What Could Have Been Love

Album: Music from Another Dimension! (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This wounded power ballad is a collaboration between Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, keyboard player Russ Irwin and Marti Frederiksen, who has worked with the band since the mid-1990s. The song finds Tyler wailing about a failed relationship: "Marti and I had both been through divorce: Do you ever have feelings about that? Do you ever think about that?" Tyler told Rolling Stone. "It started from there: 'What could have been love, it should have been the only thing that was ever meant to be, couldn't see what was right in front of me.' So many people are getting divorced now. When you've got kids, you still love the mother a little bit. Anyone worth their soul will admit it."
  • Both Russ Irwin and Marti Frederiksen also sing backup vocals on this tune. Irwin, while never an official member of the band, wrote songs with the band and has toured with them on keyboards since the '80s. In 2012, he released a solo album called Get Me Home, which featured contributions from Steven Tyler.
  • The song was Aerosmith's first entry on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart since 1998, when "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" reached #13.

Comments: 1

  • Aerosmithforever1984 from Saudi Arabiamay i know the name of the female actor in the video what could have been love?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.