House of Love (East 17 song) explained

House of Love
Cover:House of Love East 17 UK artwork.jpg
Border:yes
Caption:UK and European artwork. The Australian artwork has the central image mirrored.
Type:single
Artist:East 17
Album:Walthamstow
Recorded:[1]
Genre:House
Length:4:37
Label:London
Producer:Robin Goodfellow
Next Title:Gold
Next Year:1992

"House of Love" is a song by British boy band East 17, released in August 1992 by London Records as their debut single from their first studio album, Walthamstow (1993). The song was written by band member Tony Mortimer with its producer, Robin Goodfellow, becoming a number-one hit in Finland, Israel, and Sweden. It was also a top-40 hit in several other countries between 1992 and 1994. In the United Kingdom, "House of Love" peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. Two different music videos were produced to promote the single. Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 75 in their list of "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" in 2020.[2]

Background

Initially conceived by former Pet Shop Boys manager Tom Watkins as a tougher version of Take That, East 17 decided that their first single—like Take That's debut—should be an upbeat dance number that would sell to both teenagers and to clubs. Inspired by current dance groups like the KLF and Snap!, Tony Mortimer wrote "House of Love" as a mock 'rave' anthem, complete with a 'harmony' rap performed by Brian Harvey. Mortimer rapped the main verses with the entire band singing the chorus. The Pedigree Mix of the song, complete with an explosion and then a dog barking at the beginning and the end, was released as the single, complete with a low-budget video.

"House of Love" rose to No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart, establishing East 17 as a premier pop act. It was included on their first album, Walthamstow, and their 1996 greatest hits compilation. On 15 April 2011, T-Mobile uploaded a video parody of the JK Wedding Entrance Dance[3] portraying the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton weeks before the actual Royal Wedding using choreography with the group's song.[4]

Critical reception

Adam Sweeting from The Guardian remarked that the band "take aim at the dance floor" on the song.[5] David Bennun from Melody Maker wrote, "...and East 17, a posse of hippety-hoppety wee whippersnappers, lamenting the decline of Mother Earth in the most simplistically eco-conscious manner imaginable."[6] Another Melody Maker editor, Victoria Segal, added, "Stupidstupidstupid lyrics over blasts of adrenalin that made you grin like a lunatic from the word boom!, this was East 17 pumped and primed and ready to go."[7] Neil Spencer from The Observer said the song "prove the more inane offerings from a mix of junior hip-hop and melodic pop".[8] Carl Fysh from Seventeen named it a "hard-hitting house anthem".[9] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it four out of five, commenting, "Looking a bit like a cross between Take That and Flowered Up in their trendy Essex techno gear, E17 [sic] come up with this well catchy tune with background barking supplied by their dog".[10]

Music video

There were made two different music videos for the song: a European and an American version. The latter was directed by Scott Kennedy.[11]

Track listings

  1. "House of Love" (Pedigree mix)
  2. "House of Love" (Son of a Bitch mix)
  3. "House of Love" (Glossy Coat mix)
  4. "House of Love" (Wet Nose mix)
  1. "House of Love" (Pedigree mix) – 4:37
  2. "House of Love" (The Expedient demo) – 7:43

A1. "House of Love" (Son of a Bitch mix)

A2. "House of Love" (Glossy Coat mix)

B1. "House of Love" (Wet Nose mix)

A1. "House of Love" (Son of a Bitch mix) — 9:02

A2. "House of Love" (Wet Nose mix) — 6:04

B1. "House of Love" (Murk's main mix) — 6:41

B2. "House of Love" (Oscar G's Dope dub) — 6:45

A. "House of Love" (Pedigree mix) — 4:37

B. "House of Love" (Son of a Bitch mix) — 9:02

  1. "House of Love" (Pedigree mix)
  2. "House of Love" (Wet Nose mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992–1994)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[22] 9
Europe (European Dance Radio)[23] 18
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 1
UK Dance (Music Week)[25] 15
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[26] 41

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
Australia (ARIA)[28] 31
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[29] 55
Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 38

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United Kingdom10 August 1992London[31]
Japan25 March 1993Mini-CD[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. People: E17. Record Mirror Dance Update. 11. 8 August 1992. 16 July 2021.
  2. 75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. 24 July 2020. 21 May 2021.
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0 JK Wedding Entrance Dance - YouTube.com
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kav0FEhtLug The T-Mobile Royal Wedding - YouTube.com
  5. [Adam Sweeting|Sweeting, Adam]
  6. David. Bennun. Singles. Melody Maker. 22 August 1992. 27. 18 February 2023. David Bennun.
  7. Victoria. Segal. Albums. Melody Maker. 9 November 1996. 49. 28 May 2024.
  8. [Neil Spencer|Spencer, Neil]
  9. Fysh, Carl (December 1992). "East 17". Seventeen.
  10. Tom . Doyle . New Singles . . 5 August 1992 . 41 . 6 October 2020.
  11. Web site: East 17 House of love VIVA VHS. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/QzbCivkiRsk . 21 December 2021 . live. YouTube. 23 August 2020.
  12. House of Love. East 17. 1992. UK CD single liner notes. London Records. LONCD 325, 869 851-2.
  13. House of Love. East 17. 1992. UK cassette single sleeve. London Records. LONCS 325, 869 851-4.
  14. House of Love. East 17. 1992. UK 7-inch single sleeve. London Records. LON 325, 869 850-7.
  15. House of Love. East 17. 1992. French CD single disc notes. London Records. 869 850-2.
  16. House of Love. East 17. 1992. Japanese mini-CD single sleeve. London Records. PODD-1027.
  17. House of Love. East 17. 1992. UK 12-inch single sleeve. London Records. LONX 325, 869 851-1.
  18. House of Love. East 17. 1992. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. London Records. 869 903-1.
  19. House of Love. East 17. 1994. US cassette single sleeve. London Records. 857 420-4.
  20. House of Love. East 17. 1992. Australian CD single liner notes. London Records, Polydor Records. 869 902-2.
  21. House of Love. East 17. 1992. Australian cassette single sleeve. London Records, Polydor Records. 869 902-4.
  22. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 10. 5. 30 January 1993. 43. 7 November 2020.
  23. EDR Top 25. Music & Media. 10. 3. 16 January 1993. 7. 2 November 2021.
  24. Book: Nyman, Jake. 2005. Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja. 1st. Tammi. Helsinki. 951-31-2503-3. fi.
  25. Top 60 Dance Singles. Music Week. 18. 29 August 1992. 29 September 2020.
  26. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 25 December 1993. 26 July 2023.
  27. Year End Charts: Top Singles. Music Week. 8. 16 January 1993.
  28. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1993. ARIA. 14 March 2019.
  29. 1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 10. 51/52. 18 December 1993. 15. 27 November 2019.
  30. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1993. GfK Entertainment. de. 14 March 2019.
  31. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 8 August 1992. 16 July 2021.
  32. Web site: ハウス・オブ・ラブ East 17. House of Love East 17. Oricon. ja. 13 March 2024.

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