“Love Is All Around” is a romantic and enduring ballad performed by Scottish band Wet Wet Wet, released in May 1994. The song is a cover of a track originally written and performed by The Troggs in 1967. Wet Wet Wet’s version became synonymous with the 1994 romantic comedy film Four Weddings and a Funeral, the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to star Hugh Grant. Its heartfelt delivery and universal message of love helped it become one of the most iconic songs of the 1990s.
The lyrics of “Love Is All Around” celebrate the omnipresence of love and its transformative power. Musically, Wet Wet Wet’s version of the song reimagines The Troggs’ original as a lush and polished pop ballad. It features gentle acoustic guitars, sweeping string arrangements, and a soulful vocal performance by lead singer Marti Pellow, whose warm and emotive delivery adds depth to the song.
The song became a massive commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for an astonishing 15 weeks, one of the longest runs at the top in UK chart history. It also performed well internationally, topping charts in several countries, including Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, and achieving significant success in the United States.
The music video features the band performing in a minimalist setting intercut with scenes of romantic moments, reinforcing the song’s themes of love and connection. The simple yet elegant visuals align with the track’s emotional sincerity.
“Love Is All Around” became closely associated with Four Weddings and a Funeral, contributing to the film’s popularity and vice versa. After its use in Four Weddings and a Funeral, the song appeared in several of Richard Curtis’ other projects, including the 2003 film Love Actually (reinvented as the Christmas song “Christmas Is All Around” performed by actor Bill Nighy as fictional rock star Billy Mack).