"Is That Love" is a new wave song by Squeeze that was released 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.
"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]
ReceptionEdit
Critical receptionEdit
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 performanceEdit
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]
CoversEdit
In 2007, Scottish group Travis covered the song on their single "Selfish Jean".
Track listingEdit
"Is That Love" (2:34)
"Trust" (1:45)
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefTilbrook, Glenn; Difford, Chris; Drury, Jim. Squeeze: Song by Song. Sanctuary. pp. 87–89.
^Erlewine, Steven Thomas. "East Side Story". allmusic.com.
^ abJackson, 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. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
that, love, wave, song, squeeze, that, released, band, fourth, album, east, side, story, written, glenn, tilbrook, chris, difford, song, features, lyrics, about, difford, marriage, features, quick, tempo, with, piano, based, ending, single, squeezefrom, album,. Is That Love is a new wave song by Squeeze that was released 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 Is That Love Single by Squeezefrom the album East Side StoryReleased1 May 1981 UK Recorded1980GenreRock new waveLength2 34LabelA amp MSongwriter s Chris Difford Glenn TilbrookProducer s Roger Bechirian amp Elvis CostelloSqueeze singles chronology Farfisa Beat 1980 Is That Love 1981 Tempted 1981 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 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 2 1 Critical reception 2 2 Chart performance 3 Covers 4 Track listing 5 References 6 External linksBackground 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 EditCritical 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 EditIn 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 Retrieved 10 November 2019 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited pp 522 3 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 External links EditSqueeze discography at Squeezenet nbsp This 1980s rock song related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Is That Love amp oldid 1162467171, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
