Format 7", 12", CD Genre Synthpop, new wave | Recorded 1985 Length 3:07 | |
B-side "March on Down the Line", "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" (1986) Released 21 April 1986 (original version)
13 October 2003 (remix) |
"Oh L'amour" is a song by English synthpop duo Erasure, released in April 1986 as their third single.
Contents
- 7 single MUTE45
- 12 single 12MUTE45
- Limited 12 single L12MUTE45
- 12 US single Sire 20488 0
- CD Single CDMUTE45
- CD single CDMUTE312
- Limited CD single LCDMUTE312
- DVD single DVDMUTE312
- Download single iMUTE312
- Cover versions
- Sampling
- References
It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. to herald the June release of Erasure's debut album Wonderland, but became the third consecutive commercial failure for the band in both territories. Despite its low chart placing, "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.
Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, "Oh L'amour" is a lament from someone experiencing unrequited love ("broke my heart / now I'm aching for you"). The song is an uptempo synthpop dance track and its popularity was further fuelled in dance clubs by the "Funky Sisters Remix", which appeared on the UK 12 inch single and as a bonus track on the U.S. edition of Wonderland. One of the B-sides is a cover version of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", the first time Erasure dipped into the ABBA songbook.
In 1986, "Oh L'amour" climbed to number eighty-five on the UK singles chart and became Erasure's first big hit in South Africa (number two), in Germany (number sixteen), in Australia (number thirteen) and their only one in France (number fourteen). In the United States, the song's biggest impact was on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it hit number three. 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.
"Oh L'amour" was remixed in 2003 and released as a single again to promote the greatest hits package Hits! The Very Best of Erasure. In its remixed form, the song finally became a UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number thirteen in autumn 2003.
The original artwork of the "Oh L'amour" single featured characters from Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. As permission had not been given, this cover was withdrawn and replaced with a plain black cover with only the title and band name.
A version of the 12" single was included with early copies of the debut LP Wonderland.
7" single (MUTE45)
- "Oh L'amour"
- "March on Down the Line"
12" single (12MUTE45)
- "Oh L'amour" (12" Mix)
- "March on Down the Line" (12" Mix)
- "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"
Limited 12" single (L12MUTE45)
- "Oh L'amour" (PWL Funky Sisters Say 'Ooh La La')
- "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (Remix)
- "March on Down the Line" (Remix)
12" US single (Sire 20488-0)
- "Oh L'amour" (The Funky Sisters Remix) 7:12
- "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (12" Mix) 4:48
- "March on Down the Line" 6:04
CD Single (CDMUTE45)
- "Oh L'amour" 3:10
- "March on Down the Line" 3:45
- "Oh L'amour" (Re-mix) 5:58
- "March on Down the Line" (Remix) 6:05
- "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (A Man After Midnight) 3:55
CD single (CDMUTE312)
- "Oh L'amour" (August Mix)
- "Love Me All Night Long"
- "Nothing Lasts Forever"
Limited CD single (LCDMUTE312)
- "Oh L'amour" (LMC Extended Remix)
- "Oh L'amour" (Shanghai Surprize Remix)
- "Oh L'amour" (Kenny Hayes Remix)
DVD single (DVDMUTE312)
- "Oh L'amour" (Carsten Kroeyer Mix)
- "Oh L'amour" (Dark Brothers and Andy Bell Mix)
- "Victim of Love" (video - Live Footage From The Other Tour)
Download single (iMUTE312)
- "Oh L'amour" (Markymix) [Mark Towns]
Cover versions
Sampling
The Dollar version of "Oh L'amour" was later sampled by electronic duo Orbital on their track "Style", which appeared on their 1999 album The Middle of Nowhere.