"All for Love" is a song written by Bryan Adams, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, and Michael Kamen for the soundtrack The Three Musketeers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. It is performed by Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting. The power ballad was released as a CD single in the United States on November 16, 1993, by A&M and Hollywood Records. It was a worldwide hit, reaching number one across Europe, Australia, and North America.
Adams also did a live version in 1994 featuring Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Nancy Gustafson, and Giorgia Todrani. Michael Kamen, who co-wrote the song with Adams and Lange, conducted the orchestra. In 2007, the Swedish band E.M.D. released a cover of the song, peaking at number one in their native country. Adams would also record a French-language remake with Garou and Roch Voisine, entitled "Tous ensemble", for the Quebecois film Il était une fois Les Boys.
Background and writing The title was inspired by The Three Musketeers' motto: "All for one, and one for all".
Critical reception Alan Jones from Music Week gave "All for Love" a top score of five out of five, writing, "With the minimum of formalities Bryan, Rod and Sting launch into their three-way rendition of this powerful ballad from the movie The Three Musketeers. Their vocals blend well, and though the song itself is a trifle predictable, their combined fan base should be strong enough to send this hurtling into the Top Five in next to no time." Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Adams is always there when there's a film about history's great swashbucklers. For this power ballad he's accompanied by two champion knights, but we all know the "real" three musketeers were a foursome. Who'll join them? Robert Plant?" Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave the song four out of five, stating that it has "drama and powerful choruses on top. And it's got one of those searing guitar solos in the middle. [...] Genius! Love or hate it, you can't deny the professionalism that will probably make this number 1."
Chart performance In the United States, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 22, 1994. It remained atop the charts for three weeks before it was knocked out of the top spot by "The Power of Love" by Celine Dion.The Billboard Book of Number One hits (fifth edition) It sold 1.2 million copies domestically and earned a platinum certification from the RIAA. In Canada, the song reached number one on the RPM Singles chart on January 17, 1994, replacing Adams's solo hit "Please Forgive Me", which had been number one for six weeks. With "All for Love" remaining at number one for five weeks, Adams was in the number one position for 11 straight weeks on the Canadian chart. In the United Kingdom, it reached number two on the UK singles chart.
Track listings CD single: A&M Records / 580 477-2 Europe "All for Love" (by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting) – 4:48 "Straight from the Heart" (live; by Bryan Adams) – 3:34 "If Only" (by Rod Stewart) – 4:59 "Love Is Stronger Than Justice (The Munificent Seven)" (live; by Sting) – 4:02 1 CD single: A&M Records / 580 476-2 Europe "All for Love" (LP version) – 4:36 "All for Love" (instrumental) – 4:36 2
Personnel Bryan Adams – lead vocals, guitar Rod Stewart – lead vocals Sting – lead vocals, bass Dominic Miller – guitar Keith Scott – lead guitar Bill Payne – piano Ed Shearmur – keyboards Mickey Curry – drums
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1993–1994)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record) 6Denmark (IFPI) 1Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 1Europe (European AC Radio) 1Europe (European Hit Radio) 1Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 1Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 5Israel (IBA) Search "All for Love" for Israeli chart history.14Italy (Musica e dischi) 1Spain (AFYVE) 17UK Airplay (Music Week) 4US Cash Box Top 100 1Zimbabwe (ZIMA)* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000 1
Year-end charts Chart (1994)PositionAustralia (ARIA) 10Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 3Belgium (Ultratop) 18Brazil (Mais Tocadas) 16Canada Top Singles (RPM) 1Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM) 11Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 4Europe (European Hit Radio) 6Germany (Media Control) 9Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) 21Italy (Musica e dischi) 9Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 22Netherlands (Single Top 100) 29New Zealand (RIANZ) 42Sweden (Topplistan) 2Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 7UK Singles (OCC) 37UK Airplay (Music Week) 27US Billboard Hot 100 8US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 17US Cash Box Top 100 22
Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999)PositionUS Billboard Hot 100 69
Certifications
E.M.D. version
On December 17, 2007, Swedish musical trio E.M.D. released a cover of "All for Love" as their debut single. Debuting at number two on the official Swedish Singles Chart, it ascended to number one the week after and stayed there for six consecutive weeks. The single stayed on the chart for 17 weeks and was certified triple platinum in Sweden.
Charts Weekly charts Chart (2007–2008)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2007)PositionSweden (Sverigetopplistan) 5
Chart (2008)PositionSweden (Sverigetopplistan) 10
References