When a Questioning Heart Finds Its Voice
The doubt and uncertainty that plague even the strongest relationships, asking if the powerful emotions felt are truly love or something else entirely, are the very essence of Alison Moyet‘s timeless track, “Is This Love?” Released in late 1986, this song arrived on the scene with the force of a powerful ballad and the pulse of a synth-pop anthem, leaving an indelible mark on the charts and the hearts of listeners. It peaked at a respectable No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the lead single from her second solo album, Raindancing, which itself reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart in 1987. While its success was largely confined to Europe—it topped the European Hot 100 Singles chart and was a hit in countries like Norway and Portugal—it failed to make a mark in the U.S. market, a detail that feels almost unbelievable when you consider its enduring legacy.
The story behind the song is one of serendipity and a meeting of creative titans. After her monumental success with Yazoo and her debut solo album, Alf, Moyet was at a crossroads. She felt disconnected and was in a lonely place, having moved to Los Angeles to work on her second album. It was there, while working with producer Jimmy Iovine, that she had a chance encounter with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. Iovine, a mutual friend, saw an opportunity and suggested they write a song together. This was a new, and for Moyet, uncomfortable way of working. She’d never co-written a song in this impromptu manner before, but she was put at ease by Stewart’s warm, eccentric energy. He came up with a chord progression and a melody idea, and Moyet took it from there. The lyrics she wrote that night were a reflection of her inner turmoil and loneliness, but infused with the energy and optimistic feel of Stewart’s musical foundation.
What makes “Is This Love?” so resonant is this blend of personal vulnerability and universal questioning. The lyrics don’t tell a simple love story. They delve into the emotional gray areas, the introspective struggle of trying to define what a relationship is. Moyet‘s soulful, bluesy voice—a powerful instrument that can convey both immense strength and aching fragility—adds a profound depth to the electronic, synth-driven backdrop. It’s a juxtaposition of the mechanical and the deeply human, creating a sound that was both very much of its time and yet feels timeless. It’s a song for anyone who has ever stood at a precipice in their heart, looking at a relationship and wondering if the feeling they have is the real thing or just a fleeting infatuation. It’s a song of doubt, but it’s not a song of despair. Instead, it’s a testament to the raw, honest, and sometimes messy process of trying to understand our own hearts. It’s a song that captures a moment in time, both for the artist who created it and for all of us who have lived with its melody as the soundtrack to our own romantic uncertainties. It’s a song that makes you want to close your eyes and just feel.