Bruce Willis – Respect Yourself: Lyrics and Music Video

Bruce Willis - Respect Yourself: Song Overview

Bruce Willis's *Respect Yourself* (1987) is a soul-pop cover from his debut album, The Return of Bruno. A playful nod to Willis’s brief music career, the track reimagines The Staple Singers’ 1971 classic with 1980s rock flair, blending the actor’s raspy vocals with upbeat production.

Release and Chart Performance

• Released in January 1987 as the album’s lead single.
• Peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
• Helped The Return of Bruno go Gold in the US, fueled by Willis’s celebrity status.

Musical Style and Themes

The song mixes 1980s rock rhythms with bluesy undertones, featuring:

• A catchy, horn-driven arrangement.
• Lyrics promoting self-respect and social responsibility, adapted from the original:

  “If you disrespect everybody that you run into / How in the world do you think anybody’s supposed to respect you?”

Legacy and Cultural Impact

• A novelty hit tied to Willis’s acting fame, often remembered as a quirky 1980s pop-culture moment.
• Accompanied by a mockumentary film (The Return of Bruno), parodying music biopics.
• Rarely covered but retains nostalgic appeal, with 10+ million streams across platforms.

Songwriting Credits

Originally written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice for The Staple Singers. Willis’s version was produced by Robert Kraft, leaning into his charismatic, if unconventional, vocal style.

Summary

*Respect Yourself* epitomizes Bruce Willis’s short-lived foray into music—a fun, kitschy relic of 1980s celebrity crossovers. While overshadowed by his acting career, the track’s chart success and campy charm cement its place in retro pop history.

Keywords

• Bruce Willis Respect Yourself lyrics
• The Return of Bruno album
• 80s celebrity music hits
• Bruce Willis music career
• Staple Singers cover songs