Keane drops previously unreleased single “Love Actually”
In celebration of the 20th Anniversary festivities for their acclaimed debut album, "Hopes and Fears," Keane has unveiled a special, previously unreleased single titled "Love Actually," timed to coincide with the re-release of the iconic British film.
Originally composed for the 2003 Christmas romantic comedy Love Actually, the band has now recorded a version two decades after its inception. Produced by the band and featuring Tom Chaplin's unmistakable vocals, this beautifully poignant single is complemented by a captivating lyric video that incorporates some of the film's memorable scenes.
Reflecting on the genesis of the song, Tim Rice-Oxley shared, “In 2002, we were an unsigned band, and our friend and manager Adam was working for the producer of Love Actually. While they were making the film, Adam suggested we should quickly write a song, and he’d see if he could get it into Richard Curtis’ hands... and maybe we could sneak onto the soundtrack and get our big break! Needless to say, it didn’t turn out that way, but Richard always very graciously said he loved the song and wished he’d put it in the film. We all loved the song too, but having called it ‘Love Actually,’ it was very hard to do anything with it! In fact, for 20 years whenever I’ve played a new demo to my mum, her response has usually been ‘Hmm… when are you going to record ‘Love Actually’?’ Well, the film Love Actually is 20 years old now, which at last gives us a perfect reason to record our song properly.”
"Everyone makes mistakes, even if they're understandable ones. When I first heard 'Love Actually' by this completely unknown band called Keane, I found it beautiful. I made a sincere effort to include it in the film, but ultimately, it felt a bit melancholic and, dare I say, a bit too profound for the movie I had created," expressed the film's writer and director, Richard Curtis. "Of course, I realized what a regrettable mistake that was when, six months later, 'Hopes and Fears' topped the charts. It's truly wonderful that the song is now being released for everyone to hear. I've listened to it extensively over the years and love it even more now than I did back then. This time, my son Spike and I have created a little edit of the entire film to accompany the song. I think I actually prefer that three-minute version of 'Love Actually' to the long, chaotic film that's been circulating for 20 years."
In tandem with the single, STUDIOCANAL and UNIVERSAL PICTURES are commemorating the 20th anniversary of Working Title's cherished holiday classic with a stunning new 4K restoration of the film, set to be theatrically released in select global markets and on home entertainment.
Keane is preparing to unveil a meticulously remastered edition of "Hopes and Fears," unquestionably one of the finest debut albums, on May 10, 2024, exactly two decades after its original launch. Simultaneously, the band is scheduled to take the stage at London's O2 Arena on the same day, marking the commencement of a global tour that kicks off in Mexico City on April 1st before spanning across Europe and the UK. Their US tour in September boasts prestigious venues including LA's Greek Theatre, Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, and New York City's Radio City Music Hall.
"Hopes and Fears" marked a pivotal moment for Keane, breaking records and achieving remarkable milestones. It stands as one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history, with over 2.5 million copies sold in the UK within its first year and a million in the USA, propelled by their timeless song "Somewhere Only We Know." Achieving 9x platinum status in the UK, the album has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
You can find more information on the tour, including dates and tickets, here.