Can We Still Be Friends? by Todd Rundgren

Album: Hermit Of Mink Hollow (1978)

Charted: 29

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Songfacts®:

This song is about a couple who really like each other, but their relationship just can't last any more even though he still wants to be friends with her. It was recorded for Rundgren's eighth solo album, Hermit Of Mink Millow. Todd states that the album was more of a song-centric recording; he wanted songs that could stand on their own without elaborate production. It was his most accessible and commercially successful album since his 1972 breakthrough Something/Anything?
In our interview with Todd Rundgren, he said that this song is not about a specific person. "It's really a song about the best possible way to end a relationship," he said.

Rundgren explained that many of his songs are not based on things he's personally experienced, but on what he thinks it feels like to go through it.
This song has been featured in movies Dumb & Dumberer (1994) and Vanilla Sky (2001). >>>
Suggestion credit:
Markus - Stockholm, Sweden
This is one of the songs Rundgren's fans often cite as one they have a personal connection with. "'Can We Still Be Friends' gets mentioned a lot because I think it helps people to put into words the feelings that they have about a situation they've gone through but they can't really articulate in the right way," he told Songfacts.

Comments: 11

Fran H. from Thousand Oaks,ca.Still the best!
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 21, 1978, Todd Rundgren performed "Can We Still Be Friends" on the NBC-TV late night musical variety program 'The Midnight Special'...
At the time the song was at #32 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eight days later on July 29th it would peak at #29 {for 1 week} and it spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1972 and 1978, as a solo artist he had seven records on the Hot Top 100 chart; one made the Top 10, "Hello It's Me", it peaked at #5 {for 1 week} on December 16th, 1973...
He charted six more times as a member of Utopia {2 times}, Runt {3 times}, and Nazz {1 time, and that was with the original version of "Hello It's Me" in 1969}...
Todd Harry Rundgren celebrated his 69th birthday one month ago on June 22nd, 2017.
David from Liverpool, United KingdomI think he wrote it for Bebe Buell. 'Hurting For You', on the same album, is in the same vein.
Alma from Laredo, TxThis song was also in featured in the movie, Lethal Weapon 2 at the closing credits. Robert Palmer's cover is the best.
Gavin from Perth, AustraliaOne of the best ballads of all time!

Also recorded by Rod Stewart.
Joe from Chicago, IlAre you kidding me!?! Mandy Moore's version sucks!!!
Weavil from Wisconsin Rapids, WiTodd also re-did this Bossa Nova style on 1997's "With A Twist"
http://trconnection.com/lyrics/Title.44
Shane from Monticello, IlMandy Moore's version is amazing, if it wasn't for her I never would've heard the original.
Fyodor from Denver, CoSometimes called the belated follow-up to "Hello, It's Me".
Markus from Stockholm, SwedenMandy Moore also made a decent cover of this
Shirl from Bay Area, CaThis song was re-recorded by Robert Palmer in the 80's. His tempo is a little more upbeat.

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