Branigan's second album Branigan 2, "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at number twelve on the Hot 100 in early October 1983. Branigan's single also hit the number one spot on the Adult Contemporary chart in Canada. This success came without benefit of a music video. Branigan performed the song on the syndicated music countdown show Solid Gold in late 1983 and on the popular holiday special Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Branigan 2 went out of print in 2004, but Branigan's original version can still be heard on the compilation albums The Best of Branigan (1995), The Essentials (2002) and The Platinum Collection (2006).

The single's B-side was a newly written song over the music to the Italian song "Mama", by Giancarlo Bigazzi and Umberto Tozzi. Branigan's first major hit had been with "Gloria", another English song written to an Italian hit by the duo.

Track listings
7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:29
2."Mama"3:56
7-inch single – Promo
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Short version)3:57
2."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:29
7-inch single (Canada)
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:29
2."Don't Show Your Love"3:30

Charts
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) 46
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[2] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 12
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[4] 1
Year-end chart (1983)Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[5] 61

1986 lawsuit

Laura Branigan demoed songwriter Gary William Friedman's "Promise Me I'll Feel This Way Tomorrow", several years before she recorded "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You".[6] Branigan did not meet the songwriters Michael Bolton and Doug James before the recording.[6] In 1986, songwriter Friedman filed lawsuit against Branigan, the songwriters, and other parties involved in the recording, alleging that "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" copied his song "Promise Me I'll Feel This Way Tomorrow".[6][7] In her testimony of the August 5, 1986 trial, Branigan performed Bolton and James's song and two other songs recorded by various artists, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" (recorded by Branigan for her 1984 album Self Control) and "MacArthur Park".[8] Toward the end of August 1986, juries of a New York federal court cleared the case defendants from the charges.[6]

Michael Bolton version
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
US retail cassette edition; the US CD release was distributed for promotional use only
Single by Michael Bolton
from the album Soul Provider
B-side"Forever Eyes"
ReleasedOctober 14, 1989 (U.S.)[9]
Recorded1988
GenreSoft rock[10]
Length4:48 (album version)
4:15 (radio edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Michael Omartian
Michael Bolton singles chronology
"Soul Provider"
(1989)		 "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
(1989)		 "How Can We Be Lovers?"
(1990)

In 1988, Michael Bolton recorded a version of the song for the album Soul Provider. The single reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts and also won him a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The release marked a turning point in Bolton's career. After years of being primarily known as a songwriter,[1] the single got him recognition as a performer and made him a certified superstar.[11]

The single took off in October 1989,[12] slowly climbed the Hot 100 and by mid January became the first new number one single of the 1990s, following "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins.

Music video

The beginning of the music video shows Bolton performing the selection whilst he is sitting in his living room, and small bits of story about his and his girlfriend's relationship are told through fade-outs. As he is about to leave the apartment, already having packed his suitcases, he thinks of her and the time they spent together and seemingly decides against the decision; he then cuddles with his girlfriend. It is revealed, the next night, that he plans to give her a bracelet, which he quickly hides as he reads a newspaper before she enters the room. She surprises him with breakfast and they cuddle again. Later on, the two have a fight about something and she storms out of the apartment, and Bolton visibly feels guilty.[13]

Track listings
7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (Edit)4:14
2."Forever Eyes"4:23
CD single
No.TitleLength
1."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"4:48
2."Forever Eyes"4:23
3."(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (7-inch version)4:56
4."That's What Love Is All About" (Live)4:23

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] Platinum 70,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Gary Puckett covered "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" on his 2006 LP This Is Love.

Super Junior covered "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" on their 2013-2014 world tour Super Show 5.

See also

References
  1. Hyatt, Wesley. The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits, Billboard Books, 1999, p. 277, 354.
  2. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4330." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  3. "Laura Branigan Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  4. "Laura Branigan Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  5. "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95 no. 52. December 24, 1983. p. TA-18.
  6. Lichtman, Irv, ed. (August 30, 1986). "Inside Track". Billboard. p. 92.
  7. Lichtman, Irv, ed. (August 16, 1986). "Inside Track". Billboard. p. 82.
  8. "Names in the News". Associated Press. August 6, 1986.
  9. Billboard Magazine. Vol. 101; No. 41; October 14, 1989; p. 83
  10. "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  11. "Michael Bolton biography". Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  12. "Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 28, 1989". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  13. "Michael Bolton". MyVideo.
  14. "Australian-charts.com – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  15. "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  17. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6644." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  18. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6674." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  19. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 10. March 10, 1990. p. 13 (of PDF). Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  24. "Charts.nz – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  25. "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  27. "Michael Bolton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. "Michael Bolton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  29. "1990 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  30. "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  31. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  32. "Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1990". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  33. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 60 (of PDF). Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  34. "Top 100 Singles - Jahrescharts 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  35. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  36. "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  37. "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 2, 1991. p. 41.
  38. "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  39. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
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