Could You Be Loved
1980 single by Bob Marley and the Wailers
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"Could You Be Loved" is a song by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was released in 1980 as the first single from their twelfth and last album, Uprising and is also included on their greatest-hits album Legend (1984). The song was very successful on the charts in Europe, peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Additionally, it was a top 20 hit in Sweden and West Germany.
| "Could You Be Loved" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Bob Marley and the Wailers | ||||
| from the album Uprising | ||||
| B-side | "One Drop" | |||
| Released | 16 May 1980[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Songwriter | Bob Marley | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Bob Marley and the Wailers singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Could You Be Loved" on YouTube | ||||
Composition
Written in 1979 on an aeroplane while The Wailers were experimenting on guitar, "Could You Be Loved" has been described as a reggae and disco fusion.[3] In the middle of the song, background singers quote a verse from Bob Marley's first single "Judge Not": "The road of life is rocky; And you may stumble too. So while you point your fingers, someone else is judging you". Instruments used on the original record of this song are guitars, bass, drums, acoustic piano, the Hohner Clavinet and an organ, as well as the Brazilian cuíca.
Impact and legacy
American magazine Rolling Stone included "Could You Be Loved" at number 363 in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021.[4]
In 2025, King Charles III partnered with Apple Music to launch a radio show called The King's Music Room to mark Commonwealth Day with a selection of songs that "bring him joy" and "reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth". Could You Be Loved was the first track featured in the program. Additionally, a version of the song performed by the King's Guard band was used in the shows introduction and preceding promotional materials.[5]
Music video
On 25 July 2022, the official music video of the song was released on Marley's YouTube channel.[6]
Track listings
- 7" single
- "Could You Be Loved" – 3:35
- "One Drop" – 3:50
- 7" single
- "Could You Be Loved" – 3:35
- "No Woman, No Cry (Live '75)" – 3:57
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[33] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[34] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI)[35] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI)[36] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[37] | 8× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
| Portugal (AFP)[38] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
| Spain (Promusicae)[39] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Sales since 2005 |
3× Platinum | 1,800,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Joe Cocker version
| "Could You Be Loved" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Joe Cocker | ||||
| from the album Across from Midnight | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | CMC International | |||
| Songwriter | Bob Marley | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Joe Cocker singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
British singer Joe Cocker covered "Could You Be Loved" on his 1997 album Across from Midnight. The single peaked at number one in Hungary.
Track listings
- CD single
- "Could You Be Loved" (Single Version) – 4:35
- "Could You Be Loved" (Radio Edit) – 4:18
- "The Way Her Love Is" – 2:44
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[41] | 39 |
| Germany (GfK)[42] | 77 |
| Hungary (Mahasz)[43] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[44] | 88 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] | 46 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[46] | 86 |
Cover versions
Marley's four eldest children Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers have performed the song numerous times during their tours. Their performance versions appear on the concert DVDs "Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers Live", "Marley Magic: Live in Central Park at Summerstage", "One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute", and their live album "Live Vol. 1".