Mike Reid - I Can’t Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt) | The story behind the song | Top 2000 a gogo

Songwriter Mike Reid tells the story about 'I Can't Make You Love Me' by Bonnie Raitt. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo (The Netherlands) from 2016.

[@chestnutpatrick]

"Slow yourself down so you can observe these unbelievable things that are in the world."

[@blachubear]

One of the greatest song ever written & recorded.

[@conniepamela6998]

THE greatest written, besides Bach's Suite #3 in D. Air

[@mariekazazian8019]

That song is a classic masterpiece. Brings out the emotion every time.

[@007jLoSoulGLo]

Marie Kazazian yes it does. Crying now as I listen to it. No absolute reason at all, except the song has a mystical way of pulling on the heartstrings!!

[@corilovely690]

EVERY TIME❤🎼

[@51Lorie]

Brings back all the emotion from my breakup with my boyfriend and the father of my child (who is now 25 years old!) Yup, I couldn't make him love me. Every time I have ever heard that song through the years, I cry. Even so, it has been one of my favorites, go figure. Bonnie Raitt is incredible singing that song.

[@okotuilio2786]

I have always LOVED this song. Makes me cry...

[@dippster357]

This would be a very good trivia question that few would get right. The guy who wrote this song was drafted in the first round of the NFL made rookie of the year his first season!

[@deweywatts8456]

People who are talented are often multi-talented

[@denadear]

Everyone has a talent. They just have to find it.

[@tinekevannetten241]

Estland der ende_moord3nares

[@imhere653]

Makes me want to listen to everyone's cover of it. In the comments for the KZbin clip of Bonnie Raitt accompanied by Bruce Hornsby, a man named Richard McKeen expressed so succinctly: "You are not an adult until this song actually means something to you. Until then you are just a child." And he's so right.

[@biggiesmallztravels6689]

"The music doesn't come from me, it comes from the world"- WOW!

[@broncodeviltexas]

Bonnie has that extra sadness built in. Wonderful song.

[@shadowyuiop]

bronco devil Blues

[@vikkinicholson2300]

you are so right....she puts the English on it that cuts right into your heart

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Vikki Nicholson she’s American.

[@wpl6661]

He was a really good football player. American football player. Finished 5th in Heisman voting as a defensive tackle. He had back to back 12 sack seasons and then followed them up with a 13 sack season. In his fifth and final year that was injury plagued he had 7 sacks. All Pro twice. He retired after 5 seasons to concentrate on music. Primarily country music. He had a Grammy winner song for best country song in 1984. And he had 12 #1 country songs. As well as writing this song for Bonnie Raitt. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

[@dirkbonesteel]

The Philadelphia Eagles once had a 1st rounder decide he really wanted to be a Fireman instead. Wish I was making that up

[@jessemartinez2606]

Well look at you knowing everything.

[@cegr76]

@@dirkbonesteel Dude saves lives and you're bitching about your football team.

[@dirkbonesteel]

@@cegr76 You must be as fun at parties as you are intelligent

[@seltonk5136]

Christopher Gudger-Raines he didn’t bitch he mentioned a factoid ya fucken weirdo

[@endlessness80]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written.

[@jillsalkin7389]

I love these stories. What a humble man -- they stories are of the world and he observes.

[@GaySingleMulatto]

What an amazing man! I Can't Make You Love Me is not a "hit song". It's a musical masterpiece.

[@macsnafu]

I always thought that it was ironic that it was a big hit for Bonnie Raitt, being a piano-based song, while Bonnie was better known as a guitarist. But her voice was perfect for the song.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

nobody can do some good torch singing when she wants to to take a look at the title cut from Randy Newman written guilty... Bonnie nails at without any guitar just her great voice

[@chippy7745]

Also, Prince was an unbelievable guitarist, like Bonnie, and he also recorded this song. Both Bonnie and Prince’s versions are my favorites.

