# Can't Fight the Moonlight

"Can't Fight the Moonlight" is a song written by Diane Warren and performed by American singer LeAnn Rimes. It is the theme song of the film Coyote Ugly. Released as a single on August 22, 2000, the song reached the top 10 in 19 European countries, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, topping the charts in 12 of these territories, including the United Kingdom; it became Australia's best-selling single of 2001. In the United States, the song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002.
The song appeared on Rimes's I Need You (2002) compilation album and The Best of LeAnn Rimes (2004). The Graham Stack Radio Edit of the song (known as the "Latino Mix" internationally) was included as a bonus track on I Need You and on More Music from Coyote Ugly (2003). The remix was also included on Greatest Hits (2003) as well as on the remix edition of her Best of album.
A music video for the song was released in 2000 including clips taken from the Coyote Ugly film with Rimes performing at the "Coyote Ugly" bar.

## Background

Rimes originally auditioned for the 2000 film Coyote Ugly to sing "Can't Fight the Moonlight" at the ending with Piper Perabo but, once Rimes watched some cuts of the film, she decided to provide the singing voice for all the songs sung by Perabo. In the film, the song has a fictional story of being written by main character Violet Sanford, which at the end of the film becomes her big break into the music business after Rimes records it. Rimes later shared with her audience of a 2017 concert that she really wanted “Can’t Fight The Moonlight”, but it was attached to Coyote Ugly. She agreed to sing for Piper Perabo on the movie because she so badly wanted to sing “Can’t Fight The Moonlight”. (this would include "But I Do Love You", as well as two other tracks on the soundtrack). The vocals Rimes provided are altered in their pitch and vocal range in comparison to her natural vocal range; and, the closing scene, wherein she and Perabo's character sing, is effectively her duetting with herself. The song's lyrics were slightly changed for film.
"Can't Fight the Moonlight" is a pop song of 3 minutes and 35 seconds. The song was written by American Grammy Award-winning songwriter, Diane Warren and performed by Rimes. The song's sheet music shows the key of E-flat major with the first and second verses in B minor. The song is produced by Trevor Horn with executive production by Jerry Bruckheimer, Kathy Nelson and Mike Curb. Orchestral arrangements were done by David Campbell with engineering and mixing done by Steve MacMillan. Additional engineering was done by Tim Weidner, Greg Hunt, Gary Leach and Austin Deptula. According to Warren it is the first song she had written with so many key changes. A review by Billboard praised producer Trevor Horn by stating "Oh-so creatively produced by Trevor Horn with guitars, lush layers of harmony, and a funky albeit delicate hip-hop track (no, really), this easy-flowing midtempo popper is a sassy number, demonstrating that Rimes has crossed the line to adult-leaning lyrics."

## Release

"Can't Fight the Moonlight" was first released on the soundtrack for Coyote Ugly on August 1, 2000. It was released in the US on a CD single on August 22, 2000, along with the song, "But I Do Love You" (also included on the soundtrack) as the B-side track. The song was later released on a maxi-single which included several remixes of the song. The song was also included on Rimes's 2002 compilation album, I Need You, with the Graham Stack Radio Edit of the song included as a bonus track. In 2003, the Graham Stack Radio Edit of the song would be included on the More Music from Coyote Ugly soundtrack on January 28, 2003. and Rimes' Greatest Hits album on November 18, 2003. In 2004, the song was included on The Best of LeAnn Rimes, while the Graham Stack Radio Edit (known as the "Latino Mix" internationally) was released on the remixed edition. In 2014, a new remix of the song by The Alias was released on her second greatest hits remix album, Dance Like You Don’t Give a… Greatest Hits Remixes. In 2018, Rimes released a live re-reimagined version of the song to digital download and streaming services that was later included on her Re-Imagined EP. In 2020, in celebration of the film's 20th anniversary, a new remix by Dave Audé was released.

## Critical reception

Wendy Mitchell of Barnes & Noble.com praised the song calling it "ultra-catchy". Heather Phares of AllMusic considered the song to be a "positively Britney Spearsian power ballad". A review in Billboard about Rimes and the song stated that the song "is by far her most compelling pop offering yet–and one of the more intriguing compositions of late from songwriter superwoman Diane Warren."

