A Song for the Lovers

"A Song for the Lovers" is the first solo single from English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft, following the break-up of his band The Verve. The opening song off his album, Alone with Everybody; "A Song for the Lovers" was originally written by Ashcroft for the Verve's studio album Urban Hymns. Three different versions were recorded, but the song ultimately did not make the final cut. It was inspired by Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart".^[1][2]

"A Song for the Lovers"
Single by Richard Ashcroft
from the album Alone with Everybody
B-side	"(Could Be) A Country Thing, City Thing, Blues Thing", "Precious Stone"
Released	3 April 2000 (2000-04-03)
Studio	Olympic, Metropolis (London, England)
Length	5:39
Label	Hut, Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Richard Ashcroft
Producer(s)	Chris Potter, Richard Ashcroft
Richard Ashcroft singles chronology
"A Song for the Lovers" (2000) "Money to Burn" (2000)
Audio
"A Song for the Lovers" on YouTube

The single peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, a position that would be matched by Ashcroft's 2006 single "Break the Night with Colour". Outside the UK, the song became a moderate hit in Europe and Oceania, peaking at number nine in Italy, number 11 in Ireland, number 42 in New Zealand, and number 59 in Australia. The single also sold well in Canada, peaking at number six on the Canadian Singles Chart.

Music video

The music video for "A Song for the Lovers" premiered in May 2000 and was directed by Academy Award-nominated director Jonathan Glazer ("The Zone of Interest"). The video has a narrative style, shot in real-time with an element of diegetic sound unusual in most music videos. Diegetic sound was used previously by Glazer for "Rabbit in Your Headlights".^[3][4]

Track listings

• UK CD, 12-inch, and cassette single^[5][6][7]

Canadian, Australian, and Japanese CD single^[8][9][10]

1. "A Song for the Lovers" (album version)
2. "(Could Be) A Country Thing, City Thing, Blues Thing"
3. "Precious Stone"

• European CD single^[11]

1. "A Song for the Lovers" (album version)
2. "(Could Be) A Country Thing, City Thing, Blues Thing"

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Alone with Everybody album booklet.^[12]

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at Olympic and Metropolis Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Metropolis Mastering (London, England)

Personnel

• Richard Ashcroft – writing, vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion, production
• Pino Palladino – bass
• Chuck Leavell – piano
• Peter Salisbury – drums
• Steve Sidelnyk – percussion, programming
• Teena Lyle – vibes
• Duncan Mackay – trumpet
• Lucinda Barry – harp
• The London Session Orchestra – strings
• Gavyn Wright – concertmaster
• Wil Malone – string arrangement and conducting
• Chris Potter – production, mixing
• Tony Cousins – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 59 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[14] 6 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 17 Germany (GfK)[16] 82 Ireland (IRMA)[17] 11 Italy (FIMI)[18] 9 Italy Airplay (Music & Media)[19] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 83 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 42 Scotland (OCC)[22] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 78 UK Singles (OCC)[24] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position UK Singles (OCC)[25] 101

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[26]	Silver	200,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
Australia	3 April 2000	CD	Hut Virgin	[27]
United Kingdom		CD cassette		[28][29]
Japan	12 April 2000	CD		[30]
New Zealand	8 May 2000			[31]
United States	6 June 2000	Mainstream rock active rock alternative radio		[32]