"Close to You" or "(They Long To Be) Close To You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David with sections of the early version written by Cathy Steeves. The best-known version is that recorded by American duo The Carpenters for their second studio album Close to You (1970) and produced by Jack Daugherty.
Lady Gaga recorded a two version of the song, one solo version for Harlequin (2024), her companion album to the musical thriller film Joker: Folie à Deux and second duet version with Joaquin Phoenix for film itself and its soundtrack. Harlequin version was produced by Gaga and Benjamin Rice.
Lyrics
Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be close to you
On the day that you were born, the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair
Of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why (that is why)
All the girls in town (girls in town)
Follow you (follow you)
All around (all around)
Just like me, they long to be close to you
On the day that you were born, the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair
Of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue, hoo-hoo
That is why (that is why)
All the girls in town (girls in town)
Follow you (follow you)
All around (all around)
Just like me, they long to be so close to you
Oh, just like me, they long to be so close to you
Just like me, they long to be so close to you
Performances
| September 30, 2024 | The Belasco: Harlequin Secret Show | Los Angeles, CA |
Credits
| Written By | Burt Bacharach and Hal David |
| Published By | Universal Music Corp. o/b/o Itself, PW Arrangements, New Hidden Valley Music Co. (ASCAP) BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP) o/b/o Itself, Songs of Fujimusic (ASCAP) |
| Producers | Lady Gaga and Benjamin Rice |
| Arrangers | Lady Gaga, Benjamin Rice, Michael Polansky, Tim Stewart, Daniel Foose, Alex Smith and Steve Kortyka |
| Conductor | Steve Kortyka |
| Recording Studios | Dragonfly Creek Recording Studio, Malibu, CA Sound Factory at The Palms, Las Vegas, NV |
| Engineers | David Boucher, Benjamin Rice and Kevin Harp |
| 2nd Engineer | Joe Dougherty |
| Asst. Engineers | Bella Corich, Miguel Lara, Patrick Hundley and Daniel "Chief" Van Billiard |
| Musicians | Trumpet - Brian Newman Organ - Alex Smith Bass - Daniel Foose Saxophone - Steve Kortyka Drums - Donald Barrett Guitar - Tim Stewart |
| Orchestra | Violins - Mark Cargill, Nicole Garcia, Rebecca Sabine, Naoko Taniguchi, Bethany Mennemeyer, Lauren Cordell, Rahmaan Philip and Shigeru Logan Trumpets - Dan Falcone, Gil Kaupp, Jason Levic and Tom Delibero Saxophones - Rob Mader, Jacob Scesney, Erick Tewalt, Rick Keller and Adam Schroeder Violas - Tianna Heppner and John Pollock Celli - Adrienne Woods and Moonlight Tran Trombones - Curt Miller, Nathan Tan- Ouye, Isrea Butler and Kirby Galbraith |
| Asst. Mixing Engineer | Bryce Bordone |
Joker: Folie à Deux Version
After her release from Arkham, Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) returns to visit Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as he awaits trial on murder charges. Through a glass partition, she sings this Carpenters song about her love for him, and he joins in.
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Lee]
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
[Verse 2: Lee]
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
[Bridge: Lee]
On the day that you were born, the angels got together
And decided to make a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue
[Verse 3: Lee & Joker]
That is why all the girls in town (Girls in town)
Follow you (Follow me) all around (All around)
Just like me, they long to bе
Close to you
[Outro: Lee]
Just like me, thеy long to be
Close to you
Credits
| Performed by | Lady Gaga with Joaquin Phoenix |
| Written by | Burt Bacharach and Hal David |
| Published by |
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| Arranged by | Eyvind Kang, Alex Smith and Jeff Atmajian |
| Recorded at |
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