"Could've Been You" is a rock song first performed by American rock singer Bob Halligan and later popularized by American singer-actress Cher. The song was written by Halligan and Arnie Roman for Halligan's 1991 album, Window In The Wall. Cher's cover version was produced by Peter Asher and released exclusively for the European market in early 1992 as the fourth single from Cher's twenty-first studio album, Love Hurts. Lyrically, "Could've Been You" is a message from the song's protagonist to his or her ex. Cher's version of "Could've Been You" received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number thirty-one on the UK Singles Chart. Cher promoted the song through appearances at Top of the Pops and Aspel and Company.
Background
In 1991, Bob Halligan released his album Window In The Wall under Atco Records. The only single released from the album was its lead track, "Could've Been You", which Halligan had co-written with Arnie Roman. According to Halligan, Atco Records had been going through a "political upheaval" that year and his record "was one of several recordings that was allowed to slip gently into the night". Halligan "dryly notes, ' lasted three weeks at radio. It came out to the sound of one hand clapping'". Later the same year, Cher covered "Could've Been You" for her album Love Hurts. Her version was produced by Peter Asher, who had previously worked with Cher on her 1991 UK number one hit "The Shoop Shoop Song ". The B-side of the first UK 7" single release was "One Small Step", a duet with American singer-songwriter Richard Page, while the B-side of the second UK 7" single was "Love and Understanding". The second UK 7" single and the Germany Maxi-single were both released with the same cover, an image of Cher in a baby doll dress, while the first UK 7" was released with the same photo cut to show only Cher's legs. The whole photo was later reused for the cover of the Love Hurts tourbook. The UK12" single was the last released; its cover has a transparent vinyl and shows Cher in a long, smooth black wig. In 1993, "Could've Been You" was rereleased as the B-side of Cher's "Whenever You're Near" UK 7" single. Cher promoted "Could've Been You" with a live performance on Top of the Pops on April 9, 1992, six days before the beginning of her first European tour, the Love Hurts Tour in Berlin, Germany. For the performance Cher wore a curly red wig and a suit with the jacket open to show a leather bra. On April 11, 1992, Cher appeared on the Aspel and Company show to perform the song and be interviewed by Michael Aspel.
Critical reception
"Could've Been You" received positive reviews from critics. Rock critic Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly said of the album that "t's that much more fun in numbers like 'Could've Been You', in which, seeking revenge, she gets to reach between the jerk's legs and squeeze." David Wild of the Guilford County, North CarolinaNews & Record called "Love and Understanding", "Save Up All Your Tears" and "Could've Been You" "strong tracks" that "show that she is still an effective pop singer". The review of the Worcester, Massachusetts Telegram & Gazette newspaper noted "Cher attempts to display her sexual prowess on the song,...a great vehicle for her, an 'in-your-face' song directed to a former lover".
Chart performance
The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number thirty-two on the week of April 18, 1992. In its second week it peaked at number thirty-one, dropping the next week to number forty-three and then to number sixty in its fourth and final week on the chart. The song also entered the German Singles Chart in late May 1992, spending seven weeks on the chart and peaked at number seventy-five.
