Could've Been

"Could've Been" is Tiffany's third single of her self-titled debut album, released in November of 1987. The song is a slow ballad about love that could have been better.

Background
Before the song is recorded, Don McGovern walked into a Hungry Tiger Restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California and heard Lois Blaisch performing the song. He later introduced it to producer George Toblin. Both Tiffany's label, MCA Records, and her manager, George Tobin, were concerned that she was not old or mature enough to handle a song with such emotional depth. However, Tiffany convinced them that she could, and she recorded the song. This song is later included on her debut self-titled album.

Reception
The single became a commercial success by early 1988. After it debuted at #86 in November 1987, the single's success began to grow, and by February 1988, the single peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, making her the youngest artist to have two back-to-back #1 singles. The single also peaked at #1 on US Adult Contemporary Charts, as well as in Canada and Ireland. This single was later peaked at #4 on the year-end chart of Canada Top Singles and #8 on the year-end chart of Billboard Hot 100.

The single was certified Gold by Music Canada; it was sold for approximately 245,310 copies in Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The single also peaked at #587 on Billboard Hot 100's all-time chart.

Music video
The music video shows Tiffany performing the song to her fans. Like "I Think We're Alone Now" and "I Saw Him Standing There", this music video received considerable airplay on MTV.

Track listings and formats
7" and cassette single


 * 1) "Could've Been" – 4:00
 * 2) "The Heart of Love" – 3:57

Lyrics
The flowers you gave me

Are just about to die

When I think about what could've been

Makes me want to cry

The sweet words you whispered

Didn't mean a thing

I guess our song is over

As we began to sing

Could've been so beautiful

Could've been so right

Could've been my lover

Every day of my life

Could've been so beautiful

Could've been so right

I'll never hold what could've been

On a cold and lonely night

The memories of our loving

Still linger in the air

Like the faded scent of your roses

Stay with me everywhere

Every time I get my hopes up

They always seem to fall

Still, what could've been

Is better than what can never be at all, at all

Could've been so beautiful

Could've been so right

Could've been my lover

Every day of my life

Could've been so beautiful

Could've been so right

You can't hold what could've been

On a cold and lonely night

Could've been so beautiful

Could've been so right

You can't hold what could've been

On a cold and lonely night

No-o, no-o-oh

How can you hold what could've been

On a cold and lonely night

Trivia

 * Many of her fans considered this as their favorite song.
 * This is one of Tiffany's favorite songs to sing.
 * In some live performances, a guitar solo plays before Tiffany started to sing the 1st verse.
 * Tiffany re-recorded the song (as well as the music) once, and this is included on various compilation albums.
 * In her later performances, the music key is a semitone lower than the original.