[@URKillingme100]

I played this over and over after my first wife left. And as Adele said, it devastated me and brought me great joy at the same time. Luckily, there was another song on that Bonnie Raitt record that I leaned on to start my next chapter, "Not The Only One".

[@lisellesloan3191]

You should give the songwriter a lot more credit here. I had to hunt down the name!

[@Bildad1976]

...and you didn't share it with the rest of us???

[@diamondlabelfilms]

It was actually at the beginning of the interview

[@goodintentions1302]

Mike Reid @ 0:30 at top in a little red box. I had to go back to find it also. I'm sure it would have been a hit if Bette Midler or Linda Ronstadt had done it also. They were in his top three. Not to take away from Bonnie Raitt! Yep! Mike said there have been 500 covers, including Prince! It is simply a wonderful song. 💞

[@le_th_]

They're just looking for views to sell advertisements. That is why Raitt's name and the song title are used and not the writer (who was more well-known for his American football career).

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

take a look at these classic Mike Reid classic country tunes 1. walk on faith 2. one of my all-time favorite Tim McGraw songs the title track of his album Everywhere. that was also written by Mike and Craig Weissman.

[@seanschaefer5233]

We should all be so lucky to recognize that we need to get out of our own way at times. Well done. Great song.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

Guy writes hit songs. Oh yeah and he also happened to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft and made defensive rookie of the year. Meanwhile I have an unfinished popsicle stick house in my closet.

[@vumba1331]

Finish it!

[@smalltownusa3124]

And yet, seems to be a contented, down home guy who doesn't need glory. Being content deep down inside is the true accomplishment and should be the goal in everyone's life.

[@honeybuzzard2843]

LOL.... Hey, Everybody has a Talent...😆

[@johnanderson8096]

That is really funny!!! Thanks, I needed that...

[@corilovely690]

Funny

[@YurMom68]

This guy is an NFL all-star as well as an accomplished musoc writer and I choke on air at least once a week. WTF.

[@le_th_]

Yeah, don't feel too bad; I choke on my own saliva occasionally. lol

[@seanhallahan14]

Thank you, Mike. Such a beautiful contribution to humanity and the world. Love 'n Light best & cheers, Sean

[@jeffsaginaw1769]

This was so unbelievable that they could have left out the football stuff and just had a big burly guy who wrote this touchingly poignant classic and it still would have been a tear jerker. One of my all time favorites. A great story can change your whole day...

[@RandomTop5]

what a fantastic series! thanks to guys from the Netherlands for making this!

[@paulself8698]

Thank you for writing this, Mike, it is the most beautiful ballad of all time.

[@jen30551]

Love his introspective take on inspiration. He put words to something I think we all struggle with at times. How to just be present and allow yourself to experience the world around you and identify with what other are experiencing. Then create, communicate, act...

[@danacoleman4007]

that was absolutely mind-blowing! The Bonnie Raitt version is one of my favorite songs of all time. I had no idea there were other versions and I can't imagine why anybody would have even tried after her. but the story of this gentleman who wrote the song is at least as interesting. what a cool guy and it seems like he's living a really interesting life so far. I'd like to learn more about him.

[@s.wilson2702]

Dana Coleman...There were some good written interviews with him around the time he had an LP out in the early 90's I believe, when he had a country hit called Walk On Faith, one was with GQ Magazine I think or Esquire. I have a copy of it filed away somewhere. He does have an interesting backstory and other utube videos add to the story as well.

[@kindredseraph]

The George Michael rendition of the song for me is the most moving & heartfelt of all the versions.

[@diamondlabelfilms]

Check out Tank version

[@kindredseraph]

@@diamondlabelfilms yes, that's a beautiful version too.

[@le_th_]

I love George Michael, but I haven't heard a more tugging-at-the-heartstrings version than Raitt's, and as a lifelong lover of Prince, George Michael and Adelle, their versions just can't quite measure up to Bonnie's (and I am not a fan of Bonnie Raitt outside of this one song. Yes, seriously.)

[@rumblefish9]

The smoothness and quality of his voice... sublime.

[@ericlind6581]

@@le_th_ I’m with you. I love George Michael but Bonnie’s version is softer and more intimate like pillow talk. It’s more heart wrenching.

[@elizabethalvarez6346]

That song touched me more than any other in my life. It's heartbreakingly, beautifully sad...with Bonnie singing it.

[@robinrubendunst869]

Broken hearts suck, each and every one. If you’re out there with a broken heart, just hang on. It really does happen to just about everyone. It’s not you. It’s not always the other person’s “fault.” Broken hearts happen. Fact of life...And they suck. Hang on. Know that.

[@livingitup9647]

Loved this segment! One of my favorite songs ever...particularly by Bonnie Raitt! Wonderful to hear the songwriter's story behind the song, and see a bit of who he is. Thank you, all!

[@laurae8324]

What a great man. I enjoyed hearing his inspirational story.

[@rockinbobokkin7831]

This is the kind of stuff that makes this program great.

[@tomcoryell]

This song ripped my heart out. I was already in love with Bonnie’s voice and then she sang this masterpiece of longing. When I heard it I simultaneously was elated to be alive and hear it and ready to die from the pain of the loss I felt at the time.

[@RizkiAnjani]

one of the most relatable song ever

[@mapuanakupuna3471]

TY Mike for writing this incredibly beautiful song! It's so emotional & timeless! 💓

[@Ddrhl]

Bonnie nailed it. No two ways about it.

[@voulafisentzidis8830]

Bonnie's was the first version I heard and it's still my favourite. This is one of the best songs ever so thanks for sharing.

[@51Dss]

Often times someone will cover a song and make it distinctly their own - nobody can ever take this song away from Bonnie - she didn't write it but she owns it.

[@zyxwut321]

Bonnie's version is the standard, period. It's grown people music, not young love and giddy romance. It's about real life, lived over time. It's about the resignation, the struggle towards acceptance, the love in spite of the loss, it's the void AFTER the anger, the rage, the hurt and betrayal are over. It's about moving on with integrity in spite of the scars. It's the 62-year-old lady finally leaving her once whirlwind/long since bad 40-year marriage after decades of abuse, it's the 53-year-old mom of college aged kids who finds out her husband's been cheating on her with a woman half her age and has spent the past 2 years fighting out and now finalizing her messy divorce with a man she still loves but knows that it's over with. It's about LIVED experience, about the subtleties and contradictions and complexities of ending life-changing, decades long relationships and the quiet aftermath once the dust has started to settle. Bonnie doesn't try to oversing, overemote, over share. Her character knows what she's been through and has nothing to prove to anyone. She's just saying goodbye, with love and affection for what once was and is proudly moving forward with the rest of her life, scarred and weary but with gentle hope in what might still be ahead for her. She's saying in spite of the pain, life still moves on, so one should do it with dignity and grace.

[@ytnsanw]

Great song, of course, but I think Bruce Hornsby deserves much credit for his piano playing on Bonnie Raitt's version...

[@rumblefish9]

OMG! I always thought the piano playing was so familiar to me and that why!

[@maluorno]

I didn't know that!

[@fivestring65ify]

No wonder it's such a great piece of work. Hornsby is a genius.

[@philotomybaar]

Hornsby‘s playing is of course wonderful, but if you sit down at a piano and play this, the harmony really informs what voicings you’ll play, and I think that’s a credit to the songwriters. The Lydian cadences are so beautiful and all you need to do is play the inversions. I don’t know if there was an arranger, but if there was then she deserves credit too. Not trying to take anything away from Bruce, but it’s all there in the lead sheet.

[@TheEvanovitch]

@@philotomybaar agreed and disagreed. What you say is true, however, it truly is the best pianowork ive ever heard in any song. Ive been playing piano for 15 years and one of my faults is thst i try to play too much. Bruce somehow plays "too much" yet makes it work completely. Its true art. It does give the song another dimention.

[@jr3210]

Chopin? and rock n’roll? I ❤️🎶 talent and u have a gift from God. Blessings!

