Bryan Adams' 1995 Hit 'Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman' Spent 5 Weeks at No. 1

On this day in 1995, Bryan Adams' beloved rock hit "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" spent its second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would continue to hold the position for a further three weeks.

There were very few artists who dominated the Hot 100 in the 1990s like Bryan Adams. This was his sixth single in five years to reach No. 1, and he would land a further four chart-toppers before the decade was over.

Adams was the undisputed king of mainstream rock in this era, and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" was a perfect example of the melodic, guitar-driven sound that he'd become known for. The song was written for the soundtrack of Jeremy Leven's Don Juan DeMarco, which starred Marlon Brando and Jonny Depp.

The song's melody appears several times throughout the film, and three separate versions of the track are played in full-two Spanish covers and Adams' original. Adams' version was included on the film's official soundtrack, and later appeared on his seventh studio album, 18 'til I Die.

"Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" ended up being one of Adams' biggest hits, going straight to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for five weeks until it was ultimately dethroned by TLC's "Waterfalls", which managed an incredible seven weeks in pole position. The song also went to No. 1 in Canada, Australia, Austria, and Switzerland, making it one of Adams' most consistent international hits.

Beyond this commercial success, "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" also received strong reviews from critics, who praised Adams' transition from mainstream rock towards a more sultry, rock ballad sound. It was a shift that he'd previously experimented with, but fully dedicated himself to here.

Cash Box labelled Adams "the king of soundtrack ballads", noting that the song is "the same old Adams" despite the flamenco introduction and varied instrumentals. Music Week described the song as "a simple, singalong song in waltz time, with acoustic Spanish-style guitar picking". Reviewers were generally impressed with Adams' ability to mold himself to the cultural tropes of the time, which he consistently displayed throughout his career.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 8:38 AM.