Is This Love? (Alison Moyet song)

"Is This Love?"
Single by Alison Moyet
from the album Raindancing
B-side	"Blow Wind Blow"
Released	17 November 1986 (1986-11-17)
Length	4:00
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Alison Moyet, Jean Guiot
Producer(s)	Jimmy Iovine
Alison Moyet singles chronology
"For You Only" (1985) "Is This Love?" (1986) "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" (1987)

"Is This Love?" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released in November 1986 as the first single from her second studio album Raindancing (1987). The song was written by Moyet and Dave Stewart, who used the pseudonym Jean Guiot for his involvement with the song. ^[1]

Background

Following the release of her successful debut album, Alf , Moyet decided to move to Los Angeles where she remained for almost a year. Once settled, Moyet's manager hired Jimmy Iovine to produce her second studio album. Although most of the songs had already been written back in England, "Is This Love?" was written in Los Angeles. Dave Stewart, a friend of Iovine's, called into the studio to see him one day while Moyet was recording there. Iovine suggested that the pair should write a song together. To avoid problems with his publishers, Stewart's contribution was disguised under the pseudonym Jean Guiot. Moyet later recalled in 2016: "Dave jammed together a couple of chords, raised the melody idea and then I took it away, wrote the lyrics and played with the tune. We had a really good time recording it." ^[2]

"Is This Love?" was released on 17 November 1986 as the lead single from Raindancing. ^[3] It became a big hit in the UK, Europe and elsewhere in the world. In March 1987, it was released as the album's lead single in the United States^{[ citation needed ]} but failed to chart.

Music video

A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Nick Morris and produced by Fiona O'Mahoney for MGMM. ^[4] The video was shot at Carlyon Bay near St Austell, Cornwall, at the now-demolished Cornwall Coliseum entertainment venue, and along Crinnis beach. ^[5] In the US, it achieved breakout rotation on MTV. ^[6]

Critical reception

Upon release, Max Bell of Number One said: "Everyone's favourite big sister holds back the histrionics and resists the temptation of a big Jimmy Iovine production special. I've just heard the single is selling like hot cakes. A definite Number One of course!" ^[7] Stuart Bailie of Record Mirror wrote: "This is quite reminiscent of Alf's days with Yazoo. To pull off something this simple takes confidence and character, and this one will be a grower, whether you like it or not." ^[8] Ro Newton of Smash Hits stated: "Alison Moyet's been biding her time lately in L.A., recording new material but really this is nothing to bring you or her out in a sweat. "Is This Love?" is tunesome alright but hardly enough for her to wrap her tonsils around. This woman is worthy of far greater things than this." ^[9]

Track listings

7-inch single

1. "Is This Love?" – 3:59
2. "Blow Wind Blow" – 5:10

12-inch single

1. "Is This Love?" (L.A. mix) – 5:23
2. "Is This Love?" (single version) – 3:59
3. "Blow Wind Blow" (long version) – 6:19

12-inch single (UK release)

1. "Is This Love?" (L.A. mix) – 5:23
2. "Blow Wind Blow" (long version) – 6:19
3. "For You Only" (Europa mix) – 6:14

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Is This Love?" Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) [10] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [11] 5 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [12] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [13] 12 Ireland (IRMA) [14] 4 Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [15] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [16] 11 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [17] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [18] 7 Norway (VG-lista) [19] 3 Portugal (AFP) [20] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [21] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [22] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [23] 20 UK Singles (OCC) [24] 3 West Germany (Official German Charts) [25] 15

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Is This Love?" Chart (1987) Position Australia (Kent Music Report) [26] 81 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [27] 48 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [28] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [29] 83 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [30] 22 South Africa (Springbok Radio) [31] 9 UK Singles (Gallup) [32] 89

References

1. "ALISON MOYET Interview". The Electricity Club. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
2. Raindancing – 2016 deluxe edition CD booklet liner notes
3. "New Singles". Music Week . 15 November 1986. p. 34.
4. "Video Music: New Videoclips" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 24. 13 June 1987. p. 48. Retrieved 15 March 2022– via World Radio History.
5. "Remembering the Cornwall Coliseum, Carlyon Bay" (PDF). carlyonbeachcommunity.com. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
6. "MTV Programming" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 27. 4 July 1987. p. 57. Retrieved 15 March 2022– via World Radio History.
7. Bell, Max (29 November 1986). "Single reviews". Number One.
8. Bailie, Stuart (29 November 1986). "Singles". Record Mirror.
9. Smash Hits - 19 November-2 December 1986 - Review: Singles - page 89
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 210. ISBN   978-0-646-11917-5.
11. "Alison Moyet – Is This Love?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
12. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 6. 14 February 1987. p. 14. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
13. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Alison Moyet". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
15. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Alison Moyet".
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alison Moyet" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
17. "Alison Moyet – Is This Love?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
18. "Alison Moyet – Is This Love?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
19. "Alison Moyet – Is This Love?". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
20. "Top 3 in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 11. 21 March 1987. p. 24. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
21. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts M". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
22. "Alison Moyet – Is This Love?". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
23. "Alison Moyet – Is This Love?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
24. "Alison Moyet: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Alison Moyet – Is This Love?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
26. "National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report . No. 701. 28 December 1987 – via Imgur.
27. "Jaaroverzichten 1987 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
28. "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
29. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
30. "END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987". Official New Zealand Music Chart . Retrieved 22 April 2021.
31. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1987". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
32. "Gallup Year End Charts 1987 – Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror . 23 January 1988. p. 36. ISSN   0144-5804 – via World Radio History.