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I Love You Always Forever

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"I Love You Always Forever"
Single by Donna Lewis
from the album Now in a Minute
Released14 May 1996
Recorded1995
GenrePop
Length
  • 3:59 (album version)
  • 3:24 (radio edit)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Donna Lewis
Producer(s)
  • Donna Lewis
  • Kevin Killen
Donna Lewis singles chronology
"I Love You Always Forever"
(1996) 		"Fool's Paradise"
(1996)
Music video
"I Love You Always Forever" on YouTube

"I Love You Always Forever" is a song by Welsh singer Donna Lewis from her debut album, Now in a Minute (1996). Written by Lewis and produced by Lewis and Kevin Killen, it was released as the album's lead single in the United States on 14 May 1996 and in the United Kingdom on 22 August 1996. The Song us inspired by H. E. Bates' novel Love for Lydia, from which the chorus is taken.[1]

The song was a commercial hit, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top ten in more than 15 countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Ireland and Norway. In the US, the song rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for nine weeks, having been blocked from number one by Los del Río's "Macarena". The single additionally reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart for eleven weeks and the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart for eight weeks. It was certified Platinum in Australia and Gold in France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, the UK and the US. The success of the song saw Lewis nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Female Artist in 1997.[2]

In 2016, a cover version of the song by Australian pop singer Betty Who peaked at number six on the ARIA Singles Chart and topped the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[3]

Background

Inspired by the novel Love for Lydia by English author H. E. Bates, "I Love You Always Forever" is a pop song in which the singer declares her endless love for her significant other. The song was originally titled "Lydia", but was later changed because there was no mention of anyone with that name in the song. The chorus, "I love you always forever, near and far closer together", is a quote taken directly from the book.[1]

Composition

"I Love You Always Forever" is written in the key of C major in common time with a tempo of 104 beats per minute.[4] Lewis' vocals span from F3 to G4 in the song.[5]

Reception

"I Love You Always Forever" was extremely popular with the public. The success of the song on its own saw Lewis nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Female Artist in 1997.[2] In the US, Andrea Ganis, executive VP of Lewis' record label, Atlantic, said: "Radio stations across the country keep telling us the same thing over and over", Ganis says. "They play it and, almost overnight, it's their most requested song. Maybe it's because things have been so dark lately in pop and then along comes a record that everybody can sing along to. It's almost like a catharsis for a lot of people."[1] It became a "runaway hit" without any extra marketing boost from high-profile events of the time such as a hit movie or the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, and was the first single to achieve over one million airplay detections in the US.[6]

AllMusic editor Tom Demalon called the song "compelling" in his review of Now in a Minute. He noted that Lewis "has a girlish voice that sounds like a less quirky Kate Bush."[7] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as a "quietly percussive pop chugger". He complimented Lewis' voice as a "delicate, girlish voice that gives the song a winsome quality, which adds to its already considerable charm."[8] Tracey Pepper from Entertainment Weekly noted that it is "more sophisticated than a first listen might reveal. "I Love You Always Forever"'s chanted chorus, chugging rhythm, and bright melody make it obvious that the newcomer Donna Lewis, whose girlish voice often sounds like Cyndi Lauper's, knows the value of building tension and mood, even in a pop song."[9] Kim Renfro of Insider said that the song is a "true bop" that is reminiscent of Cyndi Lauper's music of ten years earlier, but with "slightly more pizazz".[10] Eamon Joyce from Miscellany News commented that "upon hearing the song, it's embedded in your head for weeks."[11] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In stated that Lewis "pledges lifelong commitment" on the song.[12] In 2018, Stacker ranked it at number 10 in their list of "Best pop songs of the last 25 years", noting Lewis' "ethereal voice over a heavenly backdrop of synthesizers and understated drum beats".[13]

Music video

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Randee St. Nicholas. It is very simple, showing Lewis performing the song dressed in all white in a beige rotating room. Other scenes feature her against a black background, with snow boots on her hands against a wall, and playing a piano.[citation needed]

Track listings

CD single

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (radio edit) – 3:21
  2. "Simone" (album version) – 4:26

CD maxi

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (album version) – 3:30
  2. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 edit) – 4:30
  3. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 remix) – 9:20
  4. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 instrumental) – 5:00
  5. "I Love You Always Forever" (drumapella) – 5:13

12-inch maxi

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 remix) – 9:09
  2. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 instrumental) – 4:54
  3. "I Love You Always Forever" (album version) – 3:58
  4. "I Love You Always Forever" (a cappella) – 4:10

Promotional only 7-inch single (Sent to jukeboxes)

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (album version) – 3:59
  2. "I Love You Always Forever" (Philly remix) – 4:00

Promotional only CD single (Sent to mainstream radio)

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (radio edit) – 3:24
  2. "I Love You Always Forever" (album version) – 3:58

CD maxi - remixes

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 remix) – 9:00
  2. "I Love You Always Forever" (Sylk 130 instrumental) – 4:59
  3. "I Love You Always Forever" (Philly remix) – 4:00
  4. "I Love You Always Forever" (drumapella) – 5:11
  5. "I Love You Always Forever" (a cappella) – 4:10

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42] Platinum 70,000^
France (SNEP)[59] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[60] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[61] Gold 5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[62] Gold  
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[65] Gold 800,000[64]

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

Release history

Country Release date
United States 14 May 1996 (1996-05-14)
United Kingdom 22 August 1996 (1996-08-22)

Other releases

Lewis has re-recorded the song at least twice. A re-recording with slightly modified instrumentation appears as a bonus track of her 2008 album In the Pink. In 2015, Lewis released the song again on her jazz-influenced covers album, Brand New Day. She initially was reluctant to include the song at all; but the track that appears on the album has a "completely different arrangement", and Lewis says she now likes it.[66] Matt Collar of AllMusic felt that the new version was a "ruminative reworking" of the original.[67]

Betty Who version

"I Love You Always Forever"
Single by Betty Who
from the album The Valley
Released3 June 2016 (2016-06-03)
Genre
Length3:43
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Donna Lewis
Producer(s)Peter Thomas
Betty Who singles chronology
"All of You"
(2015) 		"I Love You Always Forever"
(2016) 		"Heaven"
(2016)
Music video
"I Love You Always Forever" on YouTube

Australian pop singer Betty Who released a version of the song on 3 June 2016, with remixes released on 29 July 2016.[69]It was released as the lead single from her second studio album, The Valley.

