If you close your eyes and think about the 1982 classic Tootsie, you probably don’t start with Dustin Hoffman in a sequins dress. Honestly, you probably hear that soft, electric piano intro first. It’s a synth-heavy, melodic drift that feels exactly like a sunset in Manhattan. We’re talking about "It Might Be You." It is the definitive song from Tootsie movie, and it’s one of those rare instances where a pop ballad didn't just support a film—it basically gave the whole story its heartbeat.
Stephen Bishop sang it. Dave Grusin and the legendary lyricist duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote it. On paper, it sounds like a recipe for 80s cheese. But in practice? It’s a masterpiece of yearning.
Most people forget that the movie is actually a pretty cynical comedy about a difficult actor. Michael Dorsey is a jerk. He’s "difficult." Yet, when that music kicks in, you suddenly care about his internal life. That is the power of a perfectly placed theme song. It softens the edges. It makes the absurd believable.
The Magic Behind the Song From Tootsie Movie
Why does "It Might Be You" work so well? It’s all about the tension between the lyrics and the melody. The Bergmans were masters at writing about the possibility of love rather than the certainty of it.
"I've been saving love songs and lullabies..."
That’s a heavy line. It suggests a lifetime of waiting. When you pair that with Stephen Bishop’s breathy, almost fragile tenor, you get something that feels vulnerable. It doesn't sound like a superstar belting from a mountain top; it sounds like a guy in a studio apartment wondering if he’s ever going to find his person.
Interestingly, Bishop wasn't the first choice for everyone. But his voice had this specific "everyman" quality that fit Dustin Hoffman’s character. Michael Dorsey—and his alter ego Dorothy Michaels—is constantly performing. The song is the only thing that feels honest in his world.
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A Surprise Hit and an Oscar Snub
You’d think a song this iconic would have swept every award in sight. It did get an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. However, 1982 was a monster year for movie music. It was up against "Up Where We Belong" from An Officer and a Gentleman.
It lost.
But look at the longevity. Does anyone hum the melodies of the other nominees as often as they hum this one? Probably not. "It Might Be You" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, but its life on Adult Contemporary radio has been eternal. It stayed on the AC charts for weeks, eventually becoming a wedding staple for an entire generation.
There’s a specific technical trick Grusin used in the composition. The song uses a lot of major seventh chords. In music theory, those chords sound "unfinished" or "dreamy." They don't have the hard resolution of a standard major chord. That’s why the song feels like it’s floating. It matches the movie's theme of a man caught between two identities, never quite landing on solid ground until the final frame.
The New York Connection
You can't talk about the song from Tootsie movie without talking about New York City. The film is a love letter to the gritty, pre-Disneyfied 1980s Manhattan.
There’s a montage in the film where Dorothy Michaels is walking through the city, and the song plays. It’s perfect. It captures that specific feeling of being surrounded by millions of people and still feeling like you’re the only one looking for something real.
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The production on the track is very "L.A. Session Player" style, though. You’ve got top-tier musicians like Lee Ritenour on guitar and Abraham Laboriel on bass. It’s polished. It’s slick. Yet, it never feels overproduced. It feels intimate.
Why We Are Still Talking About It in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss 80s ballads as nostalgia fodder. But "It Might Be You" has survived the "yacht rock" revival and the various shifts in digital streaming because it’s structurally sound. It’s a "songwriter’s song."
Cover versions have popped up everywhere. Everyone from R&B singers to indie folk bands has taken a crack at it. Why? Because the melody is bulletproof. You can strip away the 80s synthesizers and play it on a battered acoustic guitar, and the emotional core remains.
The movie Tootsie dealt with gender roles and power dynamics in ways that were ahead of its time, even if some parts haven't aged perfectly. But the music? The music is timeless. It addresses the universal human fear that we might be waiting for someone who isn't coming—and the glimmer of hope that they actually are.
Fact-Checking the Tootsie Soundtrack
A common misconception is that Dustin Hoffman had a say in the song’s lyrics. In reality, the Bergmans worked closely with director Sydney Pollack to ensure the tone matched the film’s "dramedy" vibe. Pollack was notorious for being meticulous. He knew that if the song was too funny, the romance wouldn't work. If it was too sad, the comedy would feel mean-spirited.
"It Might Be You" was the bridge.
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- Release Date: December 1982
- Writer: Dave Grusin (Music), Alan & Marilyn Bergman (Lyrics)
- Vocalist: Stephen Bishop
- Chart Peak: #25 Billboard Hot 100
- Award Status: Oscar Nominee (1983)
If you listen to the rest of the soundtrack, it’s mostly instrumental jazz and underscore. This makes the vocal track stand out even more. It’s the only time the movie explicitly "talks" to the audience about how the characters are feeling.
How to Appreciate the Song Today
If you want to really hear this song again, don't just listen to it on a tiny phone speaker. Put on some decent headphones.
Listen to the way the bass enters. It’s subtle. Notice the tiny melodic flourishes that Dave Grusin hides in the background. It’s a masterclass in arrangement.
More importantly, watch the movie again. See how the song is used as a recurring motif. It’s not just thrown in at the end; it’s woven into the fabric of the story.
Actionable Insights for Movie Music Lovers:
To truly understand the impact of the song from Tootsie movie, take these steps:
- Compare the Versions: Listen to Stephen Bishop’s original, then find the cover by Roberta Flack. It changes the perspective entirely when a woman sings those lyrics.
- Study the "Tootsie" Montage: Watch the "Dorothy Michaels" montage on mute, then watch it with the song. You will see how much of the "acting" is actually being done by the music.
- Check out the Bergmans' Catalog: If you like the lyrics, look up their work on The Way We Were or Yentl. They specialized in "smart" longing.
- Listen for the Motif: Throughout the film's score, Dave Grusin plays with the three-note theme of the song in various instrumental ways. Try to spot it during the dialogue scenes.