It Must Be Love | |
Cover: | Itmustbelovelabisiffre.jpg |
Caption: | German 7" single |
Type: | Single |
Artist: | Labi Siffre |
Album: | Crying Laughing Loving Lying |
B-Side: | To Find Love |
Released: | 1971 |
Recorded: | 1971 |
Studio: | Chappell Studio, London |
Genre: | Pop |
Length: | 3:57 |
Label: | Pye |
Producer: | Labi Siffre |
Prev Title: | Get to the Country |
Prev Year: | 1971 |
Next Title: | Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying |
Next Year: | 1972 |
"It Must Be Love" is a song written and originally recorded and released in 1971 by English singer Labi Siffre on his 1972 album Crying Laughing Loving Lying. It was also recorded by ska/pop band Madness in 1981.
The original Labi Siffre recording was released as a single in 1971, and reached Number 14 in January 1972 in the UK singles chart.[1] It also appeared on his 1972 album Crying Laughing Loving Lying.
In 1994, a version of Siffre's original, with altered lyrics, was featured in an advertisement for Midland Bank.[2] In 2007, it was featured in a UK TV advertisement for Vodafone.[3]
It Must Be Love | |
Cover: | Madness - It Must Be Love.jpg |
Border: | yes |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Madness |
Released: | 25 November 1981 |
Length: | 3:19 |
Label: | Stiff |
Producer: | Clive Langer Alan Winstanley |
Prev Title: | Shut Up |
Prev Year: | 1981 |
Next Title: | Cardiac Arrest |
Next Year: | 1982 |
Madness's version was originally issued as a standalone single in late-1981, reaching #4 on the UK singles chart, and appeared on their UK number one compilation album Complete Madness the following year, and on many other Madness compilations since. In 1983, it peaked in the US Billboard chart at #33.
In 2009, Madness's cover version was featured in an advertisement for LoveFilm. In 2012, it was featured in a US advertisement for Volkswagen Passat.
In 2012, Madness performed the song with Olly Murs at V Festival.
The video mostly shows band members playing in a white room and standing over a grave. It also features guitarist Chris Foreman and saxophonist Lee Thompson playing their instruments underwater. A killer whale is also seen. Foreman appears at the start of the video warning viewers not to attempt the "very dangerous stunt" they are about to see. Labi Siffre makes a cameo appearance as a violin player.
Madness's recording was reissued in 1992, and this time reached #6 in the UK chart. A slightly remixed version with a definite ending instead of the original fade-out, appeared on the 2002 compilation . In 2007, a remixed version of the Madness cover appeared in the German Edgar Wallace spoof movie , along with a new recording called "NW5".[5] As well as the remix to the song, a new video was filmed, including three members of the band (Suggs, Chas Smash and Dan Woodgate) along with members of the cast.
Two other UK issues of the Madness version appeared but did not chart. In 1987, "It Must Be Love" was released on the re-issue label Old Gold Records, backed with "My Girl"; and, in 1988 Virgin, Madness released a 7" to coincide with the song's appearance in The Tall Guy, backed with "The Return of the Los Palmas 7".
Chart (1981–1983) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] | 6 | |
UK Singles (OCC)[7] | 4 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 33 |
Chart (1992) | Peak position | |
---|---|---|
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] | 46 | |
UK Singles (OCC) | 6 |
In 1975, the song was covered by New Seekers singer Lyn Paul.
In 2019, the song was featured on the Children in Need album Got It Covered, performed by Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman, Shaun Dooley, Luke Evans, Suranne Jones, Adrian Lester, Himesh Patel, David Tennant and Jodie Whittaker.
The song was featured in the 1989 film The Tall Guy, starring Jeff Goldblum, Rowan Atkinson, and Emma Thompson. Suggs, lead vocalist of Madness, also appeared in the film while singing this song.