Oh L'amour

"Oh L'amour" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in April 1986 as their third single. Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it is a lament from someone experiencing unrequited love. The song is an uptempo, synth-pop dance track and its popularity was further fueled in dance clubs by the "Funky Sisters Remix", which appeared on the UK 12-inch single and as a bonus track on the US edition of Erasure's debut album, Wonderland (1986). A different mix of the song was submitted for the single release, adding new instrumentation and extra sounds. This version appears on all of the band's compilation albums. A version of the 12" single was included with early copies of the debut LP Wonderland. One of the B-sides is a cover version of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", the first time Erasure covered a song from the ABBA songbook. It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. to herald the June release of Wonderland, but became the third consecutive commercial failure for the band in both territories. Despite its low chart placement, "Oh L'amour" has proven to be one of Erasure's signature songs, due to its popularity in dance clubs. It remains a favourite among fans, particularly when performed live.

"Oh L'amour"
Original 1986 single cover
Single by Erasure
from the album Wonderland
B-side
Released
  • 21 April 1986 (original version)
  • 13 October 2003 (remix)
Recorded1985
Genre
Length3:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Flood
Erasure singles chronology
"Heavenly Action"
(1985)		 "Oh L'amour"
(1986)		 "Sometimes"
(1986)
Erasure singles chronology
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
(2003)		 "Oh L'amour (August Mix)"
(2003)		 "Breathe"
(2005)
Alternative cover
Revised 1986 single cover
Alternative cover
2003 remix single cover
Music video
"Oh L'amour" on YouTube

In 2003, the song was remixed and released as a single again to promote the greatest hits package Hits! The Very Best of Erasure. In its remixed form, the song became a UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number 13 in autumn 2003. The original artwork of the "Oh L'amour" single featured illustrations from The Railway Series of characters Percy and Rheneas. As permission had not been given, this cover was withdrawn and replaced with a plain black cover with only the title and band name.

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from AllMusic wrote, "A lovely a cappella opening and instantly catchy hook, not to mention sprightly performances from Clarke and Bell both (the latter wisely undersings rather than pushing the flamboyance, letting loose more on the chorus), ensured its classic status."[4] He also called it "brilliant", noting the "soothing jump" of the song.[5] Everett True from Melody Maker stated that "it takes some kind of fool genius to create fast songs of the scope and emotional rush" of the "dramatic" "Oh L'amour".[6] Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly complimented it as "the first truly great Erasure single" and "an infectious dance/pop classic".[2] Darren Lee from The Quietus noted the "effete hormonal cravings" of the song, praising it as one of "the most gloriously effervescent pop anthems ever recorded."[7]

Chart performance

In 1986, "Oh L'amour" climbed to number 85 on the UK Singles Chart and became Erasure's first big hit in South Africa (number two), Germany (number 16), Australia (number 13), and their sole hit in France (number 14). In the United States, the song's biggest impact was on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it hit number three on 26 July 1986.[8]

Track listings

Charts

August Mix (2003)
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Denmark (Danish Singles Chart)[21] 7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[22] 13
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[18] 10

Dollar version
"O L'amour"
Single by Dollar
B-side"B-Beat"
Released1987
GenreSynthpop
Length3:02
LabelLondon
Songwriter(s)Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer(s)The Extra Beat Boys
Dollar singles chronology
"Haven't We Said Goodbye Before"
(1986)		 "O L'amour"
(1987)		 "It's Nature's Way (No Problem)"
(1988)

In 1987, British pop duo Dollar released a cover version retitled "O L'amour". Chart-wise, this version was more successful in the UK as it reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, with a total of 11 weeks on the chart,[23] and No. 4 in Ireland. It also reached No. 27 in Germany.[24] The single was the duo's last major hit.

It was sampled by electronic duo Orbital on their track "Style", which appeared on the 1999 album The Middle of Nowhere.

Track listing
  • UK 12" single
A. "O L'amour"
B1. "B-Beat"
B2. "Who Were You With in the Moonlight"
  • UK 7" single
  1. "O L'amour"
  2. "B-Beat"

Other versions
  • A Hi-NRG/Eurotrance cover of the song by Spellbound, featuring Deejé, was released in 2000.[25]
  • A cover version by DJ Dero, featuring Alejandro Sergi (of the Argentine electropop band Miranda!), was recorded in 2007 and included on the dance music compilation Verano 2008.[26]
  • A cover version by Czech singer Petr Muk (alongside cover versions of "Love to Hate You", "Ship of Fools", "Stop!", and "Sometimes", all with Czech lyrics) was included on his EP Oh L'amour, released in 2004.[27]

References
  1. "Erasure Biography". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  2. Gerard, Chris (17 September 2014). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  3. Donohue, Simon (11 August 2004). "Erasure - Oh L'Amour (Remixed) (Mute Records)". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  4. Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Wonderland". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  5. Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Pop! The First 20 Hits". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  6. True, Everett (28 November 1992). "Retroactive". Melody Maker. p. 31. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  7. Lee, Darren (27 February 2009). "Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  8. "Dance Club Songs: The week of July 26, 1986". Billboard. 2 January 2013.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 104. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  10. "Erasure – Oh L'amour" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  11. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Erasure' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  12. "Erasure – Oh L'amour". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  13. "Los éxitos en Latinoamérica". UPI. 28 July 1986. p. 14. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  14. Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  15. "Erasure – Oh L'amour". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  17. "Billboard > Erasure Chart History > Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  18. "Billboard > Erasure Chart History > Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  19. "Erasure – Oh L'amour (song)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  20. "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  21. Steffen Hung. "Erasure - Oh l'amour 2003". danishcharts.dk. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  22. "The Official Charts Company - Oh L'Amour by Erasure Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  23. "DOLLAR | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company.
  24. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts".
  25. "Covers of Erasure Tracks "Erasure Discography" Onge's Erasure Page". Onges-erasure-page.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  26. "Evanescence – Good Enough Cafe Tacvba – Volver a comenzar Ricardo Montaner". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  27. Michaela Mishka Sucha, www.mishka.cz. "Petr MUK –– oficiální stránky". petrmuk.cz. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
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