Independent Love Song

"Independent Love Song" is a song by British musical duo Scarlet, taken from their debut album, Naked (1994), and released as a single on 9 January 1995 by WEA. The power ballad,^[2] written by Cheryl Parker and Jo Youle, and produced by Mike Paxman and Paul Muggleton, was a hit in several countries. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 26, reaching a peak of number 12 in February 1995. The single peaked at #1 in Israel, became a top-ten hit on the Irish Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 10, and charted within the top 50 in Germany, Iceland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Other tracks on the release included "The Fall" and "Independent Love Song" (3am mix).

"Independent Love Song"
Single by Scarlet
from the album Naked
B-side	"The Fall"
Released	9 January 1995 (1995-01-09)[1]
Genre	Power pop
Length	3:51
Label	WEA
Songwriter(s)	Cheryl Parker Jo Youle
Producer(s)	Mike Paxman Paul Muggleton
Scarlet singles chronology
"I Really Like the Idea" (1994) "Independent Love Song" (1995) "I Wanna Be Free (To Be with Him)" (1995)

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "There is not much innovation, just a booming power ballad with simple lyrics, dramatic instrumentation, and a female lead vocal that soars to glass-shattering soprano heights. It certainly works, pressing every reactionary listener button. Translation: This single should become an immediate AC radio staple."^[3] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "My own very personal view is that it is easily one of the singles of the year, a startlingly beautiful power-pop ballad, one of those rare records that has the capacity to move you to tears when played at high volume. Alright so I'm biased in this particular commentary but if there is any record which should, nay deserves to be a massive hit it is this one."^[4]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media said, "The ghost of Shakespears Sister will stay with you through Scarlet, another female pop duo with a harmless tic. Winter time has proven to be the right moment for such orchestrated pop."^[5] A reviewer from Music Week described it as "slow-burning balladry from female duo signed by WEA A&R consultant Gary Crowley."^[6] Andy Richardson from NME was very negative to the song, saying, "Pompous, hand-wringly bad, self-important and, worst of all, soulless."^[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Independent Love Song" was shot in Times Square, New York. The black-and-white video shows Cheryl Parker (vocals) sitting on a piano with Jo Youle (pianist) performing the song, while children dressed as Cupid shoot passers-by to make them fall in love.

Track listings

• UK 7-inch and cassette single^[8][9]

1. "Independent Love Song" – 3:51
2. "Independent Love Song" (original 7-inch version) – 3:47

• UK, European and Australian CD single^[10]

1. "Independent Love Song" – 3:51
2. "The Fall" – 4:15
3. "Independent Love Song" (3AM mix) – 3:48

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 60 Germany (GfK)[12] 50 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] 14 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Single Tip)[15] 2 Scotland (OCC)[16] 10 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 25 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position UK Singles (OCC)[20] 79

References

1. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 7 January 1995. p. 13.
2. "Power Ballads – The Greatest Driving Anthems in The World...Ever! | IOL Entertainment".
3. Flick, Larry (2 March 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 68. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
4. Masterton, James (15 January 1995). "Week Ending January 21st 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
5. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 28 January 1995. p. 17. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
6. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 December 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
7. Richardson, Andy (7 January 1995). "Singles". NME. p. 37. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
8. Independent Love Song (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Scarlet. WEA. 1994. YZ820, 4509-97264-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. Independent Love Song (UK cassette single sleeve). Scarlet. WEA. 1994. YZ820C, 4509-97264-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. Independent Love Song (UK, European & Australian CD single disc notes). Scarlet. WEA. 1994. YZ820CD, 4509-97265-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 11. 18 March 1995. p. 27. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
12. "Scarlet – Independent Love Song" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
13. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (11.3. '95 – 17.3 '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 11 March 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Independent Love Song". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
15. "SCARLET - INDEPENDENT LOVE SONG" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
17. "Scarlet – Independent Love Song". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
18. "Scarlet – Independent Love Song". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
19. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
20. "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.