Is This Love (Whitesnake song)
Encyclopedia
"Is This Love" is a song by the English hard rock band Whitesnake
. The song is taken from their self-titled album
, which released in 1987.
The song was written by vocalist David Coverdale
and guitarist John Sykes
during the albums early writing process (which took place in the south of France
), but it was long rumored that the song had originally been written for pop
artist Tina Turner
. Coverdale confirmed these rumours in the booklet of Whitesnake's 20th anniversary edition, by saying:
"Is This Love" became one of the most popular Whitesnake songs. The song reached #87 on VH1
's "100 Greatest Love Songs"-list and #10 on their list of "Greatest Power Ballads".
The single was a hit for Whitesnake, reaching number 9 in the UK Singles Chart
and number 2 in the US singles chart, making it their second-biggest US hit after "Here I Go Again
" which hit number 1. The single was reissued in 1994 to promote Whitesnake's Greatest Hits
, The single was re-issued in 1994 to promote the band's Greatest Hits
, and featured the song "Sweet Lady Luck" (which was previously only available as B-side to "The Deeper the Love
"-single) and "Now You're Gone
." This version reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart
.
A music video was also made, featuring Coverdale's then-girlfriend actress Tawny Kitaen
. The music video depicts the band playing the song on a misty stage, inter-cut with scenes of Coverdale singing, Kitaen dancing and the two of them together.
The Audio Thieves featuring Uniting Nations
covered this song in their 2006 album Dance Cover. Also in 2006, Thomas Anders
covered the song for his album Songs Forever
.
and John Sykes
, except where noted.
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
. The song is taken from their self-titled album
Whitesnake (album)
Tracks 12-15 taken from Live: In the Shadow of the Blues-20th Anniversary Edition DVD:-Singles:*"Here I Go Again" *"Is This Love"*"Still of the Night"*"Crying in the Rain" *"Give Me All Your Love"-Personnel:...
, which released in 1987.
The song was written by vocalist David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
and guitarist John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
during the albums early writing process (which took place in the south of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), but it was long rumored that the song had originally been written for pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
artist Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
. Coverdale confirmed these rumours in the booklet of Whitesnake's 20th anniversary edition, by saying:
"Before I'd left [for the south of France] a friend at EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
had asked me for any ideas that would work for Tina Turner. So that was where the original idea for 'Is This Love' came from."
"Is This Love" became one of the most popular Whitesnake songs. The song reached #87 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's "100 Greatest Love Songs"-list and #10 on their list of "Greatest Power Ballads".
The single was a hit for Whitesnake, reaching number 9 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number 2 in the US singles chart, making it their second-biggest US hit after "Here I Go Again
Here I Go Again
"Here I Go Again" is a #1 hit song recorded by Whitesnake. Originally released on their 1982 album, Saints & Sinners, the song was re-recorded for their eponymous 1987 album Whitesnake. The song was re-recorded yet another time that year in a new "radio-mix" version...
" which hit number 1. The single was reissued in 1994 to promote Whitesnake's Greatest Hits
Whitesnake's Greatest Hits
Whitesnake's Greatest Hits is a compilation of Whitesnake's biggest hits from the 1980s. It features hit singles from their albums Slide It In, Whitesnake and Slip of the Tongue. The album also contains three tracks previously unavailable in the USA.The compilation charted at number 161 on The...
, The single was re-issued in 1994 to promote the band's Greatest Hits
Whitesnake's Greatest Hits
Whitesnake's Greatest Hits is a compilation of Whitesnake's biggest hits from the 1980s. It features hit singles from their albums Slide It In, Whitesnake and Slip of the Tongue. The album also contains three tracks previously unavailable in the USA.The compilation charted at number 161 on The...
, and featured the song "Sweet Lady Luck" (which was previously only available as B-side to "The Deeper the Love
The Deeper the Love
"The Deeper the Love" is a song by the English hard rock band Whitesnake, taken from their 1989 album Slip of the Tongue. The song reached number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #35 on the UK Singles Chart....
"-single) and "Now You're Gone
Now You're Gone (Whitesnake song)
"Now You're Gone" is a single by hard rock/heavy metal band Whitesnake from their 1989 album Slip of the Tongue. Recorded in 1988 and featured on the aforementionned album in 1989, the song was released as a single in 1990....
." This version reached number 25 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
A music video was also made, featuring Coverdale's then-girlfriend actress Tawny Kitaen
Tawny Kitaen
Julie "Tawny" Kitaen is an American actress and media personality. She became famous in the 1980s for appearing in several hard rock videos for the band Whitesnake, including the hit "Here I Go Again". Kitaen was married to Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale from 1989–1991...
. The music video depicts the band playing the song on a misty stage, inter-cut with scenes of Coverdale singing, Kitaen dancing and the two of them together.
The Audio Thieves featuring Uniting Nations
Uniting Nations
Uniting Nations are a British dance act who formed in 2004. The act achieved chart success across Europe. It was composed of Paul Keenan and Daz Sampson with Jinian Wilde on vocals for "Out of Touch", "You and Me" & 11 of the 12 tracks on the One World album . Craig Powell was the frontman of the...
covered this song in their 2006 album Dance Cover. Also in 2006, Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders
Thomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:...
covered the song for his album Songs Forever
Songs Forever
Songs Forever is the title of the 2006 studio album by German singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders, consisting mainly of popular swing covers...
.
Track listing
All songs written by David CoverdaleDavid Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
and John Sykes
John Sykes
John James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
, except where noted.
- "Is This Love" - 4:48
- "Bad Boys" - 4:09 (Geffen)
- "Standing In The Shadow" - 3:53 (EMI) (Coverdale)
Personnel
- David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
– Lead vocals - John SykesJohn SykesJohn James Sykes , is an English rock guitarist, who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder, in addition to having a notable solo career....
– GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, backing vocals - Neil MurrayNeil Murray (British musician)Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
– Bass - Aynsley DunbarAynsley DunbarAynsley Thomas Dunbar is an English drummer. He has worked with some of the top names in rock, including Eric Burdon, John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, Jefferson Starship, Jeff Beck, David Bowie, Whitesnake, Sammy Hagar, UFO, and Journey...
– Drums - Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
– Keyboards