The Darkness reflect on recording their classic ballad Love Is Only A Feeling

By
( )
published

Speaking with Classic Rock earlier this year, The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins looked back at how they created a “power ballad for the age” on their Permission To Land album

The Darkness in 2003
The Darkness with former drummer Ed Graham in 2003 (Image credit: Annamaria DiSanto/WireImage - Getty)

In the summer of 2003, The Darkness took an unsuspecting world by storm by releasing their debut album Permission To Land.

It was a huge chart success around the world and led to the UK outfit being showered with Brit awards the following year and, it was responsible for a bunch of singles, including the power ballad Love Is Only A Feeling.

Speaking with Classic Rock magazine issue 261 earlier this year, The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins spoke about how the band created the track which peaked at no.5 in the UK singles chart.

Hawkins said: “I really wanted to do a power ballad. I think when you’re making an album, there should be one at the end of the first half and another at the end of the second half. That’s how Aerosmith albums used to be.” 

He added: “It’s a song about the nature of how love works. It’s about how wonderful love makes you feel, but also to have a word with yourself about the reality of it. Love’s brilliant, but watch out: Words to live by."

“In the early noughties, it wasn’t cool to be talking about love in a brazen way in music. A lot of people would allude to love in their lyrics, or have it be a metaphor for sex, but weren’t dealing with it head-on.

“We wanted to do it more from the heart, as opposed to the other organ!”

The Darkness released their new album Easter Is Cancelled earlier this year and will head out on the road in the coming weeks across Europe.

The Darkness: Permission To Land Vinyl

The Darkness: Permission To Land Vinyl
The Darkness launched their debut album all the way back in 2003 and it features a raft of brilliant tracks including Growing On Me, Love Is Only A Feeling and Givin' Up. Grab it on vinyl from Amazon.

View Deal
The Darkness: Easter Is Cancelled

The Darkness: Easter Is Cancelled
The Darkness have just released their sixth studio album Easter Is Cancelled. The follow-up to 2017's Pinewood Smile features the lead single Rock And Roll Deserves To Die.

View Deal

The Darkness 2020 tour dates
Jan 25: Strasbourg Laiterie, France
Jan 26: Paris La Cigale, France
Jan 27: Bordeaux Krakatoa, France
Feb 03: Lyon Ninkasi KAO, France
Feb 04: Zurich XTRA, Switzerland
Feb 08: Munich Technikum, Germany
Feb 10: Vienna Simm City, Austria
Feb 11: Nuremburg Hirsch, Germany 
Feb 12: Berlin Kesselhaus, Germany
Feb 14: Copenhagen Amager Bio, Denmark
Feb 15: Stockholm Nalen, Sweden
Feb 17: Oslo Rockefeller, Norway
Feb 18: Gothenburg Pustervik, Sweden
Feb 20: Hamburg Markthalle, Germany
Feb 21: Cologne Essigfabrik, Germany
Feb 22: Sint Niklas De Casino, Belgium
Feb 24: Amsterdam Melkweg Max, Amsterdam
Feb 25: Frankfurt Batschkapp, Germany

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.