No More "I Love You's"
"No More 'I Love You's' " | ||||
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Single by the Lover Speaks | ||||
from the album The Lover Speaks | ||||
B-side |
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Released | ||||
Genre | New wave | |||
Length | 4:04 | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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The Lover Speaks singles chronology | ||||
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"No More 'I Love You's'" is a song written by British musicians
The Lover Speaks version
Writing
"No More 'I Love You's'" was the first song which David Freeman and Joseph Hughes wrote together as the Lover Speaks in 1985.[3] The song originated with Freeman, who came up with the chorus and the bassline, and Hughes then had the idea for the "do-be-do-be-do-do-do" hook. Freeman had the lyrics for the chorus completed at an early stage and wrote those for the verses later on.[4]
As with each track on The Lover Speaks album, "No More 'I Love You's'" is based on a concept in Roland Barthes' book A Lover's Discourse: Fragments (Fragments d'un discours amoureux). In 2015, Freeman recalled of the lyrics, "When you say to someone 'I love you', it could be to your kids, your lover, your parents, usually, you hear, 'I love you, too'. And then one day you say, 'I love you', and there's silence because that person has reached the 'no more 'I love you's' stage'. They cannot say 'I love you, too'. It's as simple as that. All I did lyrically, I think, was put it in Gothic terms."[3]
Recording
The song was first demoed on a portastudio during a rehearsal studio session, with Robert Farrell on guitar, Barry Gilbert on keyboards and Pete King on drums.[3] It was then demoed again at Pathway Studios with the same line-up, but with the addition of Hughes' ex-girlfriend, singer June Miles-Kingston, who provided backing vocals. The Lover Speaks signed to A&M Records in early 1986 and began recording their debut album with Jimmy Iovine as co-producer. The Pathway Studios demo was used as a guide for the studio version of "No More 'I Love You's'".[3]
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Matt Mahurin and produced by David Naylor and Sharon Oreck.[5] In the US, it achieved active rotation on MTV.[6]
Release
"No More 'I Love You's'" was released as the Lover Speaks' debut single in July 1986. It reached number 58 in the
Critical reception
Upon its release, the
Reviewing its March 1988 reissue, Tom Doyle of Smash Hits selected "No More 'I Love You's'" as the "single of the fortnight". He noted that it "originally flopped without dignity, but at least the Lover Speaks have the rather good sense to realise this record deserves to be top five". He added, "You're sure to recognise it, and whimper and blub at the tale of lurve gone mouldy which unfolds."[14] Betty Page of Record Mirror named it one of the "singles of the week" and praised it as an "epic pop song" which "sounds like Phil Spector-meets-Lord Byron in Tamla Motown". She stated, "Pay attention this time around to David Freeman's exquisite wordplay, wistful voice and playful girly backing vocals and be moved."[15] Jonathan Romney of NME described the "deconstructive tearjerker" as "a colossal, nay Wagnerian, record" on which "very weird chipmunk vocals sing the most contorted hook in history". He concluded, "Buy this and put some Barthes in the charts."[16] John Lee, reviewing again for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, applauded the reissue, noting it would have been a "criminal waste of a haunting, magnificent, Walker Brothers-esque big ballad". He commented on the "inexplicable failure" of the single's original release and believed it had "got to be a hit in '88".[17]
In a retrospective review of The Lover Speaks, Michael Sutton of AllMusic praised the song as "stylishly crafted, soulful pop" which is "elevated by Freeman's booming voice" and also noted the "soaring, heartbreaking chorus".[18] Imran Khan of PopMatters noted the difference between the original and Lennox's version, with the original "opting for a far more baroque and windswept drama of romance and pop" which he considered to be "an apt description of exactly what the Lover Speaks was all about".[19]
Track listings
1986 release
- "No More 'I Love You's'" – 4:04
- "This Can't Go On!" – 3:49
- "No More 'I Love You's'" – 4:04
- "Of Tears" – 3:37
- "This Can't Go On!" – 3:49
1988 UK reissue
- 7-inch single[26]
- "No More 'I Love You's'" – 4:04
- "Tremble Dancing" – 4:16
- "No More 'I Love You's'" – 4:04
- "Tremble Dancing" (Extended) – 5:17
- "Every Lover's Sign" – 4:38
- "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" – 4:50
Personnel
- David Freeman – lead vocals, backing vocals
- June Miles-Kingston – backing vocals
- Robert Farrell – guitar
- Joseph Hughes – bass
- Steve Jordan – drums
Production
- Jimmy Iovine – production
- The Lover Speaks – production
- Fred Defaye – engineering
- Marc O'Donoghue – assistant engineering
- Joe Chiccarelli – mixing
- Craig Engel – assistant mixing
Other
- John Warwicker – art direction, design
- Matt Mahurin – photography
- Atelier Koninck – typography
- Vivid I.D. – design (1988 reissue only)
Charts
Chart (1986) | Peak position |
---|---|
58 | |
US Cash Box Top 100[29] | 88 |
Annie Lennox version
"No More 'I Love You's" | ||||
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Single by Annie Lennox | ||||
from the album Medusa | ||||
B-side | "Ladies of the Canyon" | |||
Released | 6 February 1995[30] | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 4:54 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Stephen Lipson | |||
Annie Lennox singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"No More 'I Love You's'" on YouTube |
Scottish singer and songwriter Annie Lennox covered "No More 'I Love You's" and released as the lead single from her second studio album, Medusa (1995), in February 1995. The song features slightly altered lyrics from the original version and added background vocals that can be heard around the 2:50 mark of the song.
