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Previte wrote the lyrics, and the music was written by John DeNicola and Don Markowitz. He compared writing the song to the writing process of "]". The title was conceived at random while he was traveling down ]. He suggested that Ienner's pleading inspired the lyric.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dye |first=Robert |title=Behind The Song: "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" |url=https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-ive-had-the-time-of-my-life/ |website=American Songwriter |date=May 22, 2020 |access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> After getting further approval, Previte, along with DeNicola and Markowitz, created a ] of the song, performing on it himself, along with singer Rachele Cappelli. The demo showcased how the harmonies were to be used, employing a "cold open", or a slow build-up of the song to its finale. |
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Previte wrote the lyrics, and the music was written by John DeNicola and Don Markowitz. He compared writing the song to the writing process of "]". The title was conceived at random while he was traveling down ]. He suggested that Ienner's pleading inspired the lyric.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dye |first=Robert |title=Behind The Song: "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" |url=https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-song-ive-had-the-time-of-my-life/ |website=American Songwriter |date=May 22, 2020 |access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> After getting further approval, Previte, along with DeNicola and Markowitz, created a ] of the song, performing on it himself, along with singer Rachele Cappelli. The demo showcased how the harmonies were to be used, employing a "cold open", or a slow build-up of the song to its finale. |
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A song by ] was initially planned to be used as the finale of '']'',<ref name="song facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1945 |title=(I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes |work=Song Facts}}</ref> but choreographer ] and his assistant ] (who also played Vivian in the film) selected "The Time of My Life" instead. This demo wasn't used in the final cut of the film − the more polished version with Warnes and Medley was. However, because the Warnes/Medley track was not ready by the time the finale was filmed (it was shot first, due to the tight budget), Previte and Cappelli's much lighter and more youthful version was used as a backing track, so that the actors, ] and ], and the dancers, could have something to dance to. (Swayze later remarked that it was his favorite version, even including all the subsequent remakes.) The demo version finally appeared on the 1998 CD reissue of Previte's 1981 album '']'', but is only listed as a "Bonus Track". |
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A song by ] was initially planned to be used as the finale of '']'',<ref name="song facts">{{cite web |url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/bill-medley-jennifer-warnes/ive-had-the-time-of-my-life|title=(I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes |work=Song Facts|access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref> but choreographer ] and his assistant ] (who also played Vivian in the film) selected "The Time of My Life" instead. This demo wasn't used in the final cut of the film − the more polished version with Warnes and Medley was. However, because the Warnes/Medley track was not ready by the time the finale was filmed (it was shot first, due to the tight budget), Previte and Cappelli's much lighter and more youthful version was used as a backing track, so that the actors, ] and ], and the dancers, could have something to dance to. (Swayze later remarked that it was his favorite version, even including all the subsequent remakes.) The demo version finally appeared on the 1998 CD reissue of Previte's 1981 album '']'', but is only listed as a "Bonus Track". |
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The movie's writer, ], wanted a famous 1960s singer to perform it to blend then-contemporary musical elements with the aesthetics of the period.<ref name="Ringer">{{cite web |last=Kring-Schreifels |first=Jake |title=How "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" Saved 'Dirty Dancing' |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/8/20/21376386/dirty-dancing-song-time-of-my-life-history |website=The Ringer |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=July 30, 2021}}</ref> The song was initially intended for ] and ], but Summer turned it down because she did not like the title of the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popdose.com/lost-soundtrack-classics-youre-the-best/|title=Lost Soundtrack Classics: "You're the Best"|date=February 12, 2007|publisher=popdose.com|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref> Afterwards, producer Michael Lloyd approached ] of ] and singer-songwriter ] to perform; they declined as well.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Browne |first1=David |title=The 'Dirty Dancing' Soundtrack: 10 Things You Didn't Know |url=http://rollingstone.com/feature/the-dirty-dancing-soundtrack-10-things-you-didnt-know-203885/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=August 21, 2017}}</ref> In response, Bill Medley of ] was approached by Jimmy Ienner repeatedly over two months to do the recording, but he also turned it down because his daughter McKenna was due to be born, and he had promised his wife he would be there. He was also concerned about appearing in another song that would flop (as had happened with "Loving on Borrowed Time" with ], from the soundtrack for '']'') and also thought the title was "like a bad porno movie".<ref name="song facts"/> |
