Login
Login

Love Is in the Air (song)

{{Short description|1977 single by John Paul Young}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Love Is in the Air

| image = Love is in the air by john paul young UK single solid centre side-A.png

| alt = side-A label

| caption = Solid centre variant of the UK single

| type = single

| artist = John Paul Young

| album = Love Is in the Air

| B-side = {{ubl|"Won't Let this Feeling Go By" (international/Australia)|"Where the Action Is" (U.S.)}}

| released = December 1977 (international)
April 1978 (Australia)

| recorded = 1977

| studio = Albert Studios, Sydney

| venue =

| genre = Disco

| length = 5:16 (original U.S. album version)
3:23 (single edit)

| label = Albert Productions, Ariola, Scotti Brothers Records

| writer = Harry Vanda, George Young

| producer = Harry Vanda, George Young

| prev_title = Where the Action Is

| prev_year = 1977

| next_title = The Day That My Heart Caught Fire

| next_year = 1978

}}

"Love Is in the Air" is a 1977 disco song by Australian singer John Paul Young. It was written by George Young (no relation) and Harry Vanda, and released as the lead single from Young's fourth studio album, Love Is in the Air (1978). The song became a worldwide hit in 1978, peaking at No. 3 on the Australian charts and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it peaked at No. 7 on the pop chart and spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, his only U.S. top 40 hit.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications) The song plays at 122 beats per minute, a typical 1970s disco rhythm.{{cite web

|url=https://getsongbpm.com/album/love-is-in-the-air/5QgNR

|title=Love is in the Air

|work=GetSongBPM

|access-date=12 December 2019}} At the Australian 1978 King of Pop Awards, the song won Most Popular Australian Single.{{Cite web | url = http://users.ncable.net.au/~ronjeff/top40/oz_king.htm | title = Australian Music Awards | publisher = Ron Jeff | access-date = 16 December 2010 }} In 1992, a remix of the song was released and featured on the soundtrack to the Golden Globe-nominated film Strictly Ballroom. A new music video was also produced.

In 2017, the song was selected for preservation in the National Film and Sound Archive's Sounds of Australia collection.[https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/sounds-australia-2017/ Sounds of Australia 2017 | NFSA]. Retrieved 2017-10-24.

Overview

John Paul Young said of the recording, "We actually did 'Love Is in the Air' because we needed something for the German market. 'Standing in the Rain' became a hit in the clubs over there and then on the charts, so we needed a follow-up. I'd been to Germany and heard the music. It was electronic mania, all clicks and electronic buzzes. So George and Harry gave it the treatment."{{cite book | author= Jeff Jenkins |title=50 Years of Rock in Australia|year=2007|page=293 |publisher=Wilkinson Publishing |location=Melbourne |isbn=9781921332111}}

Young performed "Love is in the Air" live on episode 148 of Countdown on 30 April 1978 and on Top of the Pops on 4 May 1978.

"Love Is in the Air" was the theme song to Baz Luhrmann's 1992 debut feature film Strictly Ballroom.

Young performed the song at the Closing Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

The song is regularly sung at football matches by supporters of Dundee United.

The song was played at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy during the opening ceremony's parade of athletes.

=Martin Stevens=

In Canada, Young's recording of "Love Is in the Air" performed significantly more poorly on the charts than in most other countries, due to the existence of a contemporaneous version of the song by Canadian singer Martin Stevens. Stevens had received Young's demo recording, and recorded a version of the song for his 1978 album, before Young's song was released.[https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2017/04/26/quatre-decennies-de-disco "Quatre décennies de disco"]. Le Journal de Montréal, April 30, 2017.

Stevens' version debuted on the Canadian charts in July 1978,[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=3632& "RPM100"]. RPM, July 22, 1978. and had already reached no. 21 by September 9,[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4618a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4618a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4618a "RPM100 (1-50)"]. RPM, September 9, 1978. the week Young's version debuted.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4618b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4618b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4618b "RPM100 (50-100)"]. RPM, September 9, 1978. The two versions appear to have cut into each other's chart momentum thereafter, with Stevens' version peaking at no. 19 a few weeks later before declining on the charts,{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1978/RPM-Canada-1978-09-30.pdf| title=RPM Magazine - September 30, 1978 - page 13}} while Young's peaked at no. 26 two weeks later.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0018a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0018a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0018a "RPM100"]. RPM, October 21, 1978. In the year-end RPM charts for 1978, Stevens' version ranked no. 137 and Young's ranked no. 195. Stevens' version of the song was a Juno Award nominee for Best Selling Single at the Juno Awards of 1979."Juno list has that familiar look". The Globe and Mail, March 21, 1979.

Track listings

  • European 7" single (Ariola 11 705 AT)

:A. "Love Is in the Air" – 3:27

:B. "Won't Let This Feeling Go By" – 3:11

  • Australian 7" (Albert Productions 11710)

:A. "Love Is in the Air" – 3:27

:B. "Won't Let This Feeling Go By" – 3:11

  • US 7" (Scotti Brothers SB 402)

:A. "Love Is in the Air" – 5:16

:B. "Where the Action Is" – 3:04

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Chart (1977–1978)

!Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=346}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

scope="row" {{singlechart|Austria|3|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=15 February 2016}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|Flanders|3|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=15 February 2016}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|26|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|chartid=0018a|accessdate=26 November 2020}}
scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=287|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=John Paul Young|page=287|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=11 July 2022|language=Finnish}}

| style="text-align:center;"|19

scope="row"| France (IFOP){{cite web|title= Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 70 |publisher= InfoDisc |date=1978-03-31 |access-date=22 December 2019 |url=http://infodisc.fr/Tubes_Artistes_Y.php/Tubes_Artiste_Choisi.php |language= fr}}

| style="text-align:center;"|31

scope="row" {{singlechart|Ireland2|5|song=Love Is in the Air|accessdate=August 23, 2018}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|Dutch40|11|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=11 July 2022}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|Dutch100|9|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=11 July 2022}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|New Zealand|8|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=NZ1978|accessdate=15 February 2016}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|Norway|2|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=15 February 2016}}
scope="row"| South Africa (Springbok Radio)

| style="text-align:center;"|2

scope="row" {{singlechart|Sweden|2|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=15 February 2016}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|Switzerland|5|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|refname=|accessdate=15 February 2016}}
scope="row" {{singlechart|UK|5|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|date=19780528|accessdate=26 November 2020}}
scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}

| style="text-align:center;"|7

scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=John Paul Young|accessdate=26 November 2020}}
scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100

| style="text-align:center;"|13

scope="row" {{singlechart|West Germany|3|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|songid=496|accessdate=15 February 2016}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1978)

! Rank

Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |website=Austchartbook.com.au |access-date=2016-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archive-date=2016-03-05 }}{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/0gmvDHH.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 236 – 1 January 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1978|publisher=Kent Music Report|via=Imgur.com|access-date=8 January 2022}}

| style="text-align:center;"|23

Canada{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0070b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0070b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0070b |title=Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=2016-10-12}}

| style="text-align:center;"|195

New Zealand{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1978-12-31 |title=Top Selling Singles of 1978 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart |website=Nztop40.co.nz |date=1978-12-31 |access-date=2016-10-12}}

| style="text-align:center;"|35

South Africa{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1978|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1978.html|access-date=2 September 2018}}

|align="center"|15

UK{{cite web|url=http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1978.shtml |title=Top 100 1978 - UK Music Charts |website=Uk-charts.top-source.info |access-date=2016-10-12}}

| style="text-align:center;"|52

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1978.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-10-12}}

| style="text-align:center;"|46

US Cash Box{{cite web

|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/1978YESP.html

|title=Top 100 Year End Charts: 1978 |work=Cashbox Magazine

|access-date=2015-11-03

}}

| style="text-align:center;"|94

{{col-end}}

1992 (Ballroom mix)

{{Infobox song

| name = Love Is in the Air (Ballroom mix)

| cover = Love_is_in_the_Air_1992_by_JPY.jpg

| alt = cover art

| type = single

| artist = John Paul Young

| album = Strictly Ballroom

| released = August 1992

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Disco

| length = 4:13 (Ballroom mix)

| label = Albert Productions, Columbia Records

| writer = Harry Vanda, George Young

| producer = David Hirschfelder

| prev_title = Don't Sing that Song

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = Standing in the Rain

| next_year = 1992

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|dDkwAenYxfY|"Love Is in the Air (Ballroom mix)"}}}}

}}

"Love Is in the Air (Ballroom mix)" was released in August 1992 as the lead single from the Golden Globe-nominated film Strictly Ballroom soundtrack (1992). It peaked at number nine in Denmark and number 49 in the UK. Outside Europe, it reached number two in New Zealand and number three in Australia. A new music video was shot to accompany the song featuring footage from the movie.

=Critical reception=

Larry Flick from Billboard stated that Young "updates his '70s classic for the soundtrack to "Strictly Ballroom" with a festive '90s-minded dance beat."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-03-20.pdf|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=20 March 1993|access-date=2 February 2020|page=82|author-link=Larry Flick}} British magazine Music Week gave the 1992 remix three out of five in their review of the song.{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-11-07.pdf |title= Mainstream: Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 7 November 1992 |page= 23 |access-date= 2 October 2020}}

=Track listing=

  • Australian/ New Zealand CD single (658085 2)
  1. "Love Is in the Air" (Ballroom Mix) – 4:13
  2. "Scott & Fran's Paso Doble" – 3:56
  • European remix single (Columbia – 658426 8)
  1. "Love Is in the Air" (Strictly Dance Mix) – 8:27
  2. "Love Is in the Air" (Strictly Dance Instrumental) – 5:00
  3. "Love Is in the Air" (Ballroom Mix) – 4:13

=Charts=

{{col-begin|width=74%}}

{{col-2}}

==Weekly chart==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1992–1993)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|access-date=17 February 2017}}
scope="row"| Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1993/MM-1993-02-20.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=10|issue=8|page=24|date=20 February 1993|access-date=22 March 2018}}

| 9

scope="row"{{single chart|New Zealand|2|artist=John Paul Young|song=Love Is in the Air|access-date=17 February 2017}}
scope="row"{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|49|artist=John Paul Young|artistid=16843|access-date=6 September 2022}}

{{col-2}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1992)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1992/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1992|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=30 March 2025}}

| 31

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"| Chart (1993)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1993-12-31|title=End of Year Top 50 Singles 1993|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 3, 2017}}

| 31

{{col-end}}

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|certyear=1992|relyear=1992|artist=John Paul Young|title=Love Is in the Air|award=Gold|refname=Certification|access-date=20 January 2017|type=single|source=book|id=308}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/john_paul_young/love_is_in_the_air.html Lyrics of this song]
  • [http://www.martinstevens.ca Martin Stevens (French language site)]
  • {{YouTube|HO0jBTPXUQQ|John Paul Young - Love Is in the Air}}

{{John Paul Young}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1977 songs

Category:1977 singles

Category:1978 singles

Category:1992 singles

Category:John Paul Young songs

Category:Songs written by Harry Vanda

Category:Songs written by George Young (rock musician)

Category:Song recordings produced by Harry Vanda

Category:Song recordings produced by George Young (rock musician)

Category:Scotti Brothers Records singles

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Albert Productions singles

Category:Ariola Records singles

Category:APRA Award winners

Category:Disco songs