[@murraywestenskow2896]

Perfect songs are very few and far between. *I can't make you love me"* sung by Bonnie Raitt is perfection. Want another perfect song? *Vincent* Don McLean. There are more - but perfection in a song is rare.

[@tomcoryell]

Murray westenskow X2 on Vincent

[@vikkinicholson2300]

how many times has a person said those words over someone they lost, unable to figure it out and then resigning to "I can't make you love me." when it's obvious nothing can bring them back.

[@mlg4035]

Such a wonderful song...! "I think a lot of art or creative material is there to remind us of what is right under our noses and we forget or we lose touch with it."

[@ericadaley2495]

I'm listening to this back to back to help me get thru loosing my Mom 9/21/22. And my husband of 9yrs. It's hard but I want to personally thank you for writing this song💙

[@biancanjax2010]

This song is just lovely - So poignant.

[@MidwestGirl]

Beautiful song and one of my favorites. Glad he sent it to Bonnie Raitt. Of everyone I've ever heard sing this song, she does it the most justice IMO.

[@LucindaSings]

Bonnie and Bruce live...one of the best musical moments ever x Thank you for a classic Mike

[@PorcelainLeigh]

Bruce Hornsby did a lovely job on this track as well.

[@rumblefish9]

Wow. That makes it even more special.

[@laineywright2696]

Mike Reid, so masculine has a creative side, dare I say a gentle side. As a woman, it is hard to believe a man could ever be that tender, not through my experiences. But, here we have a football playing tank that doesn't let testosterone rule. I don't know why, but I found myself in tears after this video and had to make this comment. Mr. Reid, all that you are rough, tough, and creative, makes you the perfect recipient of the title of Gentleman. That term was coined for MEN like you, not male humans.

[@JonnyRollin]

One of the most achingly beautiful and genuinely emotive songs ever-hits the human heart right at it's centre, on every listen.

[@DJMeCa]

Beautiful song, but just hearing Mike sing again made this video worthwhile!

[@Cooper349]

And the guy can also sing! Even the way he plays is very nice.

[@douglasferris4286]

One of my all-time favorite songs, great, great,!

[@marajoyhutton5764]

Him singing it too is so beautiful

[@milanbaros2005]

I would love to see this guy, sing HIS song. We only got a snippet of that. I love to see the original artist sing there songs.

[@sanctuarynuts]

His name is Mike Reid. There are various KZbin vids out there of him singing this song

[@LeonVerhulst]

Great story. What a chilled legend! I’ve a new appreciation for this song.

[@rk41gator]

I thought this was written by Bonnie because she sings with such pathos and authenticity. So glad to have stumbled upon this video. From a star in NFL to music immortality. This is one of my most favorite tunes. The lyric is so amazingly heart felt and beautiful. Thank you and your muse. (oh, and a nice list of hopeful female singers. you do have a great ear)

[@deniseblake8131]

Bonnie owns that one

[@maxflyman5435]

This song, as well as the song "Feels Like Home" from the movie "Michael" with John Travolta. I can't imagine EITHER of them ever being done by anyone but Bonnie.

[@MelissaThompson432]

I'm probably telling it wrong, but I saw her do this at the Opry, years ago, and she said something to the effect that "this is the song that means the most to me and I love to sing it." Good thing. She's never going to not be required to sing it.

[@pbohearn]

maxflyman 54 didn’t Linda a Ronstadt to a cover of “Feels Like Home?” It’s good.

[@cici7739]

@@pbohearn yup she did it once on her Feels Like Home album and again with Dolly and Emmylou on Trio II

[@goodintentions1302]

@@MelissaThompson432 I don't doubt that Bonnie Raitt possibly said that, although in this video it's Adele in 2012 saying it. Wouldn't we all say it if we could sing so well!? 😉

[@cheesesteak22]

Thank you Mike Reid🎶👍❤️

[@rickshearer]

That's a great one. His bubbly personality reminds me of Stewart Copland (drummer of The Police) . Energetic and down to earth.