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The movie's writer, ], wanted a famous 1960s singer to perform it to blend then-contemporary musical elements with the aesthetics of the period.<ref name="Ringer">{{cite web |last=Kring-Schreifels |first=Jake |title=How "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" Saved 'Dirty Dancing' |url=https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/8/20/21376386/dirty-dancing-song-time-of-my-life-history |website=The Ringer |date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=July 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Goldstein">{{cite web|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-22-ca-23667-story.html|title=Another Hit Film Song Has Jennifer Warnes Dancing|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 22, 1987|access-date=September 1, 2024|url-access=limited}}</ref> The song was initially intended for ] and ], but Summer turned it down because she did not like the title of the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popdose.com/lost-soundtrack-classics-youre-the-best/|title=Lost Soundtrack Classics: "You're the Best"|date=February 12, 2007|publisher=popdose.com|access-date=August 28, 2018}}</ref> Afterwards, producer Michael Lloyd approached ] of ] and singer-songwriter ] to perform; they declined as well.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Browne |first1=David |title=The 'Dirty Dancing' Soundtrack: 10 Things You Didn't Know |url=http://rollingstone.com/feature/the-dirty-dancing-soundtrack-10-things-you-didnt-know-203885/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=March 19, 2022 |date=August 21, 2017}}</ref> In response, Bill Medley of ] was approached by Jimmy Ienner repeatedly over two months to do the recording, but he also turned it down because his daughter McKenna was due to be born, and he had promised his wife he would be there. He was also concerned about appearing in another song that would flop (as had happened with "Loving on Borrowed Time" with ], from the soundtrack for '']'') and also thought the title was "like a bad porno movie".<ref name="song facts"/><ref name="Hunt">{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=Dennis|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-24-ca-4138-story.html|title=Bill Medley's life is righteous again|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 24, 1987|access-date=September 1, 2024|url-access=limited}}</ref> |
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Ienner then approached ], who had released a cover of ] songs the previous year. She initially expressed reluctance upon hearing Previte's demo but was persuaded (because of Ienner offering a large sum of money) by her then-boyfriend to take the offer, on the condition that she could sing it with Medley, whom she admired.<ref name="Ringer" /> As a result, after the birth of his daughter, Medley was approached again, this time with Warnes' offer.<ref>{{cite book |last=Medley |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Medley |title=The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8pX_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA129 |publisher=] |pages=138–139 |date=April 24, 2014 |isbn=978-0306823169}}</ref> Medley then agreed to record the track, having also admired her singing, on the condition that he record the song in Los Angeles. |
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Ienner then approached ], who had released a cover of ] songs the previous year. She initially expressed reluctance upon hearing Previte's demo but was persuaded (because of Ienner offering a large sum of money) by her then-boyfriend to take the offer, on the condition that she could sing it with Medley, whom she admired.<ref name="Ringer" /> As a result, after the birth of his daughter, Medley was approached again, this time with Warnes' offer.<ref>{{cite book |last=Medley |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Medley |title=The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8pX_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA129 |publisher=] |pages=138–139 |date=April 24, 2014 |isbn=978-0306823169}}</ref> Medley then agreed to record the track.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/bill-medley-of-the-righteous-brothers|title=Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers|last=Prato|first=Greg|publisher=Song Facts|date=June 25, 2014|access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref> Stephen Holden of ''The New York Times'' compared the duo of Medley and Warnes to the lead characters' romance in ''Dirty Dancing'', for a "blend of the earthy and the pristine".<ref name="Holden">{{cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/movies/the-pop-life-428487.html|title=The pop life|date=December 9, 1987|access-date=September 1, 2024|url-access=subscription|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090802011608/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/09/movies/the-pop-life-428487.html|archive-date=August 2, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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To give emotional depth to the song, Warnes had a video playback machine and footage of the final scene brought in to synchronize her singing with the movie's ending scene, particularly "the lift". After completing the main vocals, Medley and Warnes were asked by Lloyd to add additional harmonies and flourishes for the song.<ref name="Ringer" /> The song was completed in around one hour.<ref name="Guardian"/> The resulting mix was described as a "Righteous Brothers-type song" by DeNicola.<ref name="Ringer" /> |
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To give emotional depth to the song, Warnes had a video playback machine and footage of the final scene brought in to synchronize her singing with the movie's ending scene, particularly "the lift". After completing the main vocals, Medley and Warnes were asked by Lloyd to add additional harmonies and flourishes for the song.<ref name="Ringer" /> The song was completed in around one hour.<ref name="Guardian"/> The resulting mix was described as a "Righteous Brothers-type song" by DeNicola.<ref name="Ringer" /> |
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The song was originally released on July 10, 1987; it was intended to be released alongside the film, but the film's producer ] had moved the American release date to August without notifying RCA Records. Ienner quickly edited the song from the original 6:46 to 4:50 for radio airplay.<ref name="Ringer" /> With the release of the film it became a worldwide hit and is one of the most frequently played songs on radio. |
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The song was originally released on July 10, 1987; it was intended to be released alongside the film, but the film's producer ] had moved the American release date to August without notifying RCA Records. Ienner quickly edited the song from the original 6:46 to 4:50 for radio airplay.<ref name="Ringer" /> Initially, radio stations were reluctant to add the song before the release of ''Dirty Dancing''.<ref name="Holden"/> With the release of the film it became a worldwide hit and is one of the most frequently played songs on radio. |
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==Music video== |
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==Music video== |
