Oh L'amour

"Oh L'amour" was the third single released from Erasure's debut album Wonderland in 1986. It was issued by Mute Records in the UK and Sire Records in the U.S. It became the third consecutive commercial failure for the band in the UK and the US, following the first two Wonderland singles. Despite its low chart placing, "Oh L'amour" has proven to be one of Erasure's signature songs, due to its popularity in dance clubs. It remains a favorite among fans, particularly when performed live.

Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, "Oh L'amour" is a lament from someone experiencing unrequited love ("broke my heart / now I'm aching for you"). The song is an uptempo synth pop dance track and its popularity was further fueled in dance clubs by the "Funky Sisters Remix", which appeared on the UK 12 inch single and as a bonus track on the U.S. edition of Wonderland. The B-side is a cover version of "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)", the first time Erasure dipped into the ABBA songbook.

In 1986, "Oh L'amour" climbed to number eighty-five on the UK singles chart and became Erasure's first big hit in South Africa (number two), in Germany (where it peaked at number sixteen) and their only one in Australia (where it peaked at number thirteen) and France (number fourteen). In the United States, the song's biggest impact was on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where it hit number three.

The song would become more successful, chart-wise, when British Pop duo Dollar released a cover version in late 1987. This version eventually climbed to number seven and spent two weeks in the UK Top 10. The Dollar version of "Oh L'amour" was later sampled by electronic duo Orbital on their track "Style", which appeared on their 1999 album The Middle of Nowhere.

"Oh L'amour" was remixed in 2003 and released as a single again to promote the greatest hits package Hits! The Very Best of Erasure. In its remixed form, the song finally became a Top 20 UK hit, peaking at number thirteen in autumn 2003.

Track listings

Original Release (1986)

7" single (MUTE45)

"Oh L'amour"
"March on Down the Line"

12" single (12MUTE45)

"Oh L'amour" (12" Mix)
"March on Down the Line" (Remix)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"

Limited 12" single (L12MUTE45)

"Oh L'amour" (PWL Funky Sisters Say 'Ooh La La' Remix)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" (Remix)
"March on Down the Line" (Remix)

CD Single (CDMUTE45)

"Oh L'amour"
"March on Down the Line"
"Oh L'amour" (PWL Funky Sisters Say 'Ooh La La' Remix)
"March on Down the Line" (Remix)
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"

Remix (2003)

CD single (CDMUTE312)

"Oh L'amour" (August Mix)
"Love Me All Night Long"
"Nothing Lasts Forever"

Limited CD single (LCDMUTE312)

"Oh L'amour" (LMC Extended Remix)
"Oh L'amour" (Shanghai Remix)
"Oh L'amour" (Kenny Hayes Remix)

DVD single (L12MUTE312)

"Oh L'amour" (Carsten Kroeyer Mix)
"Oh L'amour" (Dark Brothers and Andy Bell Mix)
"Victim of Love" (video - Live Footage From The Other Tour)

Download single (iMUTE312)

"Oh L'amour" (Markymix) [Mark Towns]

Erasure
Vince Clarke \| Andy Bell
Erasure discography \| B-sides and non-album songs
Albums/EPs: Wonderland \| The Circus \| The Innocents \| Crackers International Wild! \| Chorus \| Abba-esque \| I Say I Say I Say \| Erasure \| Cowboy \| Loveboat \| Other People's Songs \| Nightbird \| Union Street \| Light at the End of the World \| Storm Chaser Compilations: The Two Ring Circus \| Pop! - the First 20 Hits \| Hits! The Very Best of Erasure Live album: Acoustic Live Box Sets: EBX 1 \| EBX 2 \| EBX 3 \| EBX 4 Singles: Who Needs Love Like That \| Heavenly Action \| Oh L'amour \| Sometimes \| It Doesn't Have To Be \| Victim of Love \| The Circus \| Ship of Fools \| Chains of Love \| A Little Respect \| Stop! \| Drama! \| You Surround Me \| Blue Savannah \| Star \| Chorus \| Love to Hate You \| Am I Right? \| Breath of Life \| Take a Chance on Me \| Who Needs Love Like That (remix) \| Always \| Run to the Sun \| I Love Saturday \| Stay With Me \| Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) \| Rock Me Gently \| In My Arms \| Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me \| Rain \| Freedom \| Moon & the Sky \| Solsbury Hill \| Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) \| Oh L'amour (remix) \| Breathe \| Don't Say You Love Me \| Here I Go Impossible Again \| All This Time Still Falling Out of Love \| Boy \| I Could Fall in Love with You \| Sunday Girl \| When a Lover Leaves You Video/DVD: Sanctuary - the EIS Christmas Concert 2002 \| Hits! the Videos \| The Tank, the Swan and the Balloon \| Great Hits Live - Live at Great Woods \| The Erasure Show - Live in Cologne \| On the Road to Nashville

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