[@pjeverly]

It really is one of the greatest and most perfect songs. It's one for the ages.

[@stevenospam4216]

Mike Reid. Mike Reid. Mike Reid....... Can't you put his name up at the top?

[@tailgunner6948]

Just brilliant! One of the best songs ever!

[@wallymarcel1]

He’s an amazing guy. So genuine and humble.

[@dw1617]

One of my favorites. Thank you for writing it for us. 😁

[@guyjperson]

stopped this about 10 seconds in. This song is my choice for Saddest Song Ever Written, and I don't want to know why it was written.

[@LeoWal01]

Too bad, you'll miss some worthy insights. It will do the song good, believe me, and not only that!! You will be thankful to know!

[@iseeolly9959]

This little song makes me weep...amazing stuff....love from the east coast of England xx

[@Ceelle2]

he was one of the best and most intelligent football player in his era. I followed both his athletic and song writing career. And this song is gorgeous.

[@mikearcuri406]

Can’t believe Mike didn’t mention his co-writer on that song, Alan Shamblin. Alan also wrote ‘The House That Built Me’ for Miranda Lambert. Also, ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ was originally written as an uptempo Bluegrass song. That’s one of the most unique things about it, but not even mentioned here.

[@judyt.5702]

Thanks for the info.

[@s.wilson2702]

Mike Acuri...so glad you pointed that out. I meant to mention Alan in my earlier comments but got carried away in my Mike Reid "mania". I have been close friends with and worked with, some of the world's greatest songwriters of some of the greatest songs ever written, as in Wind Beneath My Wings greatness, and it is true that there is often a co-writer who gets overlooked in the backstory. Mike usually does discuss both Alan and the earlier iteration which was scrapped for the now classic heartwrenching ballad we all know and love. Somehow those two important pieces of the story, particularly Alan's contribution, failed to surface in this interview.

[@tomruth9487]

@mikearcuri406, Yes I too can't believe he didn't add the rest of the story. I knew that someone else had cowritten it and so I looked it up. Sounds like they both wrote the lyrics and Mike wrote the melody. He tells more of the story here with Alan in the audience. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXvPmmWfmdqVg8U

[@danielwalther5841]

Thank you so much Mike Reid for this song! I am a man, but it is not 'only' wemen or a women you can sing this song for...it can be someone else also, your mother, your father, even your own kid.

[@r.b.somers2052]

What a song. Still gives me the chills and it is so personal.

[@glengamble526]

Prince’s version is fantastic, btw.

[@tiffsaver]

WOW. I can't believe how much I'm learning from your videos, especially after years of being a musician. To learn that a gridiron hero wrote one of the most moving ballads in musical history really blew my lid off, and how humble this gifted artist is was just the icing on the cake. Incidentally, I'd have loved to hear Linda Ronstadt sing this song, too. Right up her alley, but its too late for that now. Keep the great stories coming, GoGo. Great stuff.

[@IMunlucky]

A brilliant perspective on life delivered with humility. We need more of this. Thanks for sharing your gift.

[@wusundowma]

Who would have guessed that this song was written by a football jock? Wow.

[@diamondlabelfilms]

Exactly. My mind is blown.

[@pbohearn]

Hilarious

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

not really take a look at the 7 Dees Mac Davis another football jock

[@shogun0127]

more like a songwriter got drafted in the first round of the NFL draft and won ROTY

[@astrolopes]

This was amazing!

[@tallsmile28]

Amazing song by an amazing man.

[@candacefayestitzman-duley2899]

I went to high school with Mike and he is so talented .We were in JazzBand together . Also an all around athletes. AHS class of 65 He’s truly a fabulous n caring person. His music n lyrics are intensely moving . As a Vocalist it’s thrilling ,knowing I’m phrasing his songs when performing. We are very proud n appreciate all of his accomplishments 💕🎶🥰

[@jonesba2004]

One of the most beautiful songs ever.