Music video

The music video, directed by Ben Cope and Daniel Gomes, was released on 14 July 2016.

Chart performance

The song is Who's first to reach the ARIA Charts, peaking at number six while also earning a number one on AirCheck's National Radio Airplay Chart. The song has also had minor success in New Zealand, peaking at number 33. The song was successful on the US Dance Club Songs chart, where it peaked at number one, becoming her third number one on the chart.

Track listings

Digital download

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" – 3:43

Remixes EP

  1. "I Love You Always Forever" (Viceroy Remix) – 4:08
  2. "I Love You Always Forever" (Instant Karma Remix) – 3:39
  3. "I Love You Always Forever" (Pink Panda Remix) – 4:24
  4. "I Love You Always Forever" (Mighty Mike & Teesa Remix) – 3:26
  5. "I Love You Always Forever" (Hector Fonseca & Eduardo Lujan Radio Edit) – 3:33

Weekly charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[70] 6
Australia (AirCheck National Radio Airplay)[71] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[72] 33
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[73] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2016) Position
Australia (ARIA)[74] 67
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[75] 37

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[76] Platinum 70,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other uses

  • In 1999, rapper Eve sampled the chorus on her song, 'Gotta Man' from her debut album.
  • The song is included as part of the "Elephant Love Medley" in the musical Moulin Rouge!
  • Chorus is covered in Lennon Stella's album, "Three. Two. One." within the song 'Save Us'.
  • Filipina pop singer Marion Aunor covered her version from the original soundtrack, "Ex With Benefits" in 2015.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Crowe, Jerry. "Runner Up Donna Lewis' 'I Love You Always Forever' Is Stuck at No. 2 on Billboard Chart Behind A Certain Dance Song". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b Donna Lewis BRITS Profile Archived 16 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine. BRIT Awards Ltd. Retrieved 26 January 2013
  3. ^ BettyWhoVEVO (3 June 2016). "Betty Who - I Love You Always Forever (Audio)" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Donna Lewis - I Love You Always Forever". songbpm.com. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  5. ^ Lewis, Donna. "Donna Lewis "I Love You Always Forever" Sheet Music in C Major (transposable) - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Donna Lewis". hiponlline.com. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Donna Lewis - Now in a Minute". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 18 May 1996. p. 70. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  9. ^ "I Love You Always Forever". Entertainment Weekly. 9 August 1996. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ Renfro, Kim (16 May 2018). "RANKED: The 51 best love songs of all time". Insider. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  11. ^ Joyce, Eamon (8 November 1996). "QUICK CLIPS". Miscellany News. p. 13. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. ^ Waliszewski, Bob. "Now in a Minute". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  13. ^ Osborn, Jacob (29 August 2018). "Best pop songs of the last 25 years". Stacker. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  15. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  16. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  17. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  18. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9507." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9681." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 27. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 47. 23 November 1996. p. 18. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 47. 23 November 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in French). Les classement single.
  24. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  25. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 48. 30 November 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  26. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 195 Vikuna 7.11. – 13.11. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 8 November 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Love You Always Forever". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  29. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  30. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". Top 40 Singles.
  31. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". VG-lista.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  33. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". Singles Top 100.
  34. ^ "Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". Swiss Singles Chart.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Donna Lewis Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  37. ^ "Donna Lewis Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Donna Lewis Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  39. ^ "Donna Lewis Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Donna Lewis Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  41. ^ "Donna Lewis Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  42. ^ a b "1996 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  43. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1996" (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  44. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1996" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  45. ^ "Rapports annuels 1996" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  46. ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  47. ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  48. ^ "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  49. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1996" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  50. ^ "Top 100 Single – Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  51. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  52. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  53. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on 1 March 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  54. ^ "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  55. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  56. ^ Geoff Mayfield (25 December 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  57. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  58. ^ "Greatest of All Time Pop Songs: Page 1". Billboard. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  59. ^ "French single certifications – Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  60. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Donna Lewis; 'I Love You Always')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  61. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". Recorded Music NZ.[dead link‍]
  62. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  63. ^ "British single certifications – Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". British Phonographic Industry.
  64. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 18 January 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  65. ^ "American single certifications – Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever". Recording Industry Association of America.
  66. ^ Heigl (9 March 2015). "Interview: Donna Lewis's Brand New Day". People. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  67. ^ Collar, Matt. "Donna Lewis - Brand New Day". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  68. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (12 December 2016). "Betty Who Returning With 'Self-Assured' Sophomore Album in 2017". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  69. ^ "I Love You Always Forever (Remixes)". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  70. ^ "Betty Who – I Love You Always Forever". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  71. ^ "AirCheck National Radio Airplay Chart". 15 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  72. ^ "Betty Who – I Love You Always Forever". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  73. ^ "Betty Who Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  74. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  75. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  76. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  • Feldman, Christopher G. The Billboard Book of Number 2 Singles.
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