When You Were Mine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "When You Were Mine" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Japanese promotional 7" single | ||
| Single by Cyndi Lauper | ||
| from the album She's So Unusual | ||
| B-side(s) | "I'll Kiss You" | |
| Released | 1985 | |
| Format | Vinyl (7") |
|
| Recorded | 1983 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 5:00 | |
| Label | Epic Records | |
| Writer(s) | Prince | |
| Producer(s) | Rick Chertoff | |
| Cyndi Lauper singles chronology | ||
| "I'll Kiss You" (1984) |
"When You Were Mine" (1985) |
"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" (1985) |
"When You Were Mine" is the name of a song written by Prince and released as a track on his 1980 album Dirty Mind. The song, though not released as a single, is often considered to be amongst Prince's best early works. Prince has performed the song many times over the years in concert, one of which was included on his 2002 live set, One Nite Alone... Live!. Prince has mentioned that he was inspired to write the simple but effective rock song while listening to John Lennon.
[edit] Cover versions
In 1983, Mitch Ryder released his remake of "When You Were Mine" as a single. It was also a track on his album Never Kick a Sleeping Dog. The single featured production work by John Mellencamp and was released on his record label, Riva Records. The track received some airplay in the United States and even charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Ryder's version also appeared in the film Hot Dog... The Movie (1984).
Cyndi Lauper's version is a bit slower and gives her punk edge to the song. Interestingly, she did not change the pronoun gender in the song lyrics, which gave it an interesting twist, alluding that the lost love to whom she is singing is having a new affair with another man. The single was released in Canada and Japan. Lauper performed the single at the 1985 American Music Awards. In the U.S., Lauper released it as a promo-only single.
The Blue Rubies (Susan Maunu and Mitzi Johnson) performed a version of the song accompanied only by a lute. It can be heard on the 1989 compilation, Legacy: A Collection of New Folk Music.
Crooked Fingers released a version of the song on their 2002 Reservoir Songs EP.
In 2003 indie rock band Tegan and Sara also did a cover and did not change the pronoun gender as both lead singers are lesbian.
The song has also been covered by The Pillows, a Japanese rock band.
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone covered the song for a 2005 release, Young Shields.
The song has also been covered by Ani DiFranco as an encore live performance in 1999. She was performing in Minnesota, and she performed the song as a duet with (Master of Funk) Maceo Parker.
