Frank Previte - The Time of My Life (Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes) | The story behind the song

Songwriter Frank Previte tells about his song '(I've Had) The Time Of My Life' by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo (Dutch Public TV) from 2016.

[@davidscott129]

I was traveling on business, with nothing to do after dinner in Harrisburg, PA. The theater next to my hotel was showing "Dirty Dancing" and I thought "Why not?" I was raised on Hollywood musicals. The plot of the movie was trite, but the actors elevated it, and the finale was just stupendous. I didn't care that it was 60s people dancing to an 80s song. It still blew my mind. A great piece of music. Enormous props to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes for their performance. You could hear how they felt the song.

[@candycane5568]

Back in 1988 my aunt and uncle played it as the first song at their wedding reception. Every time I hear it I think of that.

[@thelolguy007]

Amazing song. One of the best duets ever 👏👏👏

[@emboe001]

No one puts Bill Medley in a corner.

[@LovEaNdmusicA]

Thank god he was clever enough at the time to keep the publishing rights! Otherwise, sadly nobody would remember him now...

[@highwaymaintainer]

One of the best singers in Franke and the knockouts, his voice was amazing

[@BLITZY261]

Like this amazing man, I judged that film the same way...I came out thinking "..now THAT was an amazing film...I always assumed the TIME OF MY LIFE was an old song from was before DIRTY DANCING... ...what a song and Franke could have nailed it too. Franke..I hope you get to read this..GHOSTED by THE CRUE. I wrote it..and was invited to sing it by an English Producer...never sang a song in my life. But it kind of works...somehow. Loved and still love your song man. Utter respect from another songwriter.

[@nibsvkh]

Arguably the greatest song and dance ever performed in a movie!

[@BLITZY261]

I was captivated by one thing in this...BILL CLINTON'S SOUR LOOKING FACE...kinda paints an interesting picture. Nice one to Franke..in all aspects.

[@tatayaya]

You can tell the guys doing this Tv Show were having the time of their lives, the inclusion of the running Santa, the beep at the end, kind of tongue in cheek humor but respectful to the artists

[@ericjam6346]

This song was everywhere in 80s. The radio was so inundated with this tune I think I can recite every word of the song.

[@jenwombatexcelsior]

Cuz you.....had....the time of your life. And you owe it all to this fella! Great memories. 🤘😎🤘

[@biffboffo]

If you graduated in the late 80s there was a very good chance this song was played at the end.

[@vamps_rock]

Ah the memories! 1988, college trip to Majorca...

[@FacheChanteDeux]

I totally understand why they used an amazing legend like Bill Medley to sing the song, but you have a good voice. One of my closest friends growing up was the child of one of the producers of Dirty Dancing. We went to the screening of the film with a bunch of friends and they wanted our feedback because we were teenagers. Of course we loved the movie, it was the Grease of our generation. The people who made the movie loved it, but they were nervous it would tank because it was a small movie. Well good thing they had faith in the movie.

[@scott917]

Never thought of it that way - but it was the "Grease" of the 80s(late 80s).

[@TheBudgie29]

Bill Medley sat back and watched the Millions roll In for Unchained Melody. Even though It only Bobby Hatfield on the Record It was still Credited to the Righteous Brothers. So this was a way of returning the Favour. Great song and Movie.

[@Czechbound]

What a great voice he has !

[@mattkirk8404]

His demo version is beautiful, what a voice!

[@AlanJWatkins]

Nobody puts baby in a corner!

[@lagaman11]

Awesome!

[@folaolakunbi4961]

its got 3.5 million hits

[@vocalpro]

These days he woulda made 4k on Spotify.

[@apollozero]

LOL Well, still would make more being in a film.

[@hnnpuffnstuff]

He is making more holding his publishing rights as he has and will continue to receive risiduals from all performances and plays across all digital and otherwise formats.

[@raspberrymojitogirldec]

Love movie and the song

[@debbiecooper1677]

and we all sing it with him.. well at least me

[@doubleb7250]

What a house!

[@davidpalmer7175]

Wrote this song when he only had his last $100 in the bank. Talk about opportunity knocking at the right time... good for him, and the rest of us.

[@mitsuomits9077]

Patrick Swayze😟💔

[@eranddroory9987]

love the wig..

[@flipwright1138]

Franke Previte of Franke and the knockouts. If you want to hear a great vocalist pull up songs when he sang for Bull Angus.

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

They left out the part where Jennifer Warnes came into the picture. One of my favourite singers, I learned of her existence through this song.

[@twistedworld635]

Today I learned that Bill Medley is one of the Righteous Brothers... never knew that. The rest of the world probably did...

[@daisymaefrench4041]

Wow? Were you living under a rock???????

[@davidpalmer7175]

Yes, we did.

