So Called Friend

"So Called Friend"
"So Called Friend"
Single by Texas
from the album Ricks Road
B-side	"You're the One I Want It For"; "Tonight I Stay with You";
Released	30 August 1993
Length	3:45
Label	Vertigo
Songwriters	Johnny McElhone; Sharleen Spiteri;
Producer	Paul Fox
Texas singles chronology
Music video
	"So Called Friend" on YouTube

"So Called Friend" is a song by Scottish band Texas, released in August 1993 by Vertigo Records as the lead single from their third studio album, Ricks Road (1993). It was written by band members Johnny McElhone and Sharleen Spiteri, and produced by Paul Fox. The song reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart and number four in Portugal. It was also the theme song of American television sitcom Ellen.^[2]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "So Called Friend" was directed by Smith & Jones for Dum Dum and produced by Tom Bird/Dum Dum. It was released on 18 October 1993 and conveys Glasgow's urban landscape with aerial views.^[3]

Track listings

7-inch and cassette single^[4]^[5]

"So Called Friend" – 3:45
"You're the One I Want It For" – 4:57

CD1^[6]

"So Called Friend" – 3:45
"You're the One I Want It For" – 4:57
"Tonight I Stay with You" – 4:12
"I've Been Missing You" – 3:15

CD2^[7]

"So Called Friend" – 3:45
"You're the One I Want It For" – 4:57
"Mothers Heaven" (French remix) – 4:13
"Tired of Being Alone" – 2:59

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Germany (GfK)^[8]	92
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	85
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[10]	27
Portugal (AFP)^[11]	4
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	30
UK Airplay (Music Week)^[13]	29

References

^ "Single Releases". Music Week. 28 August 1993. p. 27.
^ Masterton, James (5 September 1993). "Week Ending September 11th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^ "Promos In Production" (PDF). Music Week. 4 September 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
^ So Called Friend (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXAS 9, 862 638-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ So Called Friend (UK cassette single sleeve). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXMC 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ So Called Friend (UK CD1 liner notes). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXCD 9, 862 639-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ So Called Friend (UK CD2 liner notes). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXCX 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ "Texas – So Called Friend" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 39. 25 September 1993. p. 21.
^ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 40. 2 October 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 41. 9 October 1993. p. 13.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
^ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 25 September 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[1] "Single Releases". Music Week. 28 August 1993. p. 27.

[2] Masterton, James (5 September 1993). "Week Ending September 11th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 5 December 2022.

[3] "Promos In Production" (PDF). Music Week. 4 September 1993. p. 12. Retrieved 8 June 2025.

[4] So Called Friend (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXAS 9, 862 638-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[5] So Called Friend (UK cassette single sleeve). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXMC 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[6] So Called Friend (UK CD1 liner notes). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXCD 9, 862 639-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[7] So Called Friend (UK CD2 liner notes). Texas. Vertigo Records. 1993. TEXCX 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[sc_Germany_Texas-8] "Texas – So Called Friend" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

[9] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 39. 25 September 1993. p. 21.

[10] "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 40. 2 October 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

[11] "Top 10 Sales in Europe". Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 41. 9 October 1993. p. 13.

[sc_UK_-12] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

[13] "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 25 September 1993. p. 30. Retrieved 2 May 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e Texas
Sharleen Spiteri Ally McErlaine Johnny McElhone Eddie Campbell Tony McGovern Michael Bannister Ross McFarlane
Studio albums	Southside Mothers Heaven Ricks Road White on Blonde The Hush Careful What You Wish For Red Book The Conversation Jump on Board Hi
EPs	Everyday Now
Compilations	The Greatest Hits I Don't Want a Lover: The Collection The BBC Sessions Texas 25 The Very Best of 1989–2023
Live albums	The BBC Sessions
Singles	"I Don't Want a Lover" "Thrill Has Gone" "Everyday Now" "Prayer for You" "Why Believe in You" "In My Heart" "Alone with You" "Tired of Being Alone" "So Called Friend" "You Owe It All to Me" "So in Love with You" "Say What You Want" "Halo" "Black Eyed Boy" "Put Your Arms Around Me" "Insane" "In Our Lifetime" "Summer Son" "When We Are Together" "In Demand" "Inner Smile" "Guitar Song" "Carnival Girl" "I'll See It Through" "Getaway" "Can't Resist" "Sleep" "The Conversation" "Start a Family" "Let's Work It Out" "Tell That Girl" "Hi" "Mr Haze"
Related articles	Discography Sharleen Spiteri discography Red Sky July

So Called Friend

Hub talks

So Called Friend

So Called Friend

Hub rules

So Called Friend

Hub overview

Add your contribution

Inside this hub

Media Collections

Timelines

Articles

Notes collections

Notes

Days in Chronicle

Root Wikipedia Article

So Called Friend

Music video

Track listings

Charts

References

Add your contribution

Related Hubs