"House of Love" is a song by British
boy bandEast 17, released in August 1992 as their debut single from their first studio album, Walthamstow (1993). The song became a number-one hit in Finland, Israel, and Sweden and was a top-40 hit in several other countries between 1992 and 1994. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number 10. Two different music videos were produced to promote the single.
Background
Initially conceived by former
Pet Shop Boys manager Tom Watkins as a tougher version of
Take That, East 17 decided that their first single—like
Take That's debut—should be an upbeat dance number that would sell to both teenagers and to clubs. Inspired by current dance groups like
The KLF and
Snap!,
Tony Mortimer wrote "House of Love" as a mock 'rave' anthem, complete with a 'harmony' rap performed by
Brian Harvey. Mortimer rapped the main verses with the entire band singing the chorus. The Pedigree Mix of the song, complete with an explosion and then a dog barking at the beginning and the end, was released as the single, complete with a low-budget video.
Adam Sweeting from The Guardian remarked that the band "take aim at the dance floor" on the song.[5] David Bennun from Melody Maker wrote, "...and East 17, a posse of hippety-hoppety wee whippersnappers, lamenting the decline of Mother Earth in the most simplistically eco-conscious manner imaginable."[6] Neil Spencer from The Observer said the song "prove the more inane offerings from a mix of junior
hip-hop and melodic pop".[7] Carl Fysh from Seventeen declared it as an "hard-hitting house anthem".[2] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it four out of five, commenting, "Looking a bit like a cross between
Take That and
Flowered Up in their trendy
Essextechno gear, E17 [sic] come up with this well catchy tune with background barking supplied by their dog".[8]Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 75 in their list of "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" in 2020.[9]
Music video
There were made two different music videos for the song: a European and an American version. The latter was directed by Scott Kennedy.[10]
^House of Love (UK cassette single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. LONCS 325, 869 851-4.{{
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^House of Love (UK 7-inch single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. LON 325, 869 850-7.{{
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^House of Love (French CD single disc notes). East 17. London Records. 1992. 869 850-2.{{
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^House of Love (Japanese mini-CD single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. PODD-1027.{{
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^House of Love (UK 12-inch single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1992. LONX 325, 869 851-1.{{
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^House of Love (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). East 17. London Records. 1992. 869 903-1.{{
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^House of Love (US cassette single sleeve). East 17. London Records. 1994. 857 420-4.{{
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^House of Love (Australian CD single liner notes). East 17. London Records,
Polydor Records. 1992. 869 902-2.{{
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^House of Love (Australian cassette single sleeve). East 17. London Records, Polydor Records. 1992. 869 902-4.{{
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