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Love Is Back (song)

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"Love Is Back"
Single by Celeste
from the album Not Your Muse
Released31 December 2020
GenreRetro-soul
Length4:14
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Celeste singles chronology
"A Little Love"
(2020) 		"Love Is Back"
(2020)

"Love Is Back" is a song by British singer Celeste. It was released through Both Sides and Polydor Records on 31 December 2020 as the fourth single from her debut studio album Not Your Muse.[1][2] The song was co-written by Celeste and both Jamie Hartman and his daughter Ettie and features production from Josh Crocker and Charlie Hugall.[3][4]

Composition

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"Love Is Back" is a retro-soul[5][6][7] song "filled with punchy brass, jangling guitar riffs and velvety vocals that melt over the soulful production".[8] It is also built around "horns and a heavy drum groove".[5]

Critical reception

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In a write-up for The New York Times, Lindsay Zoladz wrote that Celeste "croons coolly for much of the song before a dazzling grand finale showcases the strength of her smoky voice, which recalls both Amy Winehouse and Billie Holiday."[9] Deep Shah of ColorsxStudios noted that the song "encompasses an enriching and uplifting atmosphere with its twinkling soundscape".[10] Billboard described it as "rousing" and praised Celeste's vocal "swoons",[11] while NME described it as a "confident and sultry belter" which indicates that the singer is "well on her way to becoming the latest British soul hero."[8] Writing for The Honey Pop, Emily Defoor agreed that Celeste is "on the rise of being the new queen of soul", and further described the song as a "dreamy" mixture of "hypnotic vocals and feel good beats".[12] Alexander Zwerner of Earmilk described the song as "gorgeous" and "uplifting", and highlighted its "groove-laden production" and "enriching and uplifting ambiance” while praising Celeste's "incredibly sanguine" lyrics.[6] In a write-up for Nothing but Hope and Passion, Liv Toerkell the song as a "retro-sounding gem" and wrote that Celeste's "soaring vocals are pure soul" while highlighting how she "unleashes her full range in a goosebump-evoking outcry" towards the end of the song.[5]

Live performances

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While touring and performing at festivals in 2019 and early 2020, Celeste performed "Love Is Back" a number of times despite the song being unreleased. She first performed it in February 2019 it for the British Music Embassy at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas,[13][14] and then for BBC Music Introducing Sessions at Maida Vale Studios in May 2019,[15] as well as at 2019 Glastonbury Festival in July.[16] Celeste also added the song to her setlist on her European tour opening for Michael Kiwanuka in 2019,[17] and during her residence at Omeara in south east London.[18][19] Celeste first officially debuted the released song on the BBC Two television special Jools' Annual Hootenanny 2020/21,[1] which prompted mainstream public interest and a large increase in sales, ultimately helping it debut at number 52 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.[20] Celeste's performance of "Love Is Back" on the 449th episode of The Graham Norton Show in mid January 2021, would also prompt yet another boost in sales.[21]

Music video

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The official music video for "Love Is Back" was directed by Sammy King and released on 21 January 2021.[22] It features guest appearances from Melanie C, Miss Jason, Faye Wei Wei, Princess Julia, Jaime Winstone, Elheist, and Josephine Jones.[23]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Love Is Back"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 40
Netherlands (Tipparade)[25] 16
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[20] 52

References

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  1. ^ a b Richards, Will (31 December 2020). "Celeste closes out the year with uplifting new single 'Love Is Back'". NME. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (31 December 2021). "Celeste unveils new song "Love Is Back"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Credits / Love is Back / Celeste". Tidal. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. ^ Jamie Hartman [@jamiehartman] (March 20, 2011). "my wife and I's first child, Ettie Grace Hartman was born on Thursday in Los Angeles. nothing could ever compare. :)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b c Toerkell, Liv (1 December 2021). ""Love is Back" And So Is Retro Soul, Thanks To Celeste's New Single". Nothing but Hope and Passion. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b Zwerner, Alexander (4 January 2021). "Celeste releases new uplifting single "Love is Back"". Earmilk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. ^ "20 New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b "NME Radio Roundup 11 January 2021: SZA, Grimes, slowthai and more". NME. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  9. ^ Pareles, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni; Zoladz, Lindsay (8 January 2021). "Taylor Swift's Ode to Moving On, and 9 More New Songs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  10. ^ Shah, Deep (2 January 2021). "Celeste — Love Is Back". ColorsxStudios. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  11. ^ Lipshutz, Jason; Ginsberg, Gab (4 January 2021). "10 Cool New Pop Songs To Get You Through The Week: Grimes, Aly & AJ, Twin XL & More". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  12. ^ Defoor, Emily (11 January 2021). "'Love Is Back' In The Form Of This New Celeste Song". The Honey Pop. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  13. ^ Manno, Lizzie (20 March 2019). "SXSW 2019: The 7 Best Acts We Saw at the British Music Embassy". Paste. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Love is Back by Celeste @ Latitude 30 for SXSW 2019 on 3/16/19". mc954concerts20. YouTube. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Celeste in session at Maida Vale - An intimate, stripped-back session from an incredible new voice". BBC Music. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Celeste - Love Is Back (Glastonbury 2019)". BBC Music. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  17. ^ Sa, Djamel (24 November 2019). "CELESTE Live Paris Salle Pleyel 23 Novembre 2019". YouTube. Retrieved 17 January 2021. First part of the concert of Michael Kiwanuka 23rd November 2019 Salle Pleyel, Paris.
  18. ^ Verrico, Lisa (14 November 2019). "Celeste review — a shy singer with a star's voice". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  19. ^ Reilly, Nick (14 November 2019). "Celeste live in London: Haunting and unforgettable, Celeste proves why she's primed for superstardom". NME. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  21. ^ Cannon, Eoghan (22 January 2021). "Here's who's on 'The Graham Norton Show' tonight". Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 23 January 2021. singer-songwriter Celeste will be performing her latest single 'Love Is Back'.
  22. ^ Richards, Will (24 January 2021). "Mel C makes a cameo in Celeste's new video for 'Love Is Back'". NME. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  23. ^ Dunn, Frankie (21 January 2021). "Celeste's new video stars Mel C, Miss Jason, Faye Wei Wei and more". i-D. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  24. ^ "Celeste %5BUK%5D – Love Is Back" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Tipparade: Week 4 (23 January 2021)". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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