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Love Song (Sara Bareilles song)

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"Love Song"
Single by Sara Bareilles
from the album Little Voice
B-side"The River"
Released
  • June 16, 2007 (as the free iTunes song of the week)
  • June 19, 2007 (as a single)
GenrePop rock
Length
  • 4:20 (album version)
  • 3:53 (radio edit)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Sara Bareilles
Producer(s)Eric Rosse
Sara Bareilles singles chronology
"Love Song"
(2007) 		"Bottle It Up"
(2008)
Music video
"Love Song" on YouTube

"Love Song" is the debut single by American singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles, released in June 2007 via Epic Records from her major-label debut album, Little Voice (2007). It was nominated for 2009 Grammy Awards in the categories Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

"Love Song" spent 19 weeks in the top ten and an overall 41 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four there. Similarly, it peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and the Australian ARIA Charts. It also reached number one on the Canadian Hot 100, while topping the US Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart.[1] It also spent many weeks atop the Hot Adult Pop Songs and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts, ending up number one at the year-end tally of both charts.

Background

Speaking of the song's origin in an interview with MTV, Bareilles said of her label, "They had encouraged me to keep writing, and I just wasn't having any luck. [...] I went to a rehearsal space one day. I sat down and wrote something for me. And 'Love Song' basically wrote itself. It's totally honest, and I'm very lucky the label liked it as well."[2]

Later in 2011, she explained: "It was actually written for my record label. I had been turning in new music. I was getting the red light. I couldn't go into the studio yet because they were waiting for something. But I wouldn't [...] nobody said what they were waiting for. So I kept turning in new songs, thinking like, 'Is this what you want? Is this what you want?' And it was always a big thumbs down, and I ended up writing 'Love Song', along with Greg Edwards, out of frustration. I had previously been in Indiana, and mutual friends introduced us one night. As soon as we got in the studio, I realized there was an instant spark. He (Edwards) had a talent on the piano and talent in writing music that I had never seen before. He sat down and said, 'I have this song I want to play for you'. I would honestly say that was the birth of a legend. The legend of Ole Gregg, the Ivory Tickler."[3] In 2014, she stated it was "very tongue-in-cheek" and "nasty in a passive-aggressive way," confirming it was a response to the record label pressuring her to make safe, "radio friendly" songs.[4]

Chart performance

Featured initially as the free iTunes song of the week on June 16, 2007, the song was a sleeper hit, debuting a few months later at number 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100. After her appearance in a Rhapsody TV commercial, in which she performs "Love Song", it rocketed from number 72 to number 16 on the Hot 100 and from number 32 to number five on the Hot Digital Songs chart.[5] In the first week of 2008, the song cracked the top 10 on the Hot 100, jumping to number nine, where it stayed for four non-consecutive weeks before reaching a peak of number four. In spite of not reaching the top three, "Love Song" managed to spend 19 weeks in the top 10, in contrast with other songs that reached higher peak but did not maintain such longevity. The single was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA for over four million in sales.[6]

As of April 2014, the single had sold 3,717,000 digital copies in the United States.[7] The song was listed at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart of 2008. It also topped both the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks charts in 2008.

The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 30 and later peaked at number four. The song debuted at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100 the week of January 31, 2008, and reached number one on the chart the week of March 29, 2008. In Australia, "Love Song" peaked at number four during its ninth week on the country's chart. In New Zealand, it reached number seven on the RIANZ Singles Chart.

Music video

Directed by Josh Forbes, the music video features a miniature Bareilles playing the piano inside a coin-operated jukebox that plays love songs. A steady stream of men and women enter the booth and insert coins to observe her through a pinhole as she plays the same song day after day. The lyrics express her growing frustration as she declares that she is "not gonna write you a love song today," whereupon Bareilles grabs the next coin that rolls inside, and uses it to jam the gears. The next morning, the owner of the booth (who was seen at the beginning of the video) enters; he notices that the jukebox has gone dark, and appears amazed when he discovers Bareilles inside the jukebox. He retrieves the jammed coin from the gears and hands it to Bareilles.

The music video features the album version of the song. The video also features British actor Adam Campbell as the owner of the booth.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[53] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[54] Gold 20,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[55] Gold 7,500^
Italy — 48,307[56]
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[6] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡
United States (RIAA)[58]
Mastertone 		Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sara Bareilles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Sara Bareilles' 'Love Song' 'Basically Wrote Itself' -- After She Struggled For Years". MTV. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  3. ^ "How Sara Bareilles Got Her Start in Music". VOA. August 17, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  4. ^ "Sara Bareilles: The Sweet Author of Tough Songs" (January 5, 2014). CBSNews.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  5. ^ Keys Rolls Into Holidays With No. 1 Hits
  6. ^ a b "American single certifications – Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Recording Industry Association of America.
  7. ^ Paul Grein (April 30, 2014). "Chart Watch: Pharrell Steps Up". Yahoo Music.
  8. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  9. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  10. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  12. ^ "Sara Bareilles Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 33. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  14. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Tracklisten.
  15. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 27. July 5, 2008. p. 67. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sara Bareilles: Love Song" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  17. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  18. ^ "Nielsen Music Control Airplay - Germany Top 5". Nielsen Music Control on behalf of BVMI. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sara Bareilles". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  22. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Sara Bareilles" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  23. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Top 40 Singles.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200833 into search. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  27. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Singles Top 100.
  28. ^ "Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Swiss Singles Chart.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  30. ^ "Sara Bareilles Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Sara Bareilles Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Sara Bareilles Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  33. ^ "Sara Bareilles Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  34. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  35. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2008" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  36. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: 2008 Year-End Charts". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  37. ^ "Top Canada AC Songs". R&R. December 12, 2008. p. 67.
  38. ^ "Top Canada Hot AC Songs". R&R. December 12, 2008. p. 67.
  39. ^ "Year End Charts: European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  40. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2008" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  41. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2011-09-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2008" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  43. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2008". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  44. ^ Official Charts list, ukchartsplus. Retrieved August 2011
  45. ^ "Hot 100 Year End 2008". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2 January 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs 2008 Year-End". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  47. ^ "Adult Pop Songs 2008 Year-End". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  48. ^ "Pop Songs: 2008 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  49. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2009" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  51. ^ "The Decade End Music Charts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 50. December 19, 2009. p. 160. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  52. ^ "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs : Page 1". Billboard. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  53. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  54. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Music Canada.
  55. ^ "Guld og platin i juli". IFPI Denmark. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  56. ^ "Music in Italy" (PDF). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
  57. ^ "British single certifications – Sara Bareilles – Love Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  58. ^ "American single certifications – Sara Bareilles – Love Song". Recording Industry Association of America.
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