Love Is Strong

"Love Is Strong"
"Love Is Strong"
Single by the Rolling Stones
from the album Voodoo Lounge
B-side	"The Storm"; "So Young";
Released	4 July 1994
Genre	Rock
Length	3:49
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Jagger–Richards
Producer(s)	Don Was; The Glimmer Twins;
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
Music video
	"Love Is Strong" on YouTube

"Love Is Strong" is the opening track, and first single, from English rock band the Rolling Stones' 1994 studio album, Voodoo Lounge. It was moderately successful worldwide, peaking at No. 14 in the band's native United Kingdom and No. 2 in Canada and Finland but stalling at No. 91 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Despite this, it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

Inspiration and recording[]

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Love Is Strong" is a brooding number about an encounter between the singer and an unnamed person which leads the singer to a "love/lust at first sight" immediate attraction and longing for the couple to unite despite the obstacles.

Your love is strong and you're so sweet;
You make me hard, you make me weak;
Love is strong and you're so sweet,
And some day, baby, we've got to meet...

What are you scared of, baby?; It's more than just a dream;
I need some time; We make a beautiful team...

The song was written in Ireland by Richards and originally had the name "Love is Strange". Popular bootlegs of the sessions abound, as Ron Wood, Richards, Ivan Neville and producer Don Was worked the song while Jagger was supporting his record Wandering Spirit. Later takes have Richards changing the title to "Love is Strong"; although the final release was significantly altered by Jagger's added lyrics and use of a harmonica, a trademark instrument for him rarely utilized in the Stones' middle period work. Jagger said at the time of its release, "We ran through it a bunch of times and I was playing harmonica, and I started singing through the harmonica mike, so you get this strange sort of sound. And then I started singing down an octave, so you get this kind of breathy, sexy tone... It was good to put harmonica on a track like this. You always think of playing it on a 12-bar blues, and it's kind of fun to put it on one which isn't. It's good to work with another sequence."^[2]

Recording began in September 1993 at Wood's home studio in Ireland and continued at A&M Recording Studios in Los Angeles in 1994.

Release[]

Released as the first single from the album, "Love Is Strong" performed below expectations, barely making it into the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US. It became the lowest charting first single ever by the band and marked a change in the composition of the singles chart as well as the Stones role on it. Despite this, the song remains one of the band's well-known songs from the 1990s. Five years earlier "Mixed Emotions" was a Top 5 pop chart single. Considerable promotional expense was spent on the Voodoo Lounge CD release, as it was the first on Virgin Records, including a popular music video directed by David Fincher and edited by Robert Duffy at Spot Welders; the black and white video shows giant versions of the Stones, as well as a few residents locked in romantic embraces, rambling about New York City.

The single's weaker-than-expected lead dampened CD sales, despite positive critical reviews and a Grammy Award win for Best Short Form Music Video. In time, the track proved popular in Europe going to No. 14 in the UK and received significant airplay in the US, but only peaked at No. 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. The commercial response in Canada was considerably stronger, where the song reached No. 2 on the RPM Singles Chart on 19 September 1994, behind "You Better Wait" by Journey frontman Steve Perry.

The Rolling Stones performed the song at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. Although it had disappeared from several recent concert tours setlists in favour of the more live friendly "You Got Me Rocking" (the follow-up single from Voodoo Lounge), the Stones reintroduced "Love Is Strong" to their A Bigger Bang Tour setlist on 22 July 2007 at their Brno, Czech Republic show and at their Hamburg show in August.

It was included on their 2002 career compilation album Forty Licks.

Personnel[]

Mick Jagger - lead vocals, harmonica, maracas
Keith Richards - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Ron Wood - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Darryl Jones - bass guitar
Charlie Watts - drums
Bernard Fowler and Ivan Neville - background vocals
Chuck Leavell - Wurlitzer piano and Hammond organ

Track listing[]

7" single (VS1503)

"Love Is Strong" (Album Version)
"The Storm"

Cassette single (VSC1503)

"Love Is Strong" (Album Version)
"The Storm"

US cassette single (4 km 38446)

"Love Is Strong" (Album Version)
"The Storm"
"Love Is Strong" (Teddy Riley Extended Remix)

