Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)

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"Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)"
Single by Sophie B. Hawkins
from the album Whaler
B-side"Did We Not Choose Each Other"
Released1996
GenrePop
Length4:06 (single version)
5:05 (album version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Sophie B. Hawkins
Producer(s)Stephen Lipson
Sophie B. Hawkins singles chronology
"Did We Not Choose Each Other"
(1995)
"Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)"
(1996)
"Lose Your Way"
(1999)

"Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)" is a song by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins, which was released in 1996 as the fifth and final single from her second studio album Whaler (1994). The song was written by Hawkins and produced by Stephen Lipson. "Only Love" peaked at No. 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song's music video was directed by Bonnie Hoffenberg.

Background[edit]

For its release as a single, "Only Love" was remixed, much to the disapproval of Hawkins. She told Steve Morse of The Boston Globe in 1996, "I said, 'You've taken all the soul out of the song.' It makes me want to get in there and say, 'What is the matter with you?' People say I shouldn't talk about this, but I'd rather be truthful. The artist is the one who changes the world, not the industry."[2]

Critical reception[edit]

On its release as a single, Larry Flick of Billboard described "Only Love" as a "charming sing-along ditty". He felt the chorus is "rife with earnest references to the residual effects of sharing love" which Hawkins "delivers with sweet sincerity".[3]

Track listing[edit]

CD and cassette single (US release)
  1. "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty)" (Radio Edit) - 4:06
  2. "Did We Not Choose Each Other" - 4:25
CD single (US promo)
  1. "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty)" (Radio Edit) - 4:06
  2. "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty)" (Acoustic Version) - 4:44
CD single (Australian release)
  1. "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty)" (Radio Edit) - 4:06
  2. "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty)" (LP Version) - 5:05
  3. "Only Love (The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty)" (Acoustic Version) - 4:44
  4. "Did We Not Choose Each Other" - 4:25

Personnel[edit]

Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)

Production

Charts[edit]

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australia ARIA Charts[4] 114
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 7
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[6] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 49
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8] 22
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[9] 19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[10] 22
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[11] 37

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins - Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  2. ^ Morse, Steve (May 3, 1996). "Sophie B. Hawkins does what it takes". The Boston Globe. p. 56.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (February 10, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard. p. 68.
  4. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins ARIA chart history, supplied by ARIA on May 28, 2020". ARIA. Retrieved August 31, 2020 – via Imgur.com.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1916." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  6. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1917." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  7. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  10. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  11. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2020.