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*Published by Knockout Music Inc., Jemava Music Corp., Donald Jay Music and R U Cyrius Music. |
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*Published by Knockout Music Inc., Jemava Music Corp., Donald Jay Music and R U Cyrius Music. |
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==Reception== |
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==Chart performance== |
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===Critical reception=== |
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] panned the song as having "technocratic ardors", in a review grading the ''Dirty Dancing'' soundtrack a D.<ref>{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|title=Consumer Guide Album: Dirty Dancing |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=4668|work=Christgau's Consumer Guide|access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref> |
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In a 2009 retrospective about movie theme songs, Leah Greenblatt of '']'' ranked "Time of My Life" as "great schlock".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/11/16/best-worst-movie-theme-songs/|title=Movie theme songs: What are the best and worst of all time?|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20091120031350/http://music-mix.ew.com:80/2009/11/16/best-worst-movie-theme-songs|archive-date=November 20, 2009|work=Music Mix|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 16, 2009|access-date=September 1, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Greenblatt also described that song and others as an "oddly '80s" song for a film set in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|last=Greenblatt|first=Leah|title=Coming-of-age film soundtracks: Happy anachronisms|work=PopWatch|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/07/05/happy-anachronisms/|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 5, 2009|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090710050947/http://popwatch.ew.com:80/popwatch/2009/07/happy-anachronisms.html|archive-date=July 10, 2009|access-date=September 1, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Then in 2023, Lindsay Martell of ''Entertainment Weekly'' ranked ''Dirty Dancing'' as having the fourth best movie soundtrack of the 1980s and called "Time of My Life" the "unofficial anthem for every dreamy-eyed teen in the summer of '87".<ref>{{cite web|last=Martell|first=Lindsay|url=https://ew.com/movies/the-best-80s-movie-soundtracks/|title=The best '80s movie soundtracks|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=January 4, 2023|access-date=September 1, 2024}}</ref> |
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Tim McNelis, film studies lecturer at the ], defended the inclusion of "Time of My Life" in ''Dirty Dancing'', describing Medley's voice as having "a rough timbre that approximates classic soul singers more than any of the other new songs in the film".<ref name="McNelis">{{cite book|last=McNelis|first=Tim|chapter=Dancing in the Nostalgia Factory: Anachronistic Music in ''Dirty Dancing''|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vJl4ou_wRyoC|title=The Time of Our Lives: Dirty Dancing and Popular Culture|editor-last=Lincoln|editor-first=Siân|editor-last2=Tzioumakis|editor-first2=Yannis|publisher=Wayne State University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0-8143-3624-3|pages=239-256}}</ref>{{rp|251}} |
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===Chart performance=== |
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In the United States, the single topped the ] chart in November 1987 for one week and also reached number one on the ] for four weeks.<ref>{{cite book |title=Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=] |page=167}}</ref> In the United Kingdom the song had two chart outings: in November 1987, after the film's initial release, the song peaked at No. 6;<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> in January 1991, after the film was shown on mainstream television, the song reached No. 8.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |page=359 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref> |
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In the United States, the single topped the ] chart in November 1987 for one week and also reached number one on the ] for four weeks.<ref>{{cite book |title=Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=] |page=167}}</ref> In the United Kingdom the song had two chart outings: in November 1987, after the film's initial release, the song peaked at No. 6;<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> in January 1991, after the film was shown on mainstream television, the song reached No. 8.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |edition=19th |year=2006 |page=359 |isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref> |
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Previte wrote the lyrics, and the music was written by John DeNicola and Don Markowitz. He compared writing the song to the writing process of "MacArthur Park". The title was conceived at random while he was traveling down the Garden State Parkway. He suggested that Ienner's pleading inspired the lyric. After getting further approval, Previte, along with DeNicola and Markowitz, created a demo of the song, performing on it himself, along with singer Rachele Cappelli. The demo showcased how the harmonies were to be used, employing a "cold open", or a slow build-up of the song to its finale.
To give emotional depth to the song, Warnes had a video playback machine and footage of the final scene brought in to synchronize her singing with the movie's ending scene, particularly "the lift". After completing the main vocals, Medley and Warnes were asked by Lloyd to add additional harmonies and flourishes for the song. The song was completed in around one hour. The resulting mix was described as a "Righteous Brothers-type song" by DeNicola.
The song was originally released on July 10, 1987; it was intended to be released alongside the film, but the film's producer Vestron Pictures had moved the American release date to August without notifying RCA Records. Ienner quickly edited the song from the original 6:46 to 4:50 for radio airplay. Initially, radio stations were reluctant to add the song before the release of Dirty Dancing. With the release of the film it became a worldwide hit and is one of the most frequently played songs on radio.
A music video was produced for this song in October 1987. The video features several couples dancing like in the movie, and it also featured clips from it.
_The_Time_of_My_Life_single_cover.jpg)
_The_Time_of_My_Life_alternate_single_cover.jpg)
7" - U.S.
