Sonnet (The Verve song)

"Sonnet" is a song by English rock band the Verve and is featured on their third album, Urban Hymns. It was released 2 March 1998 as the final single from the album. The song has the same instrumental layout as "The Drugs Don't Work", consisting of acoustic and electric guitars backed up with a string section which is mainly made up of violins.

"Sonnet"
Single by The Verve
from the album Urban Hymns
Released2 March 1998
Recorded1996
StudioOlympics Studios, London
GenreBritpop
Length4:21
LabelHut
Songwriter(s)Richard Ashcroft
Producer(s)Youth, The Verve
The Verve singles chronology
"Lucky Man"
(1997)		 "Sonnet"
(1998)		 "Love Is Noise"
(2008)

At the start of 1998, Hut wanted to release another single from the album, an idea which the band disagreed with. Unusually, Hut pressed them on this matter, and so the band finally agreed to release "Sonnet", but only in a format that would make it ineligible for chart recognition. Consequently, "Sonnet" was released as part of a set of four 12-inch records (backed by "Stamped", "So Sister" and "Echo Bass").

The release of "Sonnet" was limited to just 5,000 copies, despite the huge radio coverage it received, and the official chart refused to recognize it as a single because of the extra content, as planned. The pack was released in a cardboard mailer, and the preceding three singles from the album, all re-released on the same day, fitted into the mailer. However, sales of an imported format resulted in it charting in the United Kingdom at number 74. In New Zealand, "Sonnet" reached number 43 on the RIANZ Singles Chart in June 1998, while in Australia, it peaked at number 83 on the ARIA Singles Chart in January 1999. It became a major hit in Iceland, debuting at number 15 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 and peaking at number four six weeks later.

Music video

The music video is set in a large car park. An "Exit" sign written in Russian can be seen in the background. The rest of the video consists of repeated close-ups of singer Richard Ashcroft sitting in a chair, with different backgrounds each time.

Track listings

CD/12" (HUTCD 100/HUTTX 100)

  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21
  2. "Stamped" – 5:32
  3. "So Sister" – 4:11
  4. "Echo Bass" – 6:38

Cassette (HUTC 100)

  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21
  2. "Echo Bass" – 6:38
  3. "So Sister" – 4:11

Promo CD (HUTCDP 100)

  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21

US version

In 1998, "Sonnet" was released in America. The single was distributed by Virgin Records.

Promo CD (DPRO-13196)

  1. "Sonnet" (LP edit) – 3:43
  2. "Sonnet" (LP version) – 4:22
  3. "Sonnet" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10

Japanese version

CD (VJCP-12096)

  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21
  2. "Stamped" – 5:32
  3. "So Sister" – 4:11
  4. "Echo Bass" – 6:38

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] Silver 200,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

"Sonnet" appeared on the MTV animated series Daria in the first episode of the third season, when she starts thinking about using contact lenses.

References
  1. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart - Week Commencing 25 Jan 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  2. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.4. – 9.4. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 3 April 1998. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  3. "Charts.nz – The Verve – Sonnet". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. "Notowanie nr850" (in Polish). LP3. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  8. "British single certifications – Verve – Sonnet". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 November 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Sonnet in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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