Is That Love
| "Is That Love" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Squeeze | |
| from the album East Side Story | |
| Released | 1981 |
| Recorded | 1980 |
| Genre | Rock, new wave |
| Length | 2:34 |
| Label | A&M |
| Songwriter(s) | Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook |
| Producer(s) | Roger Bechirian & Elvis Costello |
| Squeeze singles chronology | |
"Is That Love" is a new wave song by Squeeze that was released in 1981 on the band's fourth album, East Side Story . Written by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, the song features lyrics about Difford's marriage and features a quick tempo with a piano-based ending.
Released as the first single from the album, the song saw commercial success in the UK. It has since become a live favorite for the band and has seen positive reception from critics.
Background
[edit ]"Is That Love" was inspired by Squeeze lyricist Chris Difford's then-recent marriage; he explained, "This was written around the time I got married. I remember being in the bathroom and seeing Cindy's wedding ring next to the soap, which inspired me to write the lyric. I don't think it was particularly about our marriage, but it started off a sequence of ideas in my head."[1] Difford also went on to say, "I'm not strapped to the song emotionally but it was a great live number and sums up being on the road and having fun. It's a comfortable pair of jeans as a song."[1]
Glenn Tilbrook stated that the track was originally recorded in mid-tempo but was not coming together, "so we sped it up and it made more sense like that[.]"[1] Tilbrook also said, "I was influenced quite consiously by The Beatles here."[1] Tilbrook noted that the "ending was [Elvis Costello's] idea, and he played the piano part accompanying it."[1]
Reception
[edit ]Critical reception
[edit ]AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Squeeze's "barbed, bouncy pop" is "best heard on the single 'Is That Love'" and he cited the track as a highlight from East Side Story.[2] Tom Jackson of the Sandusky Register praised the song's "zingers", such as "Beat me up with your letters, your walk out note" and "My assets froze while yours have dropped".[3] Lyndsey Parker of Yahoo Music named the song as one of Squeeze's tracks that are "as clever, tuneful, and instant-classic as anything recorded by the Beatles".[4]
Difford himself was complimentary of the song, saying, "Yes I love this one, great song, wonderful melody and attack, a band on its hind legs".[3]
Chart performance
[edit ]When the song was released as a single, it peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] as well as 25 in Ireland. The song also became Squeeze's only number one single, as it topped the charts in Israel.[1]
Covers
[edit ]In 2007, Scottish group Travis covered the song on their single "Selfish Jean".
Track listing
[edit ]- "Is That Love" (2:34)
- "Trust" (1:45)
References
[edit ]- ^ a b c d e f Tilbrook, Glenn; Difford, Chris; Drury, Jim. Squeeze: Song by Song. Sanctuary. pp. 87–89.
- ^ Erlewine, Steven Thomas. "East Side Story". allmusic.com.
- ^ a b Jackson, Tom. "Chris Difford on his new memoir, and his memorable songs". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Parker, Lyndsey (9 September 2019). "Two side story: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook reflect on 45 years of Squeeze". Yahoo Music. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 522/3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
[edit ]