"Valerie Loves Me" is a song by American power pop trio Material Issue, released in 1991 as a single from their debut album International Pop Overthrow. The song, written by the band's singer-guitarist Jim Ellison, peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
| "Valerie Loves Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Material Issue | ||||
| from the album International Pop Overthrow | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Power pop[1] | |||
| Length | 3:04 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jim Ellison | |||
| Producer(s) | Jeff Murphy | |||
| Material Issue singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Valerie Loves Me" on YouTube | ||||
Music and lyrics
editWritten by singer-guitarist Jim Ellison, "Valerie Loves Me" is about a neighbor girl that Ellison had a crush on when he was 11 years old.[2] The narrator often sees her and imagines what she's thinking, but is unable to catch her attention. Later in the song he envisions her growing old alone, at which point, "she can't have me."[3][4] In a 2011 interview, drummer Mike Zelenko recalled that the song's guitar hook was inspired by the David Bowie single "John, I'm Only Dancing".[5]
Release and reception
editThe music video for "Valerie Loves Me" was in heavy rotation on MTV's 120 Minutes program in early 1991.[6] In February the song entered the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, where it spent 11 weeks, peaking at number three in April.[7]
In a retrospective review of the song, AllMusic writer Joslyn Layne called it "a signature power pop single of the early '90s" and noted that it became a "cult favorite through air play on alternative rock and college radio stations".[3] Annie Zaleski of Salon described it as a "jangly power-pop classic".[4] Jeff Cloud, former bassist for Starflyer 59, named "Valerie Loves Me" as his favorite American power-pop song, saying it exemplified the era he came from.[8] Guitarist Dan Vapid of Screeching Weasel said that the idea for "Veronica Hates Me", a song from the punk band's 1991 album My Brain Hurts, came in response to "Valerie Loves Me".[9]
Charts
edit| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) | 3 |
| Chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[10] | 30 |
References
edit- ^ "Allmusic Review". Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Locey, Bill (March 28, 1991). "Material Issue: Pop Rock Lives - The Chicago trio will back their new disc, 'International Pop Overthrow,' with a free April Fool's Day concert". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ a b Layne, Joslyn. "Valerie Loves Me – Song Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ a b Zaleski, Annie (August 2, 2014). "The best '90s songs you completely forgot about". Salon. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea (April 21, 2011). "Material Issue overthrows the world of pop: 20 years later". WBEZ. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ Earles, Andrew (2014). Gimme Indie Rock: 500 Essential American Underground Rock Albums 1981-1996. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0760346488.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks (1981-2008). Menomonee Falls, Wis.: Record Research. p. 157. ISBN 978-0898201741.
- ^ "Power Pop: What I Like About You: Artists Surrender Their Favorite American Power-Pop Songs". Magnet. September 9, 2002. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ Screeching Weasel - 'My Brain Hurts' liner notes (Asian Man CD version).
- ^ "The Year in Music 1991: Top Modern Rock Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. 21 December 1991. p. YE-41. Retrieved 10 May 2022.