How Can We Be Lovers

"How Can We Be Lovers" is a song written by American singer and songwriter Michael Bolton, Diane Warren, and Desmond Child and performed by Bolton. Released in 1990 by Columbia Records as the third single from Bolton's sixth studio album, Soul Provider (1989), it peaked at numbers three and four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and US Cash Box Top 100, and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1990. The song also reached number two in Canada, number three in Australia, number nine in Luxembourg, number 10 in Sweden, and number 18 in Ireland.

Track listings

• US and Australian 7-inch and cassette single; Japanese mini-CD single^[1][2][3]

1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
2. "That's What Love Is All About" – 3:56

• UK 7-inch and cassette single^[4][5]

1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
2. "The Hunger" – 4:18

• UK 12-inch single and CD1^[6][7]

1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
2. "Fools Game" – 3:50
3. "The Hunger" – 4:18

• UK CD2^[8]

1. "How Can We Be Lovers"
2. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" (live)
3. "The Hunger"
4. "I Almost Believed You"

• European 7-inch and mini-CD single^[9][10]

1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
2. "Call My Name" – 4:15

• European mini maxi-CD single^[11]

1. "How Can We Be Lovers" – 3:55
2. "Call My Name" – 4:15
3. "Fools Game" – 3:50

Personnel

• Michael Bolton – lead and background vocals
• Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards
• Bobby Chouinard – drums
• John McCurry – electric and acoustic guitar
• Hugh McDonald – bass guitar
• Eric Rehl – synthesizer
• Myriam Valle, Jon Fiore, Kyf Brewer, Kate McGunnigle, Joe Cerisano, Patty Darcy, Louis Merlino, Bernie Shanahan, Desmond Child – background vocals
• Sir Arthur Payson – engineer, mixing
• Joe Pirrera, Keith Goldstein, Roy Hendrickson, Danny Mormando, Mike Kowiak – assistant engineers
• John Herman – assistant mix engineer
• Steve Savitt – production manager

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history

References

1. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Columbia Records. 1990. 38-73318.
2. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (Australian cassette single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655806 4.
3. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). CBS/Sony. 1990. CSDS 8129.
4. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK 7-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 7.
5. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK cassette single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 4.
6. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK 12-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 6.
7. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK CD1 liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 2.
8. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (UK CD2 liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655918 5.
9. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (European 7-inch single sleeve). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 7.
10. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (European mini-CD single liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 1.
11. ^ How Can We Be Lovers (European mini maxi-CD single liner notes). CBS Records. 1990. 655836 3.
12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. June 9, 1990. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
13. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. May 20, 1990.
14. ^ "Michael Bolton – How Can We Be Lovers". top40.nl. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
15. ^ Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996
16. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
17. ^ "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved July 18, 2019. – via Library and Archives Canada
18. ^ "Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on February 16, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
19. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
20. ^ "Year-End Charts: Adult Contemporary Songs 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
21. ^ "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles". Cash Box. Vol. LIV, no. 22. December 29, 1990. p. 9. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
22. ^ "New Release Summary: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 14. April 15, 1990. p. 18.
23. ^ "マイケル・ボルトン | ラバーズ" [Michael Bolton | Lovers] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 12, 2025.