Forever Love (Gary Barlow song)
"Forever Love" | ||||
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Single by Gary Barlow | ||||
from the album Open Road | ||||
B-side | "I Miss It All" | |||
Released | 8 July 1996[1] | |||
Length | 4:36 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Gary Barlow | |||
Producer(s) |
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Gary Barlow singles chronology | ||||
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"Forever Love" is the debut solo single released by British singer-songwriter Gary Barlow, taken from his debut solo album, Open Road (1997). It debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 14 July 1996, becoming Barlow's first of three number-one singles away from Take That. Worldwide, "Forever Love" topped the charts in Lithuania, Spain, and Taiwan while reaching the top five in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland. The song was used as the official theme for the film The Leading Man (1996).
Critical reception[]
British magazine Music Week rated the song four out of five, writing, "Barlow's undisputed writing skills are evident on this wistful ballad which builds to a dramatic climax. A surefire number one."[2] Editor Alan Jones added, "An introspective ballad, it starts slowly and becomes increasingly urgent and compelling. Aside from Barlow's voice, which is in fine fettle, the song is dominated by piano and is a romantic tour-de-force of the kind his fans must have been hoping for. One of the year's biggest hits."[3]
Chart performance[]
The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number one where it stayed for one week, before being dethroned by the Spice Girls' debut hit "Wannabe", thus making Barlow the first member of Take That to top the charts with a solo record. It remained in the top 75 for a total of 16 weeks,[4] being certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry.[5]
Music video[]
The official music video of "Forever Love" is shot in black and white and begins with Gary Barlow waking up alone and looking out of a window which critics believe symbolises the start of a new chapter in Barlow's career. He is then shown to partake in a number of day-to-day activities and finally ends up in a downtown cafe where he witnesses all types of love that exist between people before returning to his studio.[6]
Track listing[]
All tracks are written by Gary Barlow.
- "Forever Love" – 4:36
- "I Miss It All" – 4:02
- "Forever Love" (instrumental) – 4:37
Personnel[]
Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.[7]
- Gary Barlow – writer, producer, piano
- Chris Porter – producer
- Chris Cameron – piano, bass, strings
- Andy Duncan – drums, percussion
- Steve McNichol – programming
- Rob Cattermole – programming assistant
- Norman Watson – artwork photography
- Stylorouge – artwork design
Charts and certifications[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
Certifications[]
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References[]
- ^ Pattenden, Mike; Gorman, Paul (29 June 1996). "Take That Pair Gets Set to Launch Solo Works" (PDF). Music Week. p. 3. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 29 June 1996. p. 23. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ Jones, Alan (22 June 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ a b "British single certifications – Gary Barlow – Forever Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Gary Barlow - Forever Love". YouTube. 18 December 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ a b Forever Love (UK CD single liner notes). Gary Barlow. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1996. 74321387962.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Forever Love (European 7-inch jukebox single vinyl disc). Gary Barlow. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1996. 21387967JB.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Forever Love (UK & European cassette single sleeve). Gary Barlow. RCA Records, Bertelsmann Music Group. 1996. 74321387964.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 41. 12 October 1996. p. 18. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 32. 10 August 1996. p. 11. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 31. 3 August 1996. p. 14. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Gary Barlow: Forever Love" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 35. 31 August 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (15.6. – 21.6. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 15 June 1996. p. 26. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Forever Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 37. 14 September 1996. p. 18. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "M-1 TOP 40" (in Lithuanian). M-1. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love". VG-lista. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Gary Barlow – Forever Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "IFPI Taiwan – Single Top 10 (1996/01)". 24 February 1998. Archived from the original on 24 February 1998. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Music & Media 1996 in Review – Year End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13 no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1996" (in German). Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
- 1996 debut singles
- 1996 songs
- Bertelsmann Music Group singles
- Black-and-white music videos
- Gary Barlow songs
- Number-one singles in Spain
- RCA Records singles
- Songs written by Gary Barlow
- Songs written by Nik Kershaw
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles