"Independent Love Song" is a song by British musical duo Scarlet, taken from their debut album, ''Naked'' (1994). The

power ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romance (love), romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn m ...

was a hit single, entering the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

at number 26 and reaching a peak of number 12 in February 1995. The single 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).

Critical reception

Larry Flick from '' Billboard'' wrote, "There is not much innovation, just a booming

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." James Masterton said in his weekly UK chart commentary, "My own very personal view is that it is easily one of the singles of the year, a startlingly beautiful power-pop

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...

, 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." Pan-European magazine '' Music & Media'' said, "The ghost of

Shakespears Sister Shakespears Sister is an alternative pop and rock musical duo based in the United Kingdom that was formed in 1988 by singer-songwriter Siobhan Fahey, a former member of Bananarama. Shakespears Sister was initially a solo act, but became a duo ...

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." A reviewer from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' described it as "slow-burning balladry from female duo signed by WEA A&R consultant

Gary Crowley Gary Crowley (born 8 October 1961), is an English broadcaster, TV presenter and DJ.Burrell, Ian (2009), ''The Independent'', 9 November 2009, retrieved 2 November 2010 While still at school (Rutherford School, Marylebone, London) in the late 1970s ...

Music video

The accompanying

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

for "Independent Love Song" was shot in Times Square, New York. The

black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

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 # "Independent Love Song" – 3:51 # "Independent Love Song" (original 7-inch version) – 3:47 * UK, European and Australian CD single # "Independent Love Song" – 3:51 # "The Fall" – 4:15 # "Independent Love Song" (3AM mix) – 3:48

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{Authority control 1994 songs 1995 singles 1990s ballads Black-and-white music videos British power pop songs Pop ballads Warner Music Group singles