## Commercial performance

The song reached the top 20 in every country it charted in. In the United Kingdom, "Can't Fight the Moonlight" topped the UK Singles Chart for the week ending November 25, 2000, becoming Britain's 12th biggest-selling song of 2000. It sold over 530,000 copies in the United Kingdom and was the 55th best seller of the 2000s decade in the country. In the Republic of Ireland, it topped the Irish Singles Chart in November 2000 for two weeks.
In Australia, "Can't Fight The Moonlight" topped the ARIA Singles Chart in January 2001 and went on to become the biggest-selling single in Australia of 2001. It went triple platinum in Australia, selling over 210,000 copies. In New Zealand, it went to number one on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
In the US, the song spent two chart runs on the Billboard Hot 100. On its original chart run in 2000, "Can't Fight the Moonlight" stalled at number 71. It regained interest in late 2001 and 2002 and rose up the charts to number 11. It took 29 weeks to reach the top 40. The song spent 42 weeks on the charts and sold 668,000 copies. Even though the song was not officially released to country radio, it debuted at number 61 on the Billboard Country Song chart due to airplay as an album cut. The single was certified gold by the RIAA. The single has sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

## Music video

A music video for the song was released in 2000 by Touchstone Pictures and directed by David McNally, the director of Coyote Ugly. The video features Rimes wearing a white tank top and brown striped latex pants singing at the "Coyote Ugly" bar, and dancing with Izabella Miko and the other girls who worked at the bar in the film. The video also features various scenes taken from the film. The music video was included as a bonus feature on both the theatrical and uncut DVD releases of the film.

## Live performances

On February 1, 2001, Rimes performed the song on Music in High Places. The performance was later featured on the limited edition bonus DVD included with her Greatest Hits album. On April 10, she performed it live at the 7th Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. On May 9, she performed a "beat box-driven" version of the song live at the 36th Academy of Country Music Awards, being accompanied by bare-chested dancers. Rimes also performed the song on Sessions@AOL.

## Covers and samples

South Korean singer Lee Hyori performed the song during 2003's MBC Drama Awards. American singer Ava Max interpolated the song on her 2022 single "Million Dollar Baby".

## Personnel

Personnel for "Can't Fight the Moonlight" adapted from the liner notes of the Coyote Ugly soundtrack.
* Steve MacMillan – engineer, mixing
* Tim Pierce – guitar
* Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards, bass
* Lee Sklar – bass
* John Robinson – drums
* Curt Bisquera – drums
* Alan Pasqua – piano
* David Campbell – orchestra arrangement
* Sue Ann Carwell – background vocals
* LeAnn Rimes – lead vocals, background vocals
* Niki Harris – background vocals
* Tim Weidner – additional engineering
* Greg Hunt – additional engineering
* Gary Leach – additional engineering
* Austin Deptula – additional engineering
* Sara Lind – technical assistance
* Robert Orton – technical assistance
* Gavin Lurssen – mastering

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 3× Platinum | 210,000$^^$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Platinum | 50,000$^*$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 4,000$^^$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 45,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 250,000$^*$ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Platinum | 60,000$^^$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 30,000$^^$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 25,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Can't Fight the Moonlight" :
| Region | Version | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| United States | Original | August 22, 2000 | CD single | Curb |
| United States | Original | September 5, 2000 | Contemporary hit radio | Curb |
| United States | Original | September 11, 2000 | Adult contemporaryhot adult contemporary radio | Curb |
| United Kingdom | Original | November 13, 2000 | CD singlecassette single | CurbLondon |
| Japan | Original | December 1, 2000 | CD single | Curb Denon |
| Australia | Original | January 2001 | CD single | Curb |
| United States (re-release) | Original | October 2, 2001 | Contemporary hit radio | Curb |
| Various | Re-Imagined (live) | May 30, 2018 | Digital downloadstreaming | EverLe/Thirty Tigers |
| Various | Dave Audé remix | November 13, 2020 | Digital downloadstreaming | Curb |