[@harperwelch5147]

So loved bumping into this! This song is an all time favorite that bring me to tears. Fascinating to hear the history and hear the writer sing it. Thx so much.

[@kenralph1748]

I watch these vids all the time and what he said really made sense and clicked for me. To slow down and observe, these songs aren't ours, they come to us/through us(songwriters) we're just reporters and the challenge is to "get out of our own way" and listen.

[@bowalker1167]

Love Mike Reid!!!

[@painfreesunrise]

wow, he makes wonderful music AND he feeds the birds. what a guy! Big heart.

[@moondawg3693]

The words, the songs, the books are not within us, they are in the ether, and dance and flow all around us, there's a book, there's a poem, and a song, all swirling and floating by and if God feels your heart when you are about to write, you will receive one and the more sincere your heart beats, the more beautiful it will be, they are there for everyone, even you and me. We are all, so Truly Blessed.

[@debrafox5576]

One of the saddest songs ever, but I love it. Thank you!!!

[@arnoeckhel8033]

just a humble and beautiful, great artist. touch my hurt every time

[@TomSnowmrneige]

Beautiful, Mike! A classic for sure! Cheers. T Snow

[@auptag4846]

Wow, that was so endearing, inspiring and beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you. My favorite song of all time.

[@dcny69]

What. A. Song. 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@deborahclatworthy3885]

This song breaks my heart every time… one of the best songs ever written… EVER!

[@OrangeAni]

One of my favourite songs

[@biknjak]

Mike's own release/version of this song from his album "Twilight Town" is nearly as gut wrenching awesome as Bonnie's. Love 'em both....

[@rumblefish9]

My favorite cover of this song is really George Michael. Unbelievable!

[@capcolombie3834]

That's a disgusting version, the one time I heard it it made me feel physically sick.

[@nigeltimms1374]

@@capcolombie3834 George Michael was a fantastic songwriter and singer, and for him to sing this wonderful song only shows how much high regard he has for this yank called Bonnie Raitt. Or is it that George "bats for the other side" as yanks seem to feel uncomfortable with this.

[@capcolombie3834]

@@nigeltimms1374 First off I'm not American I'm British. Secondly I couldn't care less about anyone's sexuality. I hate it because I detest George Michael's voice. I hate the breathy way he sings and he made a right abortion of this song. Bonnie Raitt is another higher league from him, I know because I've seen her live and condescendingly referring to her a a lower case yank just shows what a tosser you are.

[@nigeltimms1374]

@@capcolombie3834 First off it's not my fault that your taste in music sucks. Secondly, and as they say; opinions are like arseholes... everyone has one so it's not my fault that you have a bigger arsehole than mine. Thirdly, you are in a minority to suggest that George Michael's voice is detestable. It just shows your taste in music ....tosser!

[@honeybuzzard2843]

Didn't know George covered it...gonna check it out

[@fivestring65ify]

I didn't know Reid wrote this one. He's very good.

[@jimheckert5383]

Thanks Mike. Nothing I can write will do this song justice. Fantastic!!

[@mikeorozco23]

Ever since I was a kid I loved watching Mike Reid And the Cincinnati Bengals and I still cherish his football cards that I’ve collected through the years

[@joelewing4498]

Mike, it sounds pretty much to me like the Good Lord set a path for you and you were smart enough to "latch onto it" and benefit handsomely from it. Well done, sir. God Bless

[@JustLocal]

The man did a good job himself with the song! He could sing it and it would be great!

[@elymartin8773]

This song is a tearjerker. You really hit the notes there

[@parentteachernight]

This series is just so consistent and consistently wonderful.

[@marinagutierrez358]

what a beatiful voice this guy have!

[@LaLadybug2011]

One of my favorite songs, ever! What a really cool man....loved this video.

[@christopherm.6991]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank U for sharing this.

[@christopherm.6991]

I was lucky enough to watch Bonnie sing this song from backstage left. All in my memory, no video on the cell phone, nothing. A beautiful moment in time I'll never forget.