Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love
About the song
If you love pop ballads, chances are you have heard of **How Deep Is Your Love** by the Bee Gees. This song, released in 1977 as a single and as part of the soundtrack for the movie Saturday Night Fever, is one of the most iconic and enduring hits of the disco era. But do you know the story behind this song? How did it come to be? Who wrote it and who sang it? In this blog post, we will explore the history and meaning of How Deep Is Your Love, and why it still resonates with listeners today.
How Deep Is Your Love was written by the three Gibb brothers: Barry, Robin and Maurice. They were already successful singers and songwriters, having released several albums and hits since the 1960s. In 1977, they were asked by their producer Robert Stigwood to write songs for a movie he was making, based on a magazine article about the New York disco scene. The movie was called Saturday Night Fever, and it starred a young John Travolta as a working-class dancer.
The Bee Gees wrote five songs for the movie, including Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever and How Deep Is Your Love. The latter was originally intended for another singer, Yvonne Elliman, who had worked with them before. However, Stigwood insisted that the Bee Gees should sing it themselves, as he thought it was too good to give away. The Bee Gees agreed, and recorded the song in France, at a studio known as the “Honky Chateau”, where artists like Elton John and David Bowie had also recorded.
The song was composed mainly by Barry Gibb, who worked out the melody with keyboard player Blue Weaver. According to Weaver, Barry was inspired by a beam of sunlight shining through a stained-glass window in the studio. He came up with the opening line: “I know your eyes in the morning sun”. Robin Gibb later joined them, and they finished writing the lyrics together. The song is a pop ballad that asks a lover how deep their love is, and expresses devotion and belonging in a world of fools.
The song was released in September 1977, two months before the movie came out. It was an instant hit, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on Christmas week, and staying there for three weeks. It also topped the US adult contemporary chart for six weeks, and reached number three in the UK and Australia. It was nominated for several awards, including an Oscar for Best Original Song, which it lost to You Light Up My Life. It won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
The song was also praised by critics and fans alike for its beautiful melody, harmonies and lyrics. It was ranked number 375 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and number 27 on Billboard’s All Time Top 100. It was voted The Nation’s Favourite Bee Gees Song by ITV viewers in 2011. Barry Gibb said that this was his favourite Bee Gees song as well.
The song has been covered by many artists over the years, such as Take That, Luther Vandross, Michael Bublé and Ariana Grande. It has also been featured in many movies and TV shows, such as Bridget Jones’s Diary, Sex and the City and Glee. It remains one of the most popular and beloved songs of all time.
How Deep Is Your Love is more than just a song. It is a timeless expression of love and emotion that transcends genres and generations. It is a song that invites us to reflect on our own feelings and relationships, and to appreciate the depth and beauty of love.
