A one-off collaboration headed by Dionne Warwick and featuring Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder was released as a charity single in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1985. The song was written in the key of E♭.It was recorded as a benefit for American Foundation for AIDS Research, and raised over US$3 million for that cause. Warwick, who had previously raised money for blood-related diseases such as sickle-cell anemia, wanted to help combat the then-growing AIDS epidemic because she had seen friends die painfully of the disease.
Elton John played piano and Stevie Wonder played harmonica; the two had previously worked together on 1983's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues".
In the United States, the song held the number-one spot of the adult contemporary chart for two weeks, the number-one spot of the soul chart for three weeks, and the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, all in January 1986, and became Billboard's number one single of 1986. It was certified Gold on January 15, 1986 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was the final US number one for all but John (John would have two more US number-ones during the 1990s). Due to Stevie Wonder's involvement, it also holds the distinction of being the last number-one song for anyone who had topped the charts before the British Invasion (Stevie Wonder's first number 1 hit, "Fingertips", came in 1963).
Outside the United States, the song topped the charts in Canada and Australia and reached the top 10 in Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and Sweden. On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 49 and climbed to its peak of number 16 three weeks later, staying at that position for another week before descending the chart. It remained in the UK top 100 for a further five weeks, totaling 10 weeks on the chart altogether.
The Dionne and Friends version of the song won the performers the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, as well as Song of the Year for its writers, Bacharach and Bayer Sager. This rendition is also listed at number 75 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time.
Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder performed the song live together for the first time in 23 years at the 25th Anniversary AmfAR Gala in New York City on February 10, 2011.
That's What Friends Are For
Dionne Warwick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Well, you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
Oh and then for the times when we're apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember
Oh, keep smilin' and keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
Oh, that's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for
For good times and for bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for (that's what friends are for, ya)
On me for sure (count on me for sure, count on me for sure)
That's what friends are for
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
"That's What Friends Are For" is a song performed by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. The lyrics speak about the value of friendship, the deep connection that two people can share and how friendship can sustain and uplift a person through both good and bad times. The chorus states "Keep smilin', keep shinin', knowing you can always count on me for sure. That's what friends are for. For good times and bad times, I'll be on your side forevermore. That's what friends are for."
Throughout the song, the singer expresses gratitude for the person who has brought them so much happiness and opened their eyes so that they can see the world from a different perspective. Even if they go away, the singer encourages their friend to remember the good times they shared and maintain a positive and optimistic outlook. The song has a positive, heartwarming message and dynamic beat that makes it an enduring anthem for friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
And I never thought I'd feel this way
I didn't expect to have these feelings
And as far as I'm concerned
In my opinion
I'm glad I got the chance to say
I'm happy I can express myself
That I do believe I love you
I think I love you
And if I should ever go away
If I leave
Well, then close your eyes and try
Imagine
To feel the way we do today
To feel the same as we do now
And then if you can remember
And if you can recall
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Keep being happy, keep shining/brightening up the world
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
Knowing you can always rely on me
That's what friends are for
That's the purpose of being friends
For good times and bad times
For both happy and sad moments
I'll be on your side forever more
I will always support you
Well, you came and opened me
You helped me become more open
And now there's so much more I see
I see the world in a different light now
And so by the way I thank you
I want to thank you, by the way
Oh and then for the times when we're apart
For the times when we're not together
Well, then close your eyes and know
Imagine and realize
These words are coming from my heart
I mean these words sincerely
Oh, keep smilin' and keep shinin'
Continue to be happy and brighten up the world
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
Knowing you can always rely on me
That's what friends are for
That's the purpose of being friends
In good times and bad times
Both in happy and sad moments
I'll be on your side forever more
I will always support you
Keep smilin', keep shinin'
Keep being happy, keep shining/brightening up the world
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
Knowing you can always rely on me
'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for
Because I'm telling you that's the purpose of being friends
For good times and for bad times
Both in happy and sad moments
I'll be on your side forever more
I will always support you
That's what friends are for (that's what friends are for, ya)
That's the purpose of being friends
On me for sure (count on me for sure, count on me for sure)
You can definitely rely on me
That's what friends are for
That's the purpose of being friends
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Carole Sager
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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February 2024 who is here with me?
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Here in korea.
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Here in Brasil
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🙋🏻♀️
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Here in Ecuador
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@toyienkachl
who’s listening in April 2024? this song is just really beautiful ❤️
@user-rz6sr7bj4t
Me. Beatiful song
@sallywest9932
Glad it is still out there. No 1.
@americangal9292
I am