This Is Love (PJ Harvey song)
"This Is Love" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by PJ Harvey | ||||
from the album Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea | ||||
Released | 2001 | |||
Genre | Punk blues[1] | |||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) | PJ Harvey | |||
Producer(s) | Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey, Sam Cunningham | |||
PJ Harvey singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"This Is Love" on YouTube |
"This Is Love" is a song by English
Musical style and lyrics
The song was described as "blues punk"[1] and "one of the blues-tinged numbers" off the record.[4] The guitar riff of the song was interpreted as an homage to The Stooges song "No Fun" and was compared to those of The Heartbreakers song "Chinese Rocks."[5] According to Amy Britton, the author of Revolution Rock: The Albums Which Defined Two Ages, lyrically the song "places sex as a priority over the anomalies of the world."[6] Also on the lyrics of the song, Jason Heller of The A.V. Club wrote: "PJ doesn’t bring her love to anyone, nor does she ponder whether her font of conflicted emotions and biological requirements amount to desire. She just states, “This is love / This is love / That I’m feeling.” Period. No searching of the soul needed."[5]
Critical reception
Andrew Mueller of Spin stated that the song "flirts with a hitherto uncharacteristic Liz Phair-ish playfullness" and described it as "exuberant".[7] Christian David Hoard, one of the authors of The New Rolling Stone Album Guide praised the song, writing: "on the bombastic and awesomely raunchy "This Is Love," arguably her best song ever, she says a big fuck-you to psychosis and sadness as guitars crunch and garments hit the floor."[8]
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller, who also collaborated with Harvey on the music videos of "Good Fortune" and "A Place Called Home."[9] It features Harvey, who is wearing a fringe-sleeved white suit and red lipstick, performing the song on the guitar at a studio and whipping her hair around.[10]
Track listing
- CD
- «This Is Love» – 3:48
- «You Said Something» – 3:23
- «A Place Called Home (Taken From Lamacq Live)» – 3:41
- Australia / Asia CD Single
- «This Is Love» – 3:48
- «You Said Something» – 3:23
- 7"
- «This Is Love» – 3:44
- «Angelene (Taken From Lamacq Live)» – 3:46
- US VHS Promo
- «This Is Love»
Chart positions
Chart (2001) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Chart[2]
|
41 |
References
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Pj Harvey". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
- ^ "Complete List Of Grammy Nominees". CBS News. 4 January 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ISBN 978-0761153856.
- ^ a b Heller, Jason (30 July 2013). "PJ Harvey strips love down to its elements". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ Britton, Amy (2011). Revolution Rock: The Albums Which Defined Two Ages. AuthorHouse. p. 297.
- ^ Mueller, Andrew (November 2000). "Tales of the City". Spin. 16 (11): 58.
- ISBN 0743201698.
- ^ Dougan, Rob (11 February 2002). "Music Video Director Sophie Muller". mvwire.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (8 February 2011). "PJ Harvey - A Buyer's Guide". NME. Retrieved 8 May 2014.