"Love Resurrection" is a pop song written by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet and producers Jolley & Swain for Moyet's debut studio album Alf (1984). Released as the album's first single in June 1984, it reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] It was released in the US in summer 1985 following "Invisible" and reached number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August.

"Love Resurrection"
Single by Alison Moyet
from the album Alf
B-side"Baby I Do"
Released11 June 1984[1]
GenrePop
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Steve Jolley, Alison Moyet, Tony Swain
Producer(s)Jolley & Swain
Alison Moyet singles chronology
"Love Resurrection"
(1984)
"All Cried Out"
(1984)
Music video
"Love Resurrection" on YouTube

Background

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Speaking to Number One in 1984, Moyet said "Love Resurrection" was "written over the phone": "I'd had an argument with a friend and gone to bed like I usually do when I'm depressed. I wrote the lyric straight off and read it over to Steve [Jolley]. He called me back with a melody line and we went on from there."[3]

Music videos

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There are two versions of the music video. The first version, made for the worldwide single release, shows Moyet at a Middle Eastern encampment in the desert. As she wanders through, the camera pans across the barren landscape and zooms in on a skull figure.[4] The video was shot in Israel and cost £17,000.[5]

The second version, made for the American market, showed a softer side to Moyet following the breakup of Yazoo. The video shows Moyet, dressed all in white, performing the song in a darkened venue with a backup band in front of a small audience.[6]

Critical reception

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Upon release, Max Bell of Number One noted the song's "MOR direction" and commented: "Alf gives it loads but the Swain and Jollified electronic wash which accompanies is not entirely suitable and leaves you feeling that here is a catchphrase in search of a song. Tender but disposable."[7] In a Number One review of Moyet's follow-up single "All Cried Out", Paul Bursche praised "Love Resurrection" as being "magnificent, perhaps the best song of 1984".[8] Jessi McGuire of Record Mirror noted a "hideous similarity with Justin Hayward in the chorus", but added: "Alison proves here that she's still the queen of the larger lady singers, with a cool bit of summer pop that ought to be a great hit."[9]

Track listing

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7" single
  1. "Love Resurrection" – 3:49
  2. "Baby I Do" – 3:10
7" single (US promo)
  1. "Love Resurrection" – 3:49
  2. "Love Resurrection" – 3:49
12" single
  1. "Love Resurrection" (Long Version) – 5:33
  2. "Baby I Do" – 3:10
12" single
  1. "Love Resurrection" (Love Injected Remix) – 8:48
  2. "Baby I Do" – 3:10
12" single (US promo)
  1. "Love Resurrection" (Album Version) – 5:33
  2. "Love Resurrection" (Single Version) – 3:49

Versions

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  • "Love Resurrection" (Single Version) - 3:49
  • "Love Resurrection" (Love Injected Mix a.k.a. Long Version) - 8:50
  • "Love Resurrection" (US Long Version) - 5:31

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1984–85) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[11] 23
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 39
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 25
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 8
Italy (Musica e dischi)[16] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 10
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 82
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[20] 47
US Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[21] 49
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[22] 81

Year-end charts

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Year-end chart performance for "Love Resurrection"
Chart (1984) Position
UK Singles (Gallup)[23] 95

In other media

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In 2006, "Love Resurrection" appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The song can be heard on a fictional pop/rock/New Wave radio station called Flash FM.[24]

Cover versions

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A dance cover by D'Lux was released in June 1996 and reached number 58 in the UK charts.[25]

Christian singer Kim Boyce also covered this song for her 1986 self-titled debut album on Myrrh Records.

References

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  1. ^ "News: Alf's back". Record Mirror. 9 June 1984. p. 4.
  2. ^ "ALISON MOYET | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  3. ^ Adams, Nick (13 October 1984). "The men in my life". Number One.
  4. ^ "Alison Moyet - Love Resurrection (Promo)". YouTube. 3 February 2016.
  5. ^ Levy, Eleanor (30 June 1984). "Is this the new Barbara Streisand?". Record Mirror.
  6. ^ "Alison Moyet - Love Resurrection (US Version) (Promo)". YouTube. 25 March 2011.
  7. ^ Bell, Max (16 June 1984). "Single reviews". Number One.
  8. ^ Bursche, Paul (6 October 1984). "Single reviews". Number One.
  9. ^ McGuire, Jessi (16 June 1984). "Singles". Record Mirror.
  10. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 978-0-646-11917-5.
  11. ^ "Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0554." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alison Moyet" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love Resurrection". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Alison Moyet".
  17. ^ "Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Alison Moyet: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Alison Moyet Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Alison Moyet Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Hot Dance/Disco - 12 Inch Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 35. Billboard Publications, Inc. 31 August 1985. p. 72. ISSN 0006-2510.
  22. ^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 240. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1984" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  24. ^ Rockstar Games (26 October 2006). "The Music of GTA: Vice City Stories - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  25. ^ "D'LUX | Artist". Official Charts. 22 June 1996. Retrieved 8 May 2014.