You Light Up My Life (song)

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“You Light Up My Life”

Single by Debby Boone from the album You Light Up My Life
B-side	Hasta Mañana
Released	1977
Genre	Pop
Length	3:35
Label	Curb
Writer(s)	Joe Brooks
Producer	Joe Brooks
Certification	Platinum

Not to be confused with Carole King's song from her album Fantasy.

"You Light Up My Life" is a ballad written by Joe Brooks and originally recorded by Kasey Cisyk for the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The song was performed in the film by its lead, Didi Conn, who lip-synched Cisyk's version. Pat Boone's daughter, Debby Boone, was recruited to record the single which became a massive success topping the Billboard Hot 100 for ten weeks and became easily the most successful single of the 1970's in the United States. The song was only surpassed at that time by Elvis Presley's double-sided "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" as the longest running No. 1 ever on the Hot 100. The single, which was certified platinum, also spent one week atop the Adult Contemporary chart and peaked at No. 4 Country. Although written by Brooks as a love song, the devout Boone interpreted the song as inspirational and proclaimed that it was instead God who "lit up her life."

Cisyk's soundtrack recording was released as a single to bolster sales of the soundtrack after Boone included her version on her first solo album also entitled You Light Up My Life. (Although the soundtrack was certified gold peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 200, it never included Boone's version of the song.) Cisyk's single was credited to "Original Cast," not to Cisyk herself, and only reached No. 80 Pop. Brooks also released an instrumental version of the song from the soundtrack as a single, but his version failed to chart. Boone's success resulted in two Grammy nominations for Best Pop Female and Record of the Year and won her the 1977 Grammy for Best New Artist and the 1977 American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single. The song earned Brooks Song of the Year honors at the 1977 Grammy [tied with Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born' (Evergreen)], Golden Globe and Academy Awards.

[edit] Other versions

“You Light Up My Life”

Single by LeAnn Rimes
from the album You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs

Released

1997

Genre

Country

Length

3:37

Joe Brooks

Wilbur C. Rimes

LeAnn Rimes singles chronology

"How Do I Live"
(1997)

"You Light Up My Life"
(1997)

"On the Side of Angels"
(1998)

Many artists have covered "You Light Up My Life" since 1977. The following year, Johnny Mathis recorded and named his album after the song. LeAnn Rimes released her version as a single in 1997 - 20 years after Boone's version was released and on the same record label (Curb Records). Her version did not fare as well at radio (No. 34 Pop, No. 48 Country). But, her single was certified gold and was the title track to her No. 1 Pop and Country album, You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs.

Among the other diverse artists who have recorded the song are:

Preceded by "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" by Meco	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Debby Boone version) October 15, 1977—December 17, 1977	Succeeded by "How Deep Is Your Love" by Bee Gees
Preceded by "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" from A Star Is Born	Academy Award for Best Original Song 1977	Succeeded by "Last Dance" from Thank God It's Friday