Tunnel of Love (Dire Straits song)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
"Tunnel of Love" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Dire Straits | ||||
from the album Making Movies | ||||
B-side | "Tunnel of Love, Part 2" | |||
Released | 24 October 1980 (EU)[1] 2 October 1981 (UK) | |||
Recorded | 20 June – 25 August 1980 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 8:09 (Album version) 5:01 (Single version, Part 1) | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Dire Straits singles chronology | ||||
|
"Tunnel of Love" is a 1981 single by
"Tunnel of Love" is one of only three Dire Straits songs not credited to Mark Knopfler alone (the other two are "
The song mentions the Spanish City which, at the time the song was released, housed fun fair rides and amusements, referenced throughout the song. Spanish City is in Whitley Bay, which is also referenced near the end of the song (along with Cullercoats). It tells the story from the protagonist's point of view of meeting a young girl at the amusement park, spending time with her only to lose her in the park and unable to find her again.
Reception
Chart performance
"Tunnel of Love" reached the position of number 54 in the
Personnel
Dire Straits
- Mark Knopfler – vocals, guitar
- John Illsley – bass, vocals
- Pick Withers – drums, vocals
Additional musicians
- Roy Bittan – piano, Hammond organ
- Sid McGinnis – guitar (uncredited)[6]
Music videos
Two music videos exist for the song, one depicting
Live performances
In 1980s concerts, Dire Straits played the central theme of The Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" during an extended instrumental introduction to the song, as Knopfler talked about that group's hometown of Newcastle. Knopfler's outro solo has received numerous plaudits over the years:
"Throughout "Tunnel of Love," Mark Knopfler dramatizes this close encounter by using his guitar as a Greek chorus. [...] Later, as Knopfler walks alone through the "carousel and the carnival arcades," waiting for another night and another girl, he wraps his voice like a ratty old raincoat around Bittan's gently tinkling piano and the long guitar solo that ends the track. Somehow, the evocative moan of the artist's guitar suggests a truth much deeper than the carnival-as-life metaphor has revealed."[7]
Mark Knopfler also sometimes played melody from chorus of "Stop! In the Name of Love" by The Supremes, as an additional intro prior to the "Carousel Waltz" while performing this song live.
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI)[8] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 35,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Dire Straits singles".
- ^ Gallucci, Michael (20 July 2013). "Top 10 Dire Straits Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Rees, Paul (17 April 2015). "The Top 10 Best Dire Straits Songs". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Tutti i successi del 1981". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.)
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|agency=
ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "Sid McGinnis". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ Fricke, David (5 February 1981). "Dire Straits: Making Movies" (review). Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Dire Straits – Tunnel of Love" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 7 June 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Tunnel of Love" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".