THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

439-Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes-(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.

1987 Number 6 single. In 1990 it re-entered the chart, this time reaching Number 8.

Best Bit-At 4.39. Bill Medley was reluctant to record the song, because he thought Dirty Dancing sounded like a porno.

‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ was co-written by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz, with the production being by Michael Lloyd (see also best songs 642.) Previte and DeNicola had previously tasted success in the early 1980’s as members of the American ‘Pop/Rock’ group ‘Franke and the Knockouts,’ achieving three American Billboard Hot 100 top 30 singles, with ‘Sweetheart,’ (1981-Number 10) ‘You’re My Girl,’ (1981-Number 27) and ‘Without You (Not Another Lonely Night’) (1982-Number 24.) Franke Previte was approached by the music producer Jimmy Lenner (see also best songs 625) to write some music for ‘A little movie called Dirty Dancing,’ of the songs Previte presented, this track, and ‘Hungry Eyes,’ which was recorded by Eric Carmen, (1949-2024) (see also best songs 625) were chosen for the Dirty Dancing film, and the films soundtrack, which has currently sold in the region of 32 million copies since it’s release. ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ spent one week at Number 1 in America on Billboard in November 1987, while in the UK it has charted on two separate occasions. In November 1987 after the films release it peaked at Number 6, and after the film was first shown on mainstream television in 1990, it re-entered the chart, and this time reached Number 8.

Bill Medley was born William Thomas Medley, (see also best songs 782 and 91) on September 19th, 1940, in Santa Ana, California, United States, he has a bass-baritone voice, and is a leading exponent in the genre of ‘Blue-eyed soul.’ Bill Medley first met Bobby Hatfield (1940-2003) in the early 1960’s, and then after the break up of their previous bands, they joined forces to become ‘The Righteous Brothers’ in 1962. As a solo artist Bill Medley has released 19 Albums between 1968-2024, and 16 singles between 1968-1989, of which only ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ with Jennifer Warnes has charted on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ has charted on two separate occasions, and in 1988 his cover version of ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,’ also charted, at Number 25.

Jennifer Warnes was born Jennifer Jean Warnes, on March 3rd, 1947, in Seattle, Washington, United States. She started out by singing ‘Folk Music’ in the mid 1960’s, and in 1968 she joined the cast of the American variety ‘CBS’ television show ‘The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.’ Also in 1968 she portrayed the female lead in the Los Angeles, California, production of the stage musical ‘Hair’ (see also best songs 202.) In 1971 Jennifer Warnes met the Canadian songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen, (1934-2016) (see also best songs 196) and the two remained friends. She toured Europe with Cohen’s band in 1972 and then again in 1979, first as a back-up singer, and then as a vocal arranger and guest singer on seven of Cohen’s Albums between 1973-2012. The discography of Jennifer Warnes includes nine studio Albums released between 1968-2018, and 19 singles released between 1969-1993, there are also five official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, she has had four top 40 hit singles, with ‘Up Where We Belong, with Joe Cocker, (1982) and ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ with Bill Medley, both reaching Number 1. In the UK she has had two top 40 hits, with ‘Up Where We Belong,’ making Number 7, and ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ peaking at Number 6.

The female vocals for ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ were initially offered to Donna Summer, (1948-2012) (see also best songs 78 and 11) but she turned it down, it was then offered to Jennifer Warnes who had already had great success with another film soundtrack song, her duet with Joe Cocker, ‘Up Where We Belong,’ from ‘An Officer and A Gentleman’ had been a Billboard Number 1, and ‘Grammy’ winning song in 1982. Once Bill Medley who had always been a fan knew Warnes was on board he accepted the role.

Because of budget restrictions the ‘Dirty Dancing’ film was filmed out of sequence, with the finale being the first thing that was shot, and since Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes hadn’t recorded their version of ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’ yet, a demo version recorded by Franke Previte and the singer Rachele Cappelli was used instead as a guide for the films actors Patrick Swayze, (1952-2009) and Jennifer Grey. When Medley and Warnes recorded their version they used the final scene of the film as their guide.

‘Just remember you’re the one thing I can’t get enough of, so I’ll tell you something, this could be love.’