Love to Hate You

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For the South Korean streaming television series, see Love to Hate You (TV series).

"Love to Hate You"
Single by Erasure
from the album Chorus
B-side
  • "Vitamin C"
  • "La La La"
Released9 September 1991 (1991-09-09)[1]
Genre
Length3:56
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Martyn Phillips
Erasure singles chronology
"Chorus"
(1991) 		"Love to Hate You"
(1991) 		"Am I Right?"
(1991)
Music video
"Love to Hate You" on YouTube

"Love to Hate You" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1991 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991). Written by band members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it is an electronic dance track inspired by disco music. The synthesizer melody in the chorus is an interpolation of the string break from American singer Gloria Gaynor's disco-era classic "I Will Survive".[2][3] The duo also recorded a Spanish version of the song, called "Amor y Odio" (Love and Hatred), and one in Italian called "Amo Odiarti". The single was released by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the US. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-10 hit in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, and Sweden. Its music video was directed by David Mallet.

Chart performance[edit]

"Love to Hate You" is one of Erasure's most successful singles on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number four.[4] It became a top-ten hit also in Greece, where it reached number nine; Finland, where it reached number seven;[5] Austria, where it reached number six;[6] Denmark and Ireland, where it reached number five;[7][8] and Sweden, where it reached number four.[9] In the US, it reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart,[10] number 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart,[11] and number six on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[12] In South America, "Love to Hate You" was a top-10 hit in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay.

Critical reception[edit]

Larry Flick from Billboard named "Love to Hate You" a "techno-conscious twirler", that nicks an idea or two from Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". He complimented Andy Bell's "sassy and soulful" performance as an interesting contrast to the track's "overall electro tone".[2] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer declared it as "a much more pop-oriented song, lacking the trademark Erasure synth riff".[13] Bill Wyman from Entertainment Weekly felt that it "has a thumpy bottom and a passable hook".[14] Dave Jennings of Melody Maker considered the song to be "likeable, upbeat, a little bloodless but nevertheless a guaranteed top five entry". He also noted the "mildly interesting lyric".[15] Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated that it's a "top rate pop/dance song, which draws influences from '70s Giorgio Moroder productions. The synthesizer outfit takes us to a lovely Caribbean bridge that will work as well on EHR as in clubland."[16]

A reviewer from Music Week constated that the "instant familiarity" of "Love to Hate You" "is due in no small part to the fact that it seems to be based on several previous hits, most notably Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive', Elton John's 'Nobody Wins' and even Modern Romance's 'Everybody Salsa'. Typically throbbing Hi-NRG, subtle it is not, but a hit it most certainly is."[3] Sherman at the Big Controls, writing for NME, felt it was "totally over the top pop" with a "sickly verse, death defying numbing Brits abroad chorus, wanky 'fake' horns and the worst keyboard sounds Vince could find".[17] Mark Frith from Smash Hits wrote that "it's rather nice to welcome Erasure back. With a tune that's, erm, borrowing bits from certain '70s dance tunes, it's a tale of life's annoying Casanovas, and full of beans it is too."[18]

Retrospective response[edit]

AllMusic editor Ned Raggett described the song as "supersassy".[19] In an 2007 review, the Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith viewed it as "an instant crowd pleaser of sorts", adding that it "comes complete with live audience effects in the background".[20] In 2014, Chris Gerard from Metro Weekly described it as "old-school disco with echoes of 'I Will Survive' in the verse and hints of ABBA as well. It's a killer dance tune, but it's just as good as a pop single. The vocal arrangement is clever, and the crowd noise during the big synth solos add to the excitement."[21] In 2009, Darren Lee from The Quietus noted "the camp melodrama", naming it one of "the most gloriously effervescent pop anthems ever recorded".[22] In an 2020 review, Christopher Smith from Talk About Pop Music described it as "more early-80's style electro pop and yet it felt so fresh in 1991". He added: "This is one of those Erasure songs that you know word for word and are able to quote without fail at any concert where this is played."[23]

Music video[edit]

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director of music videos and concert films David Mallet. It features Erasure performing the song on a futuristic stage with a long, connected runway which extends out into the audience. As Bell dances down the runway, it is revealed that the floor is covered in water. Vince Clarke is also seen playing a circular keyboard similar to one previously used by Jean-Michel Jarre. These shots were filmed after hours in London's Leadenhall Market. Mallet told in 2020, "I saw Vince's character as this mad scientist with lots of tape recorders and all of this bizarre electronic equipment. His character was based on one of my absolute heroes, Joe Meek. 'Love to Hate You' was basically Joe Meek, in his house, making these fantastic recordings of Andy."[24]

Track listings[edit]

Charts[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 7 September 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b Flick, Larry (2 November 1991). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 87. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 September 1991. p. 10. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 39. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Erasure – Love to Hate You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 41. 12 October 1991. p. 29. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love to Hate You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Erasure – Love to Hate You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Erasure Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Erasure Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Erasure Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  13. ^ Kastanas, Andy (6 November 1991). "Sounds of Progress". p. 10. The Charlotte Observer.
  14. ^ Wyman, Bill (22 November 1991). "Chorus". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. ^ Jennings, Dave (7 September 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 31.
  16. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 28 September 1991. p. 11. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  17. ^ Sherman at the Big Controls (14 September 1991). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 27.
  18. ^ Frith, Mark (18 September 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. p. 41. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  19. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Erasure – Chorus". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  20. ^ Smith, Michael R. (10 June 2007). "Chorus – Erasure". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  21. ^ Gerard, Chris (17 September 2014). "Erasure's 40 Greatest Tracks". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  22. ^ Lee, Darren (27 February 2009). "Erasure – Total Pop! Erasure's First 40 Hits". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  23. ^ Smith, Christopher (14 February 2020). "Review: 'Chorus' (DeLuxe Edition) – Erasure". Talk About Pop Music. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  24. ^ Smith, Mat (24 January 2020). "A Behind the Scenes Look at the Making of Erasure's 'Love to Hate You' Video". Erasureinfo.com. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  25. ^ Love to Hate You (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. Mute 131.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ Love to Hate You (UK cassette single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. C Mute 131.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ Love to Hate You (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records, Alfa Records. 1991. ALDB-140.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ Love to Hate You (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. 12 Mute 131.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ Love to Hate You (UK CD single liner notes). Erasure. Mute Records. 1991. CD Mute 131.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ Love to Hate You (US maxi-CD single disc notes). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 9 40218-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ Love to Hate You (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 9 40218-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ Love to Hate You (US maxi-cassette single cassette notes). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 9 40218-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ Love to Hate You (Canadian maxi-cassette single cassette notes). Erasure. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1991. 24 2184.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ "Erasure – Love to Hate You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  35. ^ "Listado de éxitos - Bogotá". El Tiempo (Colombia) (in Spanish). 20 December 1991. p. 9. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  36. ^ "Discos Más Populares de América Latina". El Siglo de Torreón. 5 September 1992.
  37. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 41. 12 October 1991. p. 33. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  38. ^ "European Dance Radio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. 19 October 1991. p. 38. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  39. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  40. ^ "Erasure – Love to Hate You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  41. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 3. 18 January 1992. p. 30. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  42. ^ "Erasure – Love To Hate You". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  43. ^ "Erasure – Love to Hate You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  44. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 43. 26 October 1991. p. 30. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Discos Más Populares de América Latina". El Siglo de Torreón. 8 February 1992.
  46. ^ "Erasure – Love to Hate You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  47. ^ "Discos Más Populares de América Latina". El Siglo de Torreón. 13 March 1992.
  48. ^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  49. ^ "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 11 January 1992. p. 20.
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