# Luv 4 Luv

"Luv 4 Luv" (sometimes also spelled as "Love for Love") is a song by American singer Robin S., released on July 19, 1993, by Champion, Big Beat and ZYX as the second single from the singer's debut album, Show Me Love (1993). The song was written by Allen George and Fred McFarlane, and was Robin S.'s second number one on the US dance chart, where it spent one week at the top. On other US charts, the song peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 54 on the Cash Box Top 100. Overseas, "Luv 4 Luv" reached number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 24 in Ireland. A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, featuring Robin S. performing at a self-service laundry. "Luv 4 Luv" was re-released in the UK in 2003 but only lasted one week on the chart, peaking at number 78.

## Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "The up-and-coming Ms S. is out to prove that "Show Me Love" was no fluke with this aggressive dance ditty from her sturdy debut album," adding, "Although the production is a little too familiar for its own good at times, the song itself is quite cool, and Robin cuts loose like a well-seasoned diva. Her star power is helping the track win the hearts of club pundits." Rod Edwards from the Gavin Report felt it has the potential to be even bigger than "Show Me Love", remarking that "a boomin' kick drum and carefully arranged synthesizers provide a "house"-influenced track, and Robin's emotion-filled vocals spice up the rhythm." Holly Barringer from Melody Maker complimented it as "acceptable; enjoyable, even."
Brad Beatnik from Music Week's RM Dance Update stated, "Expect this slice of pure garage heaven to be huge". Another RM editor, James Hamilton, described it as a "typically wailed garage strider". Wendi Cermak from The Network Forty wrote, "Keeping with the same formula [...] the Maven of House is back with another strong rhythmic mover. Although it could be argued that this single is very similar to "Show Me Love", "Luv 4 Luv" has so many subtle differences that it's not hard to tell the two apart." James T. Jones IV from USA Today praised her "gutsy, gospel-trained voice" that "digs deep" into the groove. James Hunter from Vibe felt that it "brings personality and addictive soul to techno's faceless pulse. Plus, Robin S. have a friendly voice that can fire right up."

## Chart performance

"Luv 4 Luv" charted on the European, North American and African continent in 1993 and 1994. In Europe, the single was a top-10 hit in Flemish Belgium (7), Italy (9), the Netherlands (4), and Spain (7). In Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, and the UK, it was a top-20 hit. In the latter, the song peaked at number eleven in its second week on the UK Singles Chart on August 1, 1993. Having debuted at number twelve, "Luv 4 Luv" spent a total of six weeks within the UK Top 40. It fared even more successful on the Music Week Dance Singles chart and the Record Mirror Club Chart, peaking at numbers two and five, respectively. Additionally, it was a top-30 hit in Ireland and Sweden, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it entered at number 57 on August 7, after charting in the UK. The single peaked on the chart at number 28 fifteen weeks later, on November 13. In the same period, it also reached number one on the European Dance Radio chart by Music & Media. In Northern America, it was a number-one hit on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, spending one week at the top and a total of eleven weeks on the chart. On the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, it peaked at numbers 53 and 54. In Canada, it was also a hit on the RPM Dance/Urban chart, reaching number three, behind Ace of Base's "All That She Wants" and Zhané's "Hey Mr. D.J.". In Africa, "Luv 4 Luv" charted in Zimbabwe, peaking at number three.

## Personnel

* Producer – Allen George, Fred McFarlane
* Co-producer – StoneBridge
* Mix – StoneBridge, P. Dennis Mitchell, Junior Vasquez
* Engineer – P. Dennis Mitchell, Dave Sussman, Nat Foster, Robert Kiss
* Keyboards – Fred McFarlane, Joe Moskowitz, Matt Thomas, Stonebridge, Robert Kiss
* Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr., Dana Reed, Mike Cantwell
* Backing vocals – Dana Reed, Debbie Cole, Dennis Taylor, Kim Miller, Luci Martin, Robin Stone, Vivian Sessoms