CD single (VSCDE1503)

"Love Is Strong" (Album Version)
"The Storm"

CD – "Special Collectors" edition (VSCDT1503)

"Love Is Strong" (Album Version)
"The Storm"
"So Young"
"Love is Strong" (Bob Clearmountain Remix)

CD – remix edition (VSCDX1503)

"Love Is Strong" (Teddy Riley Radio Remix)
"Love Is Strong" (Teddy Riley Extended Remix)
"Love Is Strong" (Teddy Riley Extended Rock Remix)
"Love Is Strong" (Teddy Riley Dub Remix)
"Love Is Strong" (Joe The Butcher Club Remix)
"Love Is Strong" (Teddy Riley Instrumental)

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	47
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[4]	18
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[5]	2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[6]	15
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[7]	2
Germany (Official German Charts)^[8]	40
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[9]	16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[10]	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12]	12
Norway (VG-lista)^[13]	3
Scotland (OCC)^[14]	11
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[15]	27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[16]	29
UK Singles (OCC)^[17]	14
US Billboard Hot 100^[18]	91
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[19]	2

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1994)	Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[20]	19
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[21]	80

References[]

^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 2 July 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
^ "Love Is Strong". Time Is On Our Side. Retrieved 25 September 2006.
^ "Australian-charts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2599." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 30. 23 July 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.8.–10.8. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 August 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 24 June 2018.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
^ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 1 December 2018.

[1] "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 2 July 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 24 June 2021.

[loveisstrong-2] "Love Is Strong". Time Is On Our Side. Retrieved 25 September 2006.

[sc_Australia_The_Rolling_Stones-3] "Australian-charts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Flanders_The_Rolling_Stones-4] "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-5] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2599." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

[6] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 30. 23 July 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

[7] Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.

[sc_Germany_The_Rolling_Stones-8] "Offiziellecharts.de – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[9] "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (4.8.–10.8. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 4 August 1994. p. 16. Retrieved 1 October 2019.

[sc_Dutch40_-10] "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 31, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 24 June 2018.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Rolling_Stones-11] "Dutchcharts.nl – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_New_Zealand_The_Rolling_Stones-12] "Charts.nz – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Norway_The_Rolling_Stones-13] "Norwegiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Scotland_-14] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[sc_Sweden_The_Rolling_Stones-15] "Swedishcharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Rolling_Stones-16] "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_UK_-17] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2018.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Rolling_Stones-18] "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_The_Rolling_Stones-19] "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

[20] "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1994". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

[21] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 1 December 2018.

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show v t The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger Keith Richards Ronnie Wood Brian Jones Ian Stewart Mick Taylor Charlie Watts Bill Wyman Tony Chapman Ricky Fenson Carlo Little Dick Taylor
Video releases	Let's Spend the Night Together (1983) Video Rewind (1984) Stones at the Max (1992) Sympathy for the Devil (1994) Voodoo Lounge Live (1995) The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996) Bridges to Babylon Tour '97–98 (1998) Four Flicks (2003) Toronto Rocks (2004) A Bigger Bang: Special Edition (2005) The Biggest Bang (2007) T.A.M.I. Show (2010) Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (2010) Some Girls: Live in Texas '78 (2011) Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones Live At The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 (2012) Sweet Summer Sun: Live in Hyde Park (2013) Hampton Coliseum (Live 1981) (2014) L.A. Friday (2014) Live at the Tokyo Dome (2015) Live at Leeds (2015) Totally Stripped (2016) Havana Moon (2016) Voodoo Lounge Uncut (2018) Steel Wheels Live (2020)
Documentaries	Charlie Is My Darling (1966) The Stones in the Park (1969) Gimme Shelter (1970) Cocksucker Blues (1972) 25×5: the Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989) Stripped (1995) Shine a Light (2008) Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (2009) Stones in Exile (2010) Crossfire Hurricane (2012) Olé Olé Olé!: A Trip Across Latin America (2017)
Tours	British Tour 1963 1964 tours 1965 tours 1966 tours European Tour 1967 American Tour 1969 European Tour 1970 UK Tour 1971 American Tour 1972 Pacific Tour 1973 European Tour 1973 Tour of the Americas '75 Tour of Europe '76 US Tour 1978 American Tour 1981 European Tour 1982 Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour Voodoo Lounge Tour Bridges to Babylon Tour No Security Tour Licks Tour A Bigger Bang Tour 50 & Counting 14 On Fire Zip Code Tour América Latina Olé Tour 2016 Fall 2016 US Tour No Filter Tour
Associated places	Redlands Stargroves Nellcôte The Wick Downe House The Mick Jagger Centre Stones Fan Museum
Related articles	Discography Songs Awards and nominations Concert tours Jagger–Richards Nanker Phelge Rolling Stones Records Promotone Altamont Free Concert The Rolling Stones' Redlands bust Rolling Stones Mobile Studio The Rolling Stones: An Illustrated Record Andrew Loog Oldham Eric Easton Allen Klein John Pasche Instruments played Stone Country: Country Artists Perform the Songs of the Rolling Stones Tongue and lips logo
Category

