"To Be a Lover" is a song by Billy Idol from his 1986 album Whiplash Smile. As the album's lead single, it became Idol's second top 10 hit in the US, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart.Originally performed by William Bell (as "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"), the track was the second high-profile cover Idol had released as a single, after 1981's "Mony Mony." Idol would later top the Billboard Hot 100 (No.