That's Love (song)
Encyclopedia
"That's Love" is a song by British singer/songwriter Jim Capaldi
. Written mostly while Capaldi was in Brazil, it developed further over the course of recording sessions in England. It was recorded for the album Fierce Heart
and released as a single. The track, a simple arrangement with synthesizers, vocals, a drum machine, and an almost inaudible acoustic guitar, became Capaldi's biggest hit in the USA, climbing to number 28 in the summer of 1983.
The lyrics to the song present two conflicting views of love. The verses are cynical ("Young couple there going insane / Fussing and fighting then they make up again / That's love"), while the chorus is idealistic ("You stood by me / All through the good times / And through the bad times"). The backing vocals at the end are by Steve and Nicole Winwood
, who were themselves having marriage problems at the time. Steve Winwood also played all the synthesizers, including both solos.
"That's Love" has since been compiled on both the greatest hits album Prince of Darkness and the boxed set Dear Mr Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story.
played the male.
In contrast to the vast majority of music videos at the time, which would prominently feature the performing artist lip-synching the song, Jim Capaldi appears in the video in a minor acting role only. He and co-producer Steve Winwood portray two friends looking on as the romantic protagonists of the video walk arm-in-arm.
Jim Capaldi
Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
. Written mostly while Capaldi was in Brazil, it developed further over the course of recording sessions in England. It was recorded for the album Fierce Heart
Fierce Heart
Fierce Heart is the eighth solo album by British musician Jim Capaldi. The album has a far more synth-heavy approach than any of his previous albums, though the songs are mostly in the same aggressive rock/pop vein that Capaldi had long been associated with...
and released as a single. The track, a simple arrangement with synthesizers, vocals, a drum machine, and an almost inaudible acoustic guitar, became Capaldi's biggest hit in the USA, climbing to number 28 in the summer of 1983.
The lyrics to the song present two conflicting views of love. The verses are cynical ("Young couple there going insane / Fussing and fighting then they make up again / That's love"), while the chorus is idealistic ("You stood by me / All through the good times / And through the bad times"). The backing vocals at the end are by Steve and Nicole Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
, who were themselves having marriage problems at the time. Steve Winwood also played all the synthesizers, including both solos.
"That's Love" has since been compiled on both the greatest hits album Prince of Darkness and the boxed set Dear Mr Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story.
Music video
The song was promoted with a music video involving a mini-love story told through a montage. The shots alternate between angry arguments, loving embraces, bitter silences, and scenes of quiet companionship; like the song itself, the video portrays love as a combination of joy and suffering, and whether the couple is ultimately happy or not is left to the viewer to decide. Eric BogosianEric Bogosian
Eric Bogosian is an American actor, playwright, monologist, and novelist of Armenian descent.-Personal life:Bogosian, an Armenian-American, was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, the son of Edwina, a hairdresser and instructor, and Henry Bogosian, an accountant. After graduating from Oberlin College,...
played the male.
In contrast to the vast majority of music videos at the time, which would prominently feature the performing artist lip-synching the song, Jim Capaldi appears in the video in a minor acting role only. He and co-producer Steve Winwood portray two friends looking on as the romantic protagonists of the video walk arm-in-arm.
Personnel
- Jim CapaldiJim CapaldiNicola James "Jim" Capaldi was an English musician and songwriter. His musical career lasted more than four decades. He co-founded Traffic in Birmingham with Steve Winwood, and the band's psychedelic rock was influential in Britain and the United States...
— lead vocals, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, Linn drum programming - Steve WinwoodSteve WinwoodStephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
— synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, backing vocal, Linn drum programming - Nicole Winwood — backing vocal
- Pete Bonas — acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...