show v t The Rolling Stones singles
Decca (UK) and London (US) singles	"Come On" "I Wanna Be Your Man" / "Stoned" "Not Fade Away" / "Little by Little" "It's All Over Now" "Tell Me" / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" "Time Is on My Side" "Little Red Rooster" "Heart of Stone" "The Last Time" / "Play with Fire" "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" / "The Spider and the Fly" "Get Off of My Cloud" / "I'm Free" "As Tears Go By" "19th Nervous Breakdown" / "As Tears Go By" "Paint It Black" / "Stupid Girl" "Mother's Little Helper" / "Lady Jane" "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" "Let's Spend the Night Together" / "Ruby Tuesday" "We Love You" / "Dandelion" "In Another Land" "She's a Rainbow" / "2000 Light Years from Home" "Jumpin' Jack Flash" "Street Fighting Man" / "No Expectations" "Honky Tonk Women" / "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Rolling Stones Records/Atlantic singles	"Brown Sugar" / "Bitch" / "Let It Rock" "Wild Horses" / "Sway" "Tumbling Dice" / "Sweet Black Angel" "Happy" / "All Down the Line" "Angie" / "Silver Train" "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" / "Dancing with Mr. D" "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" / "Dance Little Sister" "Fool to Cry" "Hot Stuff"
Rolling Stones Records singles	"Miss You" / "Far Away Eyes" "Beast of Burden" / "When the Whip Comes Down" "Respectable" / "When the Whip Comes Down" "Shattered" "Emotional Rescue" "She's So Cold" / "Send It to Me" "Start Me Up" "Waiting on a Friend" / "Little T&A" "Hang Fire" / "Neighbours" "Going to a Go-Go" (live) / "Beast of Burden" (live) "Time Is on My Side" (live) / "Twenty Flight Rock" (live) "Undercover of the Night" "She Was Hot" "Too Much Blood" "Harlem Shuffle" "One Hit (To the Body)" "Mixed Emotions" "Rock and a Hard Place" "Almost Hear You Sigh" "Highwire" / "2000 Light Years from Home" (live) "Ruby Tuesday" (live) / "Play with Fire" (live) "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live)
Virgin singles	"Love Is Strong" "You Got Me Rocking" "Out of Tears" "I Go Wild" "Like a Rolling Stone" (live) / "Black Limousine" / "All Down the Line" "Wild Horses" (live) / "Live with Me" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live) "Anybody Seen My Baby?" "Saint of Me" / "Gimme Shelter" (live) "Out of Control" "Don't Stop" / "Miss You" (remix) "Streets of Love" / "Rough Justice" "Rain Fall Down" "Biggest Mistake" / "Before They Make Me Run" (live) "Laugh, I Nearly Died"
Universal singles	"Plundered My Soul" / "All Down the Line" "No Spare Parts" / "Before They Make Me Run" "Doom and Gloom" "One More Shot" "Just Your Fool" "Living in a Ghost Town" "Scarlet"
ABKCO singles	"I Don't Know Why" / "Try a Little Harder" "Out of Time" / "Jiving Sister Fanny"
Other countries	"Let It Bleed" / "You Got the Silver" (Japan) "Rocks Off" / "Sweet Virginia" (Japan) "Star Star" / "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" (France, Germany)