This article is about the song by Cher. For other uses, see Love and Understanding (disambiguation).
Love and Understanding
single
CoverCherlau.jpg
ArtistCher
AlbumLove Hurts
B-sideTrail of Broken Hearts
ReleasedMay 21, 1991
Studio
  • A&M (Hollywood, California)
  • Music Grinder (Los Angeles, California)
  • The Complex (Los Angeles, California)
GenrePop
Length
  • 4:43 (album version)
  • 4:08 (7-inch edit)
LabelGeffen
WriterDiane Warren
ProducerDiane Warren · Guy Roche
Prev year1990
Next year1991

"Love and Understanding" is a song by American singer and actress Cher from her 20th studio album, Love Hurts (1991). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Warren and Guy Roche, it was released as the album's lead single in May 1991 by Geffen Records for the North American and Oceanian markets. B-side "Trail of Broken Hearts" appears on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder and is not available on any Cher album.

Critical reception

AllMusic's Joseph McCombs highlighted the song and called it "pleasantly melodic."[1] Larry Flick from Billboard magazine described it as "a spirited pop tune that's framed with orchestral synth/strings and a hand-clapping rock beat. Simplistic lyrical message is delivered with warmth and sincerity. Sounds great on a summer day."[2] Entertainment Weekly editor Jim Farber said it is "socially conscious in a way only Hollywood could conceive, tailor-made for one of those publicity-seeking charity functions."[3]

Music video

The single's music video showed Cher and her backing band rehearsing the song, with interlocking scenes of her in an orange colored wig and her dancers dancing around her.

Personnel

  • Cher: Vocals
  • Jean McClain, Myriam Valle, Laura Creamer, Diane Warren: Backing vocals
  • Michael Landau, Josh Sklair: Guitars
  • Guy Roche: Keyboards, synthesizers
  • Mark T. Williams: Drums

Production

  • Produced by Diane Warren and Guy Roche
  • Recorded by David Thoener and Frank Wolf at A&M Recording Studios, The Music Grinder and The Complex
  • Assistant engineers: Mario Luccy, Ken Allardyce, Julie Last, Jeff DeMorris, Fred Kelly
  • Mixed by David Thoener

Track listings

  • US 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "Love and Understanding" – 4:43
  2. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30
  • US and European 12-inch single
  1. "Love and Understanding" (12-inch dance mix) – 5:25
  2. "Love and Understanding" (Stringappella mix) – 4:20
  3. "Love and Understanding" (Dub and Understanding mix) – 5:35
  4. "Love and Understanding" (House of Love mix) – 5:45
  5. "Love and Understanding" (Cher Some Love dub) – 4:10
  6. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30
  • European 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "Love and Understanding" (edit) – 4:08
  2. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30
  • European CD single
  1. "Love and Understanding" (edit) – 4:08
  2. "Trail of Broken Hearts" – 4:30
  3. "If I Could Turn Back Time" – 4:16

Charts

Weekly charts

1991–1992 weekly chart performance for "Love and Understanding"
Chart (1991–1992)Peak
position
Canada (The Record)[4]16
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[5]18
Europe (European Hit Radio)[6]2
Germany (Official German Charts)[7]20
Israel (IBA)[8]1
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)[9]7
Quebec (ADISQ)[10]11
Spain Top 40 Radio (Promusicae)[11]37
UK Airplay (Music Week)[12]1
US Cash Box Top 100[13]12

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Love and Understanding"
Chart (1991)Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14]94
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15]93
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16]36
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[17]100
Europe (European Hit Radio)[18]6
Germany (Media Control)[19]82
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20]86
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[21]32

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesMay 21, 19917-inch vinyl · 12-inch vinyl · cassetteGeffen[citation needed]
AustraliaJuly 1, 1991CD · cassette[22]
United Kingdom7-inch vinyl · CD · cassette[23]
JapanJuly 21, 1991Mini-CD[24]
AustraliaAugust 26, 19917-inch vinyl[25]
September 2, 199112-inch vinyl[26]

References

  1. ^ Review by AllMusic October 15, 2013
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (June 15, 1991). "Single Reviews". Billboard. p. 65. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Review by Entertainment Weekly Retrieved October 15, 2013
  4. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "European Hit Radio". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 36. September 7, 1991. p. 31. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  7. ^ "Cher - Top Titel" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  8. ^ "המקומות הראשונים של שנות ה -90 - Every Israeli number-one song of the 90s" (in Hebrew). Reshet Gimmel. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  9. ^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. August 4, 1991.
  10. ^ "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec" (in French). BAnQ. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  11. ^ Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st ed. Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  12. ^ "Playlist Chart". Music Week. August 17, 1991. p. 14. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  13. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 30, 1989
  14. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  15. ^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved October 28, 2015. – via Library and Archives Canada.
  16. ^ "RPM 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1991". RPM. Retrieved October 28, 2015. – via Library and Archives Canada.
  17. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles 1991". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "European hit Radio 1991". Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  20. ^ "Single Top 100 Van 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  21. ^ "The Year in Music 1991: Top Adult Contemporary Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-36. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  22. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 1/07/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 75. June 30, 1991. p. 20.
  23. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. June 29, 1991. p. 21.
  24. ^ "ラブ・アンド・アンダースタンディング | シェール" [Love and Understanding | Cher] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  25. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 26/08/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 83. August 25, 1991. p. 19.
  26. ^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 02/09/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 84. September 1, 1991. p. 19.