"Only Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry recorded for her sixth studio album Smile (2020). She co-wrote the track with Sophie Cooke, and Andrew Jackson while John DeBold and Svend Lerche produced it. The lyrics of the song focus on Perry reconciling with her parents.[1][2]
| "Only Love" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Katy Perry | |
| from the album Smile | |
| Released | 2020 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:18 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Live video | |
| "Only Love" on YouTube | |
Reception
editEmily Mackay from The Guardian noted the song's "gospel-gilded 80s lustre" and commented how it lifts the energy of the album.[4] Lindsay Zoladz from The New York Times described the song as "Amy Grant-style gospel pop", called its keyboard chords "openhearted".[5] Callie Ahlgrim from Business Insider outlined that the song's "tender lyrics crystallize into something worth hearing" as "Perry navigates that chasm with grace and humility", while Courteney Larocca stated how "earnest appreciation for measuring life in love stays throughout the song".[2]
Live performances
editOn November 22, 2020, Perry performed "Only Love" for the first time live with Darius Rucker at the American Music Awards of 2020 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.[6][7] In the stripped back performance, they sang the verses back to back, with Rucker playing the guitar.[8] She had a blonde bob and dressed casually in a denim jacket and jeans for the performance.[9] Before it took place, Perry announced on Instagram sharing a childhood picture that the performance will be dedicated to her father,[10][9] and wished that the performance will "spread a message of love and unity" to her fans.[11][12] The performance was her first after giving birth the previous August.[8] NBC dubbed it "an emotional rendition" of "the heartfelt song".[9]
References
edit- ^ Lee, Emily (November 22, 2020). "Katy Perry Dedicates Emotional AMAs Performance Of 'Only Love' To Her Dad". WHTZ. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Larocca, Callie Ahlgrim, Courteney. "Katy Perry barely elicits any real emotion — let alone a grin — with her new album 'Smile'". Business Insider. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ King, Noel; Whitley-Berry, Victoria (August 27, 2020). "Katy Perry On Expanding And Reframing Herself On 'Smile'". NPR. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Mackay, Emily (August 30, 2020). "Katy Perry: Smile review – tireless trouper loses momentum". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (August 27, 2020). "On 'Smile,' Katy Perry Finds Purpose (and Pitfalls) in the Past". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Ehrlich, Brenna; Martoccio, Angie (November 23, 2020). "Katy Perry Enlists Darius Rucker for 'Only Love' at the 2020 AMAs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Katy Perry brings 'Only Love' with world-premiere performance at 2020 American Music Awards". Niagara Frontier Publications. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Mizoguchi, Karen. "Katy Perry Performs Stripped-Down Rendition of 'Only Love' with Darius Rucker at 2020 AMAs". People. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Katy Perry Sings 'Only Love' In Emotional First Performance Since Giving Birth To Daughter Daisy". Yahoo!. November 23, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Iasimone, Ashley (November 23, 2020). "Katy Perry Dedicates 'Only Love' 2020 AMAs Performance, Feat. Darius Rucker, to Her Dad". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Murphy, Desiree (November 13, 2020). "Katy Perry to Perform 'Only Love' at 2020 American Music Awards". AOL. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 13, 2020). "American Music Awards: Katy Perry to Deliver Debut Performance of "Only Love"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2024.