Cover Story: “I’m Not in Love” — Who Did it Best?
10cc’s 1975 hit “I’m Not in Love” has been covered by many artists of many styles over many decades. Here's a look at who did it best.
Written by Aidan Comiskey
Image courtesy of Mercury Records
When 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love” first debuted, it seemed like a flop. The song, a response to singer-songwriter Eric Stewart’s wife telling him that he didn’t tell her he loved her enough, was nearly tabled during production due to initial dissatisfaction with its style. But after a lengthy reworking that involved recording the group’s members singing individual notes 48 times to be played as a choir on the synth, the members of 10cc were ready to release their work. Clocking in at over six minutes, the song had no chance of radio play. But as the single began to move its way up the charts, stations couldn’t resist, catapulting the English group’s song to its global top ten position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Since then, the song has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, from “Indecent Proposal” to “Pose,” and has been covered over 60 times — but who did it best? I’ve listened to every version so you don’t have to. Here are the seven best.
7. Granddaddy
The wavering synth and almost psychedelic lilt that have come to characterize indie rock band Grandaddy’s cover of “I’m Not in Love” coupled with intimate vocals create an atmosphere that is somehow both inviting and alienating, mirroring the push-and-pull of the song’s lyrics. What results is a product that remains true to the sentiment of the original despite being remade in the drastically different style of its artist.
6. Queen Latifah
The stylistically diverse Queen Latifah returns to more traditional R&B with her rendition of “I’m Not in Love” released on her sixth studio album, Trav’lin’ Light. While other versions tend to be more reserved like the original, Latifah defies expectations, producing a powerful, emotional performance of the 10cc original.
5. Juice
Juice’s version of “I’m Not in Love” is certainly a product of its time. The ‘90s R&B group’s cover of the song is reminiscent of other R&B girl groups of the era, with its flashy style and strong, polished vocal lines.
4. Dee Dee Sharp
Soul powerhouse Dee Dee Sharp’s cover of “I’m Not in Love” doesn’t disappoint with its soul-inspired reimagination of 10cc’s version. Sharp’s sheer vocal strength allows her to convey a sense of bittersweetness that reflects the lyrics of the song, all the while allowing her to put her own mark on it, creating a work of art that certainly stands alone.
3. Karen Souza
Argentinian Jazz singer Karen Souza’s cover of “I’m Not in Love” hearkens back to singer-songwriter Eric Stewart’s preliminary version of the song, as it transitions to a Bossa Nova style after its sparse opening. It captures the songwriter’s initial intentions to create a dream-like, breezy version of the hit.
2. 10cc
It (usually) doesn’t get much better than the original. Stewart’s emotion-driven lines are hard to ignore, owing it to his personal connection to the song, as they float over the oh-so-’70s synth background. It’s through this combination that 10cc’s original track manages to stir up a sense of nostalgia that melds with the lyrics to create an (almost) unsurpassed version.
1. Kelsey Lu
Lu’s version, the only version to beat out the original, certainly remains true to 10cc’s version with its haunting, layered vocals. Yet Lu’s vocal style seems to perfectly capture the sweet melancholy of the lyrics, her voice a smooth monolithic force driving the song over the heartbeat-like background, in a way that the 10cc version couldn’t. The airy yet powerful ambience that she creates, present throughout her debut album, Blood, seems to be the perfect vessel for Stewart’s work.
This article was added to Cover Story after its publication, upon the creation of the Cover Story series.