Lennox's version was a commercial success, topping the singles charts of Canada, Italy and Spain, reaching number two on the
Background
In a 1995 article she wrote for The Independent, Lennox stated why she chose to record her own version of the song:
"The Lover Speaks was a group formed by a man called David Freeman. When the song was released it made a mild murmur in the charts, but I don't think it ever really became a hit. There are quite a few songs floating around which should have touched the consciousness of the nation – they should have made their mark, and this is one of them. I thought, well, I might be sticking my neck out to do this, but I really wanted to give it another chance because it's a magnificent song. The lyrics are extraordinary, poetic and abstract - the perfect sort of vehicle for me."[32]
David Freeman said in 2015, "When Annie Lennox covered 'No More "I Love You's"', she nailed it! She has the ability to be camp and soulful. We were very lucky that she recorded our song."[3] The success of Lennox's version earned Freeman and Hughes a BMI award each in 1996,[33] as well as three Ivor Novello award nominations for "PRS Most Performed Work", "International Hit of the Year" and "Best Song Musically and Lyrically".[34] It also generated some renewed interest in the Lover Speaks, which in turn prompted Freeman to independently release some of his solo material across six albums in 1996.[35]
Music video
Lennox co-directed the accompanying
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from most music critics. AllMusic editor Rick Anderson wrote in his review of Medusa, that Lennox's rendition of "No More I Love You's" is "ravishingly, heartbreakingly lovely".[38] Larry Flick from Billboard found that "she picks up right where she left off floating fluttering phrases over a sea of atmospheric synths and strings that are propelled by a subtle, shuffling beat." He added that the track "builds to a dramatic musical climax that perfectly suits the declarative tone of the lyrics."[39] Karen Allen from Cash Box noted its "orchestral plush".[40] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report remarked, "Whenever Annie Lennox steps in front of a microphone, something magnificent happens. The twists and turns of this haunting new release are a perfect match for her unique talent. And just when it seems all original video concepts have been exhausted, along comes this contender for video of the year."[36] Another editors, Fell and Rufer, said, "Here's yet another way to say "It's over, baby." This new Lennox single is a richly-orchestrated breakup song with excellent adult appeal."[41] Karen Leverich from The Heights described it as "a serene blend of voices".[42] Irish Evening Herald felt it "successfully bridged the gap between Nineties pop sophistication and her ritzy hits with Dave Stewart",[43] while Irish Independent praised it as a "gem".[44] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel felt the song is using "a sweeping arrangement" a la "Why", remarking that the singer "draws on her gift of smirking melancholy."[45]
In his weekly UK chart commentary,
Commercial performance
The song became the highest-charting solo single for Lennox in the United Kingdom, entering and peaking at number two on the
Samples
Lennox's version of "No More 'I Love You's'" has been sampled multiple times. It was first sampled for the
Legacy
In 2015,
Track listings
7-inch single
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "No More 'I Love You's" | |
2. | "Ladies of the Canyon" |
CD 1
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "No More 'I Love You's" | 4:50 |
2. | "Ladies of the Canyon" | 3:40 |
3. | "Love Song for a Vampire" | 4:17 |
CD 2
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "No More 'I Love You's" | 4:51 |
2. | "Why" (Unplugged Version) | 4:59 |
3. | "Cold" (Unplugged Version) | 4:57 |
4. | "Walking on Broken Glass" (Unplugged Version) | 3:59 |
- Tracks 2, 3, and 4 are taken from a live acoustic session for MTV Unplugged in July 1992
"Whiter Shade of Pale"/"No More 'I Love You's'"
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A Whiter Shade of Pale" | 4:49 |
2. | "No More 'I Love You's" (Radio edit +) | 4:28 |
3. | "No More 'I Love You's" (Junior's club mix) | 7:34 |
4. | "No More 'I Love You's" (Soundfactory mix) | 11:40 |
5. | "No More 'I Love You's" (Tribal Mix) | 8:18* |
- Medley of "No More 'I Love You's'", "Take Me to the River", and "Downtown Lights"
+ Junior's Radio Edit
Charts and sales
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[92] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
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{{cite AV media notes}}
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