| Could've Been | |
| Cover: | Tiffany-Couldve-Been-18785.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Tiffany |
| Album: | Tiffany |
| B-Side: | The Heart of Love |
| Released: | November 20, 1987[1] |
| Genre: | Pop[2] |
| Label: | MCA Records |
| Producer: | George Tobin |
| Prev Title: | I Think We're Alone Now |
| Prev Year: | 1987 |
| Next Title: | I Saw Him Standing There |
| Next Year: | 1988 |
"Could've Been" is a song by American teen-pop artist Tiffany, released as the third single from her debut album, Tiffany (1987). The track was written by Lois Blaisch and produced by George Tobin. It was released first to North America on November 20, 1987.
Lois Blaisch said in a interview with Songfacts that the inspiration for the song came from her oral surgeon ex-boyfriend. She describes her oral surgeon ex-boyfriend as someone that led her with lies and that she fell in love with ideas of him, not actually him.[3]
After debuting at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on November 28, 1987,[4] "Could've Been" quickly rose up the chart and spent two weeks at number one in February, becoming Tiffany's second consecutive number-one hit following "I Think We're Alone Now". She became the first female artist in the rock era to have their first two singles top the chart and the first female teen singer since Brenda Lee to achieve the feat.[5] It was also the third number one single in 15 months following Boston's "Amanda" and Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett's "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" to not have a video to be promoted alongside it. She also became the first artist since 1985 to hold the top spot of the US and UK charts simultaneously with different songs; "Could've Been" was number one in the United States while "I Think We're Alone Now" was number one in the United Kingdom.[6]
John Aizlewood from Number One declared the song as "mighty", noting how "she croons and how she moves the emotions like a large cheque."[7]
Technically, "Could've Been" never have an official music video as network executives felt like the lyrics would not sound believable coming from a then 14 year old Tiffany. However, a live music video was sent to networks which featured fans singing along to Tiffany's performance.
| Chart (1987–1988) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Australian Music Report)[8] | 8 | |
| Denmark (Hitlisten)[9] | 4 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] | 11 | |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] | 12 | |
| Panama (UPI)[12] | 3 | |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[13] | 12 | |
| US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[14] | 1 | |
| US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)[15] | 1 |
| Chart (1988) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[16] | 38 | |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] | 4 | |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] | 28 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[19] | 56 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[20] | 8 | |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21] | 34 | |
| US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[22] | 7 | |
| US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)[23] | 37 |
The song was heard in the television series Growing Pains, on the episode "Nasty Habits".