We Love You

We Love You 7"

**We Love You** is the title of a song by OMD, first released on their seventh studio album *The Pacific Age* and successively released as the second single from the album on 03 November 1986, the group's nineteenth UK single overall.

The song was written by OMD and Stephen Hague and was also produced by Hague.

## Origins

In a 1986 interview AM & PH state that the song was originally written "*for another film*" and it was one of four songs which had been left over "*from last time*".

## Style & content

We Love You is an uptempo dance song with a strong beat and chorus which, uncharacteristically, repeats the title throughout. Instrumentation is typical of the album with use of synthesised bass, a sampled guitar riff and sampler type keyboard sounds. It is thought to have been dedicated to the fans of the group who had stuck with them throughout the years, "..*we love you, die for you..we miss you, far away*" and expresses their gratitude: "*Yet here we are in heaven / who could want for more / We always end up getting what we're asking for*". It also reflects the somewhat fickle public taste towards their music and image: "..*But here we are in trouble /Like we always are / Just praying for a miracle / And reaching for stars*".

In the October 1986 OMD newsletter the group describe We Love You as "*Our best (or worse.[..].) use of heavy metal guitars on a fast dance pop song. A very catchy chorus and a possible single*." [2]

## Single release

We Love You was released in 7" & 12" formats with the customary extended version on 12", although unusually the single does not feature a unique B-side song, preferring a 'dub' version of the lead track on both formats. A limited edition 2x7" in gatefold sleeve was also released, as was a limited edition 7" with free cassette, entitled 'Retro', featuring four older tracks plus the two versions of We Love You (see Tracklistings below).[3]

### Tracklistings

#### 7" Virgin VS911

A.We Love You

B. We Love You (dub)

#### 12" Virgin VS911 12

A. We Love You (Extended)

B1. We Love You (7" Version)

B2. We Love You (dub)

#### 2x7",Virgin VSD 911 limited edition gatefold sleeve

A.We Love You

B. We Love You (dub)

C. If You Leave

D. 88 Seconds in Greensboro

*tracks C & D had previously been released as A&B sides on stand-alone single VS 843*

#### 7"+MC 'RETRO', Virgin VSC 911 limited edition

1. Souvenir
2. Electricity
3. Enola Gay
4. Joan of Arc
5. We Love You
6. We Love You (dub)

"*24 minutes of music on each side. Continuous play cassette no need to rewind*"

### Reception and chart performance

Writing in *Record Mirror*, Jim Reid noted in the review of the single how "..*OMD have learnt their lesson of their success in the States.",* mentioning, *"..a raunchier edge to their music now.*." although concluding it was "*Predictable*". (*Record Mirror*, dtd. 1986-11-08, p.11; the same page carries ad ad for the single)

Lyrics to the song featured in *Smash Hits*, dtd. 19 November 1986 (pic.right) although the single was not reviewed.

We Love You entered the UK Charts at no.62 a week after its release and gradually peaked at no.54 three weeks later.[4] It was the group's poorest chart result since Never Turn Away in 1984.

The single also failed to chart in the US, despite the success of both If You Leave and (Forever) Live and Die in the Billboard charts the same year.

Due to its relatively poor commercial performance, the song was not included on any singles compilation until the 'definitive' *Souvenir* in 2019. The 12" version was however included as a 'bonus track' on *The Best of OMD* (1988) and the promo video features on the DVD included with *Messages: OMD Greatest Hits*.

### Promo video

A promo video was shot for the single featuring the six-member group line-up in a 'live' context on stage in front of an audience. It was filmed on the first night of The Pacific Age tour at the Birmingham Odeon on 21 October 1986 (specially staged performance in the afternoon plus live audience performance in the evening). (OMD Newsletter, June 1987, p.6)

## Live performances

The song was included in the setlist for The Pacific Age tour although does not seem to have been performed since either by the 1990s or the re-formed line-up.

No official recordings have been released.

## Versions & availability

*timings approximate and indicative only*

* *The Pacific Age*(1986)
 extended version (6:12)
 dub version (6:20)

## References

1. ↑ see announcement in *Record Mirror*, dtd 01 Nov. 1986, p.30 [1]