[@iiphase]

Now heee Had The song of His life And it would never beee As before The song of His life And he wrote it all For youuu

[@jhoang861]

II-Phase Fortnite lol

[@Paul-Mac]

I have the Franke and the Knockouts debut album.

[@apollozero]

Never cared for this song, and never cared who wrote it, so I learned something new today who did write it.

[@VanielDeeform]

You never cared for the song or who wrote it, yet you found the video, clicked on the video & watched the video...

[@bvg83]

I love the song “sweetheart” from his previous band Frankie and the knock outs 🌺

[@vamul1]

i remember that too and saw him and the knockouts with my dad Ralph Mulhern back in the 80's @Great Adventure before this hit and I think it was raining and a weekday...I was a very young girl

[@thetreblerebel]

Good for him, that's a big big stroke of luck. Not every songwriter hits it THIS big..ever

[@PaintHerWhite]

I miss Frankie and the Knockouts.

[@rukawa23gold]

👍

[@craigh8602]

Brilliant to keep the publishing rights. So Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers was perturbed that he wasn't going to be singing on the song. Their agent says, "Bobby, chill, sit back, and collect a shit load of money." And he did.

[@ajogg]

that was on Ghost, yes. This song was different, it wasn't a Righteous Brothers song.

[@stacey3763]

Well bill medley sang it better and I thought he wrote it so kudos will always go to him.

[@xzmurazikbyqirwinsfi7420]

That wig man, Jesus. No one puts Bill Medley in a corner. Nobody puts baby in a corner!

[@wearitlikeadiva]

No wig. That’s his hair. I know him personally

[@HockeyVictory66]

Is this the holiday inn where he is playing.

[@markheller197]

He was a nobody as half of the Righteous Brothers? Maybe you aren’t old enough to remember But they were huge!

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

Anyone else bothered that he puts his cd's face down on the dresser?

[@DJMichaelAngelo]

I'm just amazed he's tech-savvy and dilligent enough to even HAVE his own demo version right there on a CD readily-available! most songwriters/producers aren't that organized or even care about archiving their vault stuff

[@BLITZY261]

@@DJMichaelAngelo wanna bet.

[@davidpalmer7175]

I'm sure HE sleeps at night... so relax!

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

@@davidpalmer7175 just a casual observation..don't YOU stress too much.

[@reinplat]

Smart dude, he wasn't gonna be put in the corner.

[@jodylupton3619]

Nobody puts baby in a corner

[@hgone7221]

Ok. How much money did he collect for his masterpiece?

[@MikeRoberts1964]

He's worth 8 Mill. now....So I'm sure the song was a big part of establishing that wealth.

[@SuperMrsbowen]

@@MikeRoberts1964 Where do you get your data?

[@davidpalmer7175]

@@SuperMrsbowen Every time this movie is shown or they play this song on the radio, he gets $$$. It's called residuals. In the course of a year... it adds up.

[@wearitlikeadiva]

He makes 6 figures a year in royalties between 300k-600K

[@Loverofartsandmusic]

It's sad how a writer's talent being shaded by the singer. Nowadays, I already find the writer of the song.

[@sratus]

That wig man, Jesus.

[@wearitlikeadiva]

It’s not a wig. He has thick hair, always has

[@sonicfoxxmusic4281]

1:25(Frank Previte..writer of ((I've had) the time of my life)................."before that i was like, $100 dollars in my Bank Account". CALLING ALL SONGWRITERS....take note of this sentence and NEVER, repeat NEVER ever give up on your songcraft. Who knows, maybe that next one you write might just be...THE ONE!!!!

[@guitarhilley]

To be honest...I think I liked the demo better...

[@Greggspies]

Syrup

[@knarrie1966]

Why didn't he sang the song himself? Suits his Voice much better

[@VanielDeeform]

Arjan nvt I think the movie makers, producers were going for a Love lifts us up where we belong (from an officer and a gentleman) sound, but more upbeat also, don't forget the previous year's biggest movie was Top Gun with Bill Medley's opening baritone on The Righteous Brother's You've lost that loving feeling

[@BLITZY261]

@@VanielDeeform ..fair point..sharp point...relevent to the time period.

[@VanielDeeform]

@@BLITZY261Thanks and yes; like you say about the time period of Dirty Dancing being the (early) 60’s. There’s that connection with the singer as well.

[@tedkay_music]

lol

[@h.davisshannon4636]

AnimeJapan 2020 Officially Canceled Over Coronavirus Concerns Read: got.cr/AnimeJP20 Ok. How much money did he collect for his masterpiece?

[@sspbrazil]

His voice sucks now, lucky he got those publishing rights. lol

[@robertdegroot8302]

This song is absolutely unbearable.