"Now We're Starting Over Again" is a

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

composed by

Michael Masser Michael William Masser (March 24, 1941 – July 9, 2015) was an American songwriter, composer and producer of popular music. Early life Born to a Jewish family in Chicago to Ester Huff and William Masser, he attended the University of Illinois ...

and lyricist

Gerry Goffin Gerald Goffin (February 11, 1939 – June 19, 2014) was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the US No.1 hits " Will You L ...

and first recorded by

Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick ( ; born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Wa ...

in 1981. The song was most successful as a 1989 single release by

Natalie Cole Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was the daughter of singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. She rose to prominence in the mid-1970s, with the release of her debut ...

Background

"Now We're Starting Over Again" was one of five studio recordings by

to augment the concert tracks on her 1981 album '' Hot! Live and Otherwise'': three of these studio tracks were produced and co-written by

being – besides "Now We're Starting Over Again" – "There's a Long Road Ahead of Us" (also co-written with

) and "Some Changes Are for Good" (co-written with

Carole Bayer Sager Carole Bayer Sager (born Carol Bayer on March 8, 1944) is an American lyricist, singer, songwriter, and painter. Early life and career Carole Bayer was born in New York City, to Anita Nathan Bayer and Eli Bayer. Her family was Jewish. She gradu ...

), with the latter two tracks being chosen for single release in the US. Also, "Now We're Starting Over Again" was afforded a single release in some countries though without becoming a major hit, with its only evident chart showing being in the UK where it peaked at No. 76.

Charts

Natalie Cole version

's version of "Now We're Starting Over Again" (simply titled as "Starting Over Again") was released in late 1989 in the UK and early 1990 in the U.S., being the fifth of five singles released from her 1989 album ''

Good to Be Back ''Good to Be Back'' is the twelfth studio album by American singer Natalie Cole. Released in May 1989 by EMI Records, EMI USA, it contains the hit singles "Miss You Like Crazy" and "I Do". Reception The first single "Miss You Like Crazy" peak ...

'', the first of which, "

Miss You Like Crazy "Miss You Like Crazy" is a song by American singer Natalie Cole, released as the lead single on March 15, 1989, from her 11th solo studio album, ''Good to Be Back'' (1989). Critical reception Jerry Smith from ''Music Week'' complimented the son ...

" (#7 on the

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), o ...

/ #1 R&B), also a

production and co-write, becoming Cole's second major hit produced by Masser and written by Masser and

, with the first being "

Someone That I Used to Love "Someone That I Used to Love" is a torch song written by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin that first became a success for Natalie Cole in 1980. Unreleased Bette Midler recording When the song was newly written, Masser and Goffin persona ...

" in 1980 (#21 Hot 100 / #21 R&B). "Starting Over Again" did not afford Cole a Hot 100 or R&B hit but did chart on ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' magazine's

Adult Contemporary chart The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by stati ...

at number five, while also reaching number 12 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. "Starting Over Again" was also a minor hit in the UK (#56). The

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

of the single was Cole's duet with

Freddie Jackson Frederick Anthony Jackson (born October 2, 1956) is an American R&B singer. Originally from New York, Jackson began his professional music career in the late 1970s with the California funk band Mystic Merlin. Among his well–known R&B/soul hits ...

entitled "I Do" which in a previous release had been a top ten

R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

hit.

Charts

Other versions

* Filipino singer

Lani Misalucha Lani Bayot Misalucha (; born Lani Dimalanta Bayot (born August 3, 1969) is a Filipino singer. Known for her vocal range, powerful, emotive vocals and ability to sing opera arias, she has been referred to as " Asia's Nightingale". Her music h ...

recorded "Starting Over Again" for the 2014 film of the same name.

References

External links

Lyrics of this song
* * {{Natalie Cole 1981 songs 1981 singles 1989 singles Dionne Warwick songs Natalie Cole songs Songs with lyrics by Gerry Goffin Songs written by Michael Masser Song recordings produced by Gerry Goffin Arista Records singles EMI Records singles Contemporary R&B ballads Soul ballads 1980s ballads Quiet storm songs