The Lady in Red ( Chris de Burgh song ) - wikipedia The Lady in Red ( Chris de Burgh song ) `` The Lady in Red '' Single by Chris de Burgh from the album Into the Light B - side `` Borderline '' `` The Ecstasy of Flight ( I Love the Night ) '' Released 20 June 1986 Format 7 '' vinyl 12 '' vinyl Genre Soft rock Length 4 : 17 Label A&M Songwriter ( s ) Chris de Burgh Producer ( s ) Paul Hardiman Chris de Burgh singles chronology `` Fire on the Water '' ( 1986 ) `` The Lady in Red '' ( 1986 ) `` Fatal Hesitation '' ( 1986 ) `` Fire on the Water '' ( 1986 ) `` The Lady in Red '' ( 1986 ) `` Fatal Hesitation '' ( 1986 ) `` The Lady in Red '' is a song by British - Irish singer - songwriter Chris de Burgh. It was released in June 1986 as the second single from the album Into the Light. The song was responsible for introducing de Burgh 's music to a mainstream audience worldwide. Contents 1 Creation 2 Critical reception and impact 3 Music video 4 Chart performance 4.1 Weekly charts 4.2 Year - end charts 5 Alternate versions 6 In other media 7 References 8 External links Creation The song was written in reference to ( though not specifically about ) his wife Diane and was released on the album Into the Light. On the British TV series This Is Your Life, de Burgh said that the song was inspired by the memory of when he first saw Diane, and how men so often can not even remember what their wives were wearing when they first met. Critical reception and impact The song was a massive hit across the world, quickly becoming de Burgh 's best - selling single and his signature song, transforming him from a cult artist into a household name in many countries. It reached the number one position in Canada, the UK, Ireland, the Flanders region of Belgium and Norway. It also reached number three in the United States during the spring of 1987. The song also propelled its parent album Into The Light to the number two position in the United Kingdom and success in other markets. The song was de Burgh 's third UK hit single and the first to reach the top 40. The song tends to divide public opinion and it was voted the tenth most annoying song of all time in a poll commissioned by Dotmusic in 2000. It was one of only two singles in the top ten which were not novelty songs. It was also voted the third worst song of the 1980s by readers of Rolling Stone. It was chosen as the sixth worst love song of all time by Gigwise, who said `` it is destined to grate on you at weddings forever more ''. In a 2001 poll of more than 50,000 Channel 4 viewers and readers of The Observer, the song was voted the fourth most hated UK number - one single. Neil Norman of The Independent argued in 2006 : `` Only James Blunt has managed to come up with a song more irritating than Chris de Burgh 's ' Lady in Red '. The 1986 mawkfest -- according to De Burgh -- has reduced many famous people to tears including Diana, Princess of Wales, Fergie and Mel Smith. The less emotionally impressionable, meanwhile, adopt Oscar Wilde 's view on the death of Little Nell -- that it would take a heart of stone to listen to ' Lady in Red ' and not laugh. '' Music video The music video is a studio performance, with animation at the beginning and at the end of the song. It features a curly - haired woman in red who depicts the song 's lyrics. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1986 -- 87 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 7 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) 5 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) 6 France ( IFOP ) 67 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 5 Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 6 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 6 Norway ( VG - lista ) South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) Spain ( AFYVE ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 18 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Cash Box Year - end charts Chart ( 1986 ) Position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 24 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 12 Canada ( RPM Top 100 Singles ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 32 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 28 Chart ( 1987 ) Position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 72 Canada ( RPM Top 100 Singles ) 70 South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) US Billboard Hot 100 21 US Cash Box 25 Order of precedence Preceded by `` Ti sento '' by Matia Bazar Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number - one single ( first run ) 13 September 1986 ( 1 week ) Succeeded by `` Ti sento '' by Matia Bazar Belgian VRT Top 30 Flanders number - one single ( second run ) 27 September 1986 -- 4 October 1986 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` The Final Countdown '' by Europe Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders number - one single 27 September 1986 -- 4 October 1986 ( 2 weeks ) Preceded by `` Spirit in the Sky '' by Doctor & the Medics Canadian number - one single 19 October 1986 -- 1 November 1986 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` True Colors '' by Cyndi Lauper Preceded by `` Papa Do n't Preach '' by Madonna Irish Singles Chart number - one single 10 July 1986 -- 21 August 1986 ( 7 weeks ) Succeeded by `` I Want to Wake Up with You '' by Boris Gardiner UK Singles Chart number - one single 27 July 1986 -- 16 August 1986 ( 3 weeks ) Preceded by `` Dancing on the Ceiling '' by Lionel Richie Norwegian number - one single 1 September 1986 -- 29 september 1986 ( 5 weeks ) Succeeded by `` I 've Been Losing You '' by a-ha Preceded by `` Moja Krew '' by Republika Polish number - one single 30 August 1986 -- 6 September 1986 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Do Ani '' by Kult Preceded by `` Venus '' by Bananarama South African number - one single 21 November 1986 -- 16 January 1987 ( 9 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Walk Like an Egyptian '' by The Bangles Preceded by `` Say You, Say Me '' by Lionel Richie 1986 South African best - selling single of the year Succeeded by `` Never Gonna Give You Up '' by Rick Astley Alternate versions In 1987, de Burgh released a Spanish language adaptation of `` The Lady in Red '' entitled `` La Dama de Ayer '' ( literally `` the lady of yesterday '' ) as a 7 '' single in Spain. In other Media It also appears in the 1988 movie Working Girl. The song appears briefly in the 2000 film adaptation of American Psycho. In the 2004 comedy film DodgeBall : A True Underdog Story. It was used for the Steve Johnson and Kayla Brady characters on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives during the late 1980s. Andy Williams released a version in 2007 on his album, I Do n't Remember Ever Growing Up. References Jump up ^ Coyle, Colin ( 5 July 2009 ). `` Chris De Burgh cancels Iran gig ''. