Love Can Heal

2023 single by Peter Gabriel
"Love Can Heal"
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album I/O
Released
  • 31 August 2023 (bright-side mix)
  • 15 September (dark-side and in-side mixes)
Studio
  • Real World (Wiltshire)
  • The Beehive (London)
VenueRexall Place (Edmonton)
Length5:59
Label
  • Real World
  • EMI (UK/Japan)
  • Republic (US/Canada)
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Olive Tree"
(2023) 		"Love Can Heal"
(2023) 		"This Is Home"
(2023)

"Love Can Heal" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released on 31 August 2023 as the ninth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. Due to August having a blue moon, this was the second of two tracks to be released in August alongside "Olive Tree". According to Gabriel, the track is a "dreamy, experiential piece with some abstract imagery" and "a carpet of sound, a tapestry where things are woven together, but not necessarily supposed to stick out, but just form part of a whole".[1][2]

A music video by Aardman Animations and Micallef was also released alongside the track.[3]

Background

The song was debuted live back in 2016 during the Rock, Paper, Scissors tour in North America. Gabriel wrote the song as a tribute to Jo Cox who was murdered that same year.[1][3] In a press release, Gabriel explained that he included the track on the album because he believed it fit with the themes on the album, elaborated by stating "in the sense that i/o is about feeling and being connected to everything, and in a way, the next evolution of being connected to things is a feeling of love for everything."[4][5]

The cover was designed by artist Antony Micallef with his work "a small painting of what I think love looks".[1] About the track and artwork, Micallef said,

"With 'Love Can Heal' I could see my images coming up when I was hearing it. [...] I love artists who take risks and Peter's always chopped and changed and I like to do that too with my work and you know it doesn't just rest on this one thing."[4][6]

Personnel

  • Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, backing vocals, synths, piano, hairy drum
  • David Rhodes – guitars, backing vocals
  • Tony Levin – bass
  • Ged Lynch – percussion
  • Melanie Gabriel – backing vocals
  • Ríoghnach Connolly – backing vocals
  • Jennie Abrahamson – backing vocals
  • Linnea Olsson – solo cello, backing vocals
  • Angie Pollock – synths
  • Katie May – guitar effects

References

  1. ^ a b c "Love Can Heal released". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  2. ^ "Peter Gabriel drops his new single "Love Can Heal"". Classic Rock 106.9. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  3. ^ a b "Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Love Can Heal": Listen". Stereogum. 2023-08-30. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  4. ^ a b Rapp, Allison (2023-08-31). "Hear Peter Gabriel's Newest Song, 'Love Can Heal'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. ^ "Peter Gabriel shares new song 'Love Can Heal'". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  6. ^ Redfern, Mark. "Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Love Can Heal"". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
  • Peter Gabriel (Car)
  • Peter Gabriel (Scratch)
  • Peter Gabriel (Melt)
  • Peter Gabriel (Security)
  • So
  • Us
  • Up
  • Scratch My Back
  • New Blood
  • I/O
Live albums
Songs
Soundtracks
  • Birdy
  • Passion
  • OVO
  • Long Walk Home
Compilations
  • Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats
  • Revisited
  • Hit
  • Rated PG
  • Flotsam and Jetsam
Concert toursFilms
  • Secret World Live
  • Growing Up: Live
  • Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped
Video games
  • Xplora1: Peter Gabriel's Secret World
  • Eve
  • Myst IV: Revelation
Other