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(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Bryan Adams

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It may not have reworked the rock ballad format but this song completely rewrote the record books after remaining top of the UK charts for 16 weeks. Before Bryan Adams released the central theme to the Kevin Costner film – Robin Hood Prince of Thieves only the Beatles, the Stones and Slim

Bryan Adams Song facts

Composer
Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen, Robert John "Mutt" Lange


Genre
Rock

Album
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

Released
1991

UK Chart
1 Whitman had come that close to hogging the top slot. The song’s creators included the late film composer Michael Kamen whose credits included The Wall with Pink Floyd, Mettalica’s multi-platinum album, S&M, as well as numerous film scores (Brazil, X-Men, Lethal Weapon and Mr Holland’s Opus to name a few). The tune for the song had been written by Kamen in the 60s. He sent it to Adams and Lange who wrote the lyrics and instead of using traditional instrumentation for a medieval lyric gave it a rock treatment featuring Little Feat’s Billy Payne on keyboards. On its release it topped the charts in 16 countries and sold over eight million copies worldwide becoming one of the biggest selling singles of all time. In the US it stayed top of the pile for seven weeks later winning a Grammy. The song was nominated for an Academy Award but sadly one pinnacle of achievement evaded them, the Oscar went to the Disney theme “Beauty and The Beast”.

Bryan Adams talks to Simon Mayo

Bryan Adams

In this interview with Simon Mayo, Bryan Adams says he still likes the song - despite it being played everywhere. Thanks to Simon himself.
 
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Roger Whittaker

  You thought it couldn't be done but Roger Whittaker transforms this rock ballad into an "Andy Williams moment".

My wife and I are both Bryan Adams fans and we had it played at our wedding.
Martin Hallam
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