Love and Understanding

This article is about the song by Cher. For other uses, see Love and Understanding (disambiguation).

"Love and Understanding" is a song by American singer and actress Cher from her 20th studio album, Love Hurts (1991). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Warren and Guy Roche, it was released as the album's lead single in May 1991 by Geffen for the North American and Oceanian markets. B-side "Trail of Broken Hearts" appears on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder and is not available on any Cher album.

"Love and Understanding"
Single by Cher
from the album Love Hurts
B-side	"Trail of Broken Hearts"
Released	May 21, 1991
Genre	Pop
Length	4:43 (album version) 4:08 (7-inch edit)
Label	Geffen
Songwriter(s)	Diane Warren
Producer(s)	Diane Warren Guy Roche
Cher singles chronology
"The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" (1990) "Love and Understanding" (1991) "Save Up All Your Tears" (1991)
Music video
"Love and Understanding" on YouTube

Critical reception

AllMusic's Joseph McCombs highlighted the song and called it "pleasantly melodic."^[1] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "a spirited pop tune that's framed with orchestral synth/strings and a hand-clapping rock beat. Simplistic lyrical message is delivered with warmth and sincerity. Sounds great on a summer day."^[2] Entertainment Weekly editor Jim Farber said it is "socially conscious in a way only Hollywood could conceive, tailor-made for one of those publicity-seeking charity functions."^[3]

Music video

The single's music video showed Cher and her backing band rehearsing the song, with interlocking scenes of her in an orange colored wig and her dancers dancing around her.

Personnel

• Cher: Vocals
• Jean McClain, Myriam Valle, Laura Creamer, Diane Warren: Backing vocals
• Michael Landau, Josh Sklair: Guitars
• Guy Roche: Keyboards, synthesizers
• Mark T. Williams: Drums

Production

• Produced by Diane Warren and Guy Roche
• Recorded by David Thoener and Frank Wolf at A&M Recording Studios, The Music Grinder and The Complex
• Assistant engineers: Mario Luccy, Ken Allardyce, Julie Last, Jeff DeMorris, Fred Kelly
• Mixed by David Thoener

Track listings

• US 7-inch and cassette single

1. "Love and Understanding" – 4:43
2. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30

• US and European 12-inch single

1. "Love and Understanding" (12-inch dance mix) – 5:25
2. "Love and Understanding" (Stringappella mix) – 4:20
3. "Love and Understanding" (Dub and Understanding mix) – 5:35
4. "Love and Understanding" (House of Love mix) – 5:45
5. "Love and Understanding" (Cher Some Love dub) – 4:10
6. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30

• European 7-inch and cassette single

1. "Love and Understanding" (edit) – 4:08
2. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30

• European CD single

1. "Love and Understanding" (edit) – 4:08
2. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30
3. "If I Could Turn Back Time" – 4:16

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1991–1992) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 23 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 9 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 11 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[8] 5 Canada (The Record)[9] 16 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 18 France (SNEP)[11] 21 Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 7 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 13 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 25 Quebec (ADISQ)[17] 11 Spain Top 40 Radio (Promusicae)[18] 37 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 29 UK Singles (OCC)[20] 10 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[22] 3 US Cash Box Top 100[23] 12

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 94 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 93 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[26] 36 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[27] 100 Europe (European Hit Radio)[28] 6 Germany (Media Control)[29] 82 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 86 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[31] 32

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 21, 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl cassette	Geffen	[citation needed]
United Kingdom	July 1, 1991	7-inch vinyl CD cassette		[32]
Japan	July 21, 1991	Mini-CD		[33]