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Lady In Red by Chris de Burgh ''. Songfacts. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Birdie Song tops hall of shame ''. BBC News Online. 24 July 2000. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` Readers ' Poll : The 10 Worst Songs of the 1980s ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` The 20 Worst Love Songs of All Time ''. Gigwise. Retrieved 4 August 2014. Jump up ^ Arlidge, John ( 7 January 2001 ). `` ' Imagine ' top song ever ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2014. Jump up ^ Norman, Neil ( 29 October 2006 ). `` Chris de Burgh : Great hands, shame about the voice ''. The Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2014. Jump up ^ `` Billboard -- Hits Of The World ''. Billboard. 98 ( 50 ) : 56. 13 December 1986. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Adult Contemporary : Issue 8843. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 0743. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ Nyman, Jake ( 2005 ). Suomi soi 4 : Suuri suomalainen listakirja ( in Finnish ) ( 1st ed. ). Helsinki : Tammi. ISBN 951 - 31 - 2503 - 3. Jump up ^ `` InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste '' ( in French ). InfoDisc. Select `` Chris DeBurgh '' from the artist drop - down menu. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Lady in Red ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Chris de Burgh − The Lady in Red search results '' ( in Dutch ) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red ''. VG - lista. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 -- 1989 Acts ( D ) ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( in Spanish ) ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Chris de Burgh -- The Lady in Red ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Chris de Burgh -- Chart history '' Billboard Adult Contemporary for Chris de Burgh. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Chris de Burgh -- Chart history '' Billboard Hot 100 for Chris de Burgh. Retrieved 2010 - 06 - 27. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending MAY 30, 1987 ''. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012... Cash Box. ^ Jump up to : `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts -- 1980s ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten 1986 '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 45, No. 14, December 27, 1986 ''. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 - Jaaroverzicht van 1986 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten -- Single 1986 '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 47, No. 12, December 26, 1987 ''. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 20 Hit Singles of 1987 ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits for 1987 ''. The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 14 February 2014. Jump up ^ `` The CASH BOX Year - End Charts : 1987 ''. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012... Cash Box. Jump up ^ `` Working Girl ( 1988 ) -- Soundtracks ''. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` American Psycho ( 2000 ) -- Soundtracks ''. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ `` Dodgeball : A True Underdog Story ( 2004 ) -- Soundtracks ''. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27 June 2010. Jump up ^ Roos, Henrietta ( 2017 ). Soap Opera Super Couples : The Great Romances of Daytime Drama. McFarland -- via Amazon Kindle. Jump up ^ `` Andy Williams -- I Do n't Remember Ever Growing Up ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2 May 2014. External links `` The Lady in Red '' at Discogs ( list of releases ) Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics `` La Dama de Ayer '' at Discogs American Attitude -- Lady In Red ( Live Cover Version ) Chris de Burgh Studio albums Far Beyond These Castle Walls ( 1975 ) Spanish Train and Other Stories ( 1975 ) At the End of a Perfect Day ( 1977 ) Crusader ( 1979 ) Eastern Wind ( 1980 ) The Getaway ( 1982 ) Man on the Line ( 1984 ) Into the Light ( 1986 ) Flying Colours ( 1988 ) Power of Ten ( 1992 ) This Way Up ( 1994 ) Beautiful Dreams ( 1995 ) Quiet Revolution ( 1999 ) Timing Is Everything ( 2002 ) The Road to Freedom ( 2004 ) The Storyman ( 2006 ) Footsteps ( 2008 ) Moonfleet & Other Stories ( 2010 ) Footsteps 2 ( 2011 ) Home ( 2012 ) The Hands of Man ( 2014 ) A Better World ( 2016 ) Compilation albums Best Moves ( 1981 ) The Very Best of Chris de Burgh ( 1984 ) Spark to a Flame : The Very Best of Chris de Burgh ( 1989 ) The Love Songs ( 1997 ) The Ultimate Collection ( 2000 ) Notes from Planet Earth -- The Ultimate Collection ( 2001 ) Gold ( 2007 ) Now and Then ( 2008 ) Songs `` A Spaceman Came Travelling '' `` Do n't Pay the Ferryman '' `` The Lady in Red '' `` Missing You '' Related Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Lady_in_Red_(Chris_de_Burgh_song)&oldid=800858843 '' Categories : 1986 singles 1986 songs A&M Records singles Chris de Burgh songs Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in Norway Number - one singles in Poland Number - one singles in South Africa RPM Top Singles number - one singles Songs written by Chris de Burgh UK Singles Chart number - one singles Ultratop 50 Singles ( Flanders ) number - one singles Hidden categories : CS1 Finnish - language sources ( fi ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) Use dmy dates from February 2014 Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Canadaadultcontemporary Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español فارسی Nederlands Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 16 September 2017, at 03 : 14. 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Question: who sings lady in red is dancing with me
Answer: Chris de Burgh