The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You explained

The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
Cover:The only thing.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bryan Adams
Album:18 til I Die
B-Side:
  • "Hey Elvis"
  • "I Want It All"
Genre:Alternative Rock
Length:
  • 3:37 (album version)
  • 3:24 (single version)
Label:A&M
Producer:
  • Bryan Adams
  • Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Prev Title:Rock Steady
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Let's Make a Night to Remember
Next Year:1996

"The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. Adams co-wrote and co-produced the track with Robert John "Mutt" Lange. It was released in May 1996 as the lead single from Adams' seventh studio album, 18 til I Die (1996). The song peaked at number one in Canada, number six in the United Kingdom, and number 52 in the United States.

In 1997, Adams was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song but lost to Beck's "Where It's At".[1] Adams was also nominated for a Juno Award for Best Producer the same year.[2] The track appears on Adams' compilation albums The Best of Me and Anthology.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Adams' single output has been so ballad-heavy in recent years that it is easy to forget that he is a diehard rocker at the core. This first peek into his forthcoming "18 'Til I Die" collection is a fun reminder of that fact, as Adams tears through a hearty spree of blues-tinged pop beats and jittery guitars with the glee of a hormone-crazed kid in his first band."[3] Another editor, Paul Verna noted that "Adam excels" on "the straight-ahead rocker".[4] Daina Darzin from Cash Box described it as "a happy, driving rocker with a big, catchy hook".[5]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" was directed by Matthew Rolston, who also directed "Let's Make a Night to Remember". The video was nominated for MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. In an interview with Songfacts, Adams stated that the clip is his own favorite video.[6] It features various male and female models (including Ana Cristina Oliveira) walking and dancing up and down a catwalk wearing sexy and outrageous outfits. It also features Adams in a bathroom sitting on the toilet with his guitar and standing in front of the mirror trying to do his hair. A shot from recording sessions is used as the cover of Adams' 18 til I Die album cover. The music video is shown in the film Red Corner (1997) starring Richard Gere.

Track listings

  1. "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" (single version) – 3:24
  2. "Hey Elvis" – 3:23
  3. "I Want It All" – 4:46
  4. "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" – 3:40
  1. "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" (single version) – 3:24
  2. "Hey Elvis" – 3:23
  1. "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" (single version)
  2. "Summer of '69"
  3. "Cuts Like a Knife"
  4. "Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)Peak
position
Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[14] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 13
Hungary (Mahasz)[16] 5
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[17] 20
Poland (Music & Media)[18] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)Position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 81
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 18
Canada Adult Contemporary(RPM)[21] 29

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
CanadaMay 8, 1996A&M[22]
United StatesMay 14, 1996Contemporary hit radio[23]
United KingdomMay 20, 1996[24]
JapanMay 22, 1996[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1996 Grammy Winners. Grammy Awards. October 21, 2023.
  2. Web site: 1997 Award Winner: Producer of the Year 1997. Juno Awards. October 21, 2023.
  3. Larry. Flick. Reviews & Previews: Singles. Billboard. May 18, 1996. 70. November 27, 2022. Larry Flick.
  4. Paul. Verna. Reviews & Previews: Albums. Billboard. June 22, 1996. 85. November 28, 2022.
  5. Daina. Darzin. Pop Albums. Cash Box. June 8, 1996. 9. November 12, 2022.
  6. http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/bryan_adams/ Songfacts interview with Bryan Adams
  7. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. Canadian & US CD single liner notes. A&M Records. 31458 1579 2.
  8. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. Australian CD single liner notes. A&M Records. 581 579-2.
  9. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. Japanese CD single liner notes. A&M Records. POCM-1169.
  10. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. US 7-inch single sleeve. A&M Records. 31458 1578 7.
  11. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. US cassette single sleeve. A&M Records. 31458 1578 4.
  12. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. A&M Records. PODM-1063.
  13. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You. Bryan Adams. 1996. UK CD single liner notes. A&M Records. 581 639-2.
  14. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 13. 22. 15. June 1, 1996. February 16, 2020.
  15. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 13. 23. 16. June 8, 1996. February 16, 2020.
  16. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 13. 28. 22. July 13, 1996. February 16, 2020.
  17. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (25.5. – 30.5. '96). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 26. May 25, 1996. October 2, 2019.
  18. Major Market Airplay: Poland. Music & Media. 13. 24. 23. June 15, 1996. July 23, 2021.
  19. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996. Australian Record Industry Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg. November 2, 2015. November 8, 2015.
  20. RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2018.
  21. RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. March 31, 2018.
  22. Canada Nice Alternative for Reid. LeBlanc. Larry. Larry LeBlanc. Billboard. 108. 18. 47. May 4, 1996. August 15, 2021.
  23. Selected New Releases. Radio & Records. 1145. 32. May 10, 1996. August 15, 2021.
  24. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 25. May 18, 1996. August 15, 2021.
  25. Web site: Bryan Adams Discography. PolyGram. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/19990219133820/http://www.polygram.co.jp/music/intl/adams/disco.html. February 19, 1999. August 27, 2023.

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