Could You Be Loved

"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	Reggae[2] pop[3]
Length	3:56
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Bob Marley Chris Blackwell
Bob Marley and the Wailers singles chronology
"Zimbabwe" (1979) "Could You Be Loved" (1980) "Three Little Birds" (1980)
Music video
"Could You Be Loved" on YouTube

"Could You Be Loved" is a 1980 song by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was released as the first single from their twelfth and last album, Uprising (1980), and is also included on their greatest-hits album Legend (1984). It was written in 1979 on an aeroplane while The Wailers were experimenting on guitar. 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. "Could You be Loved" 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.

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]

Music video

On 25 July 2022, the official music video of the song was released on Marley's YouTube channel.^[5]

Track listings

• 7" single

1. "Could You Be Loved" – 3:35
2. "One Drop" – 3:50

• 7" single

1. "Could You Be Loved" – 3:35
2. "No Woman, No Cry (Live '75)" – 3:57

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 95 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 3 France (IFOP)[8] 10 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 3 Italy (Musica e dischi)[10] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 2 Norway (VG-lista)[14] 10 Spain (AFYVE)[15] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[18] 5 US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[19] 6 US Hot Soul Singles (Billboard)[19] 56 West Germany (GfK)[20] 13

Year Chart Peak position 1981 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 33 1984 UK Singles (OCC)[21] 71 1985 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 16 1990 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[22] 12 1991 France (SNEP)[23] 46 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 27 2024 Global 200 (Billboard)[25] 172 Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 38 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 50 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29] 18 West Germany (Official German Charts)[30] 61

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[31]	Gold	30,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32]	Platinum	90,000^‡
Germany (BVMI)[33]	Gold	250,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)[34]	Platinum	50,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35]	6× Platinum	180,000^‡
Portugal (AFP)[36]	Platinum	10,000^‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37]	Platinum	60,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38]	2× Platinum	1,200,000^‡
^‡ 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(s)	Bob Marley
Producer(s)	Chris Lord-Alge Roger Davies Jeffery CJ Vanston
Joe Cocker singles chronology
"Into the Mystic" (1996) "Could You Be Loved" (1997) "N'oubliez jamais" (1997)

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

1. "Could You Be Loved" (Single Version) – 4:35
2. "Could You Be Loved" (Radio Edit) – 4:18
3. "The Way Her Love Is" – 2:44

Charts

Chart (1997)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[39]	39
Germany (GfK)[40]	77
Hungary (Mahasz)[41]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[42]	88
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43]	46
UK Singles (OCC)[44]	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".

References

1. "Bob Marley & the Wailers – Could You Be Loved". New Zealand-charts.com. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
2. O'Brien Chang, Kevin; Chen, Wayne (1998). Reggae Routes: The Story of Jamaican Music. Temple University Press. pp. 51–52. ISBN 978-1-5663-9629-5. ['Uprising'] saw a return to a wide and varied musical vision, from the disco oriented 'Could You Be Loved' to the hard-core reggae of 'Bad Card' and the acoustic balladry of 'Redemption Song'.
3. Pitchfork Staff (24 August 2015). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 October 2022. but it was Marley...and his bandmates who helped elevate the message beyond the conservative confines of their home island and into the realm of global pop.
4. "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
5. Peacock, Tim (15 July 2022). "Bob Marley Honored With New Animated Music Video For 'Could You Be Loved'". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
6. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Chart Positions Pre 1989 Part 3". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
7. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
8. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Bob Marley & the Wailers" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
9. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Could You Be Loved". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
10. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 7 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bob Marley".
11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
12. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
13. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
14. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved". VG-lista. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
15. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
16. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
17. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
19. "Bob Marley – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
22. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Bob Marley & the Wailers". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 161. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
23. "Bob Marley & The Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
24. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
25. "Billboard Global 200: Week of March 2, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
26. "Jaaroverzichten 1980" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
27. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1980" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
29. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1980" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
30. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1980". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015.
31. "Brazilian single certifications – Bob Marley – Could You Be Loved" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
32. "Danish single certifications – Bob Marley & the Wailers – Could You Be Loved". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
33. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bob Marley & the Wailers; 'Could You Be Loved')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
34. "Italian single certifications – Bob Marley & the Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
35. "New Zealand single certifications – Bob Marley and the Wailers – Could You Be Loved?". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
36. "Portuguese single certifications – Bob Marley & the Wailers – Could You Be Loved" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
37. "Spanish single certifications – Bob Marley / The Wailers – Could You Be Loved". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
38. "British single certifications – Bob Marley & the Wailers – Could You Be Loved". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
39. "Joe Cocker – Could You Be Loved" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
40. "Joe Cocker – Could You Be Loved" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
41. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 29. 19 July 1997. p. 14. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
42. "Joe Cocker – Could You Be Loved" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
43. "Joe Cocker – Could You Be Loved". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
44. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 May 2016.