The Human League – “Love Action (I Believe in Love)”
A synth-pop mission statement wrapped in irony and emotion
Released on 31 July 1981, “Love Action (I Believe in Love)” was a landmark single for The Human League, signaling their leap from underground synth experiments to full-on chart domination. As the second single from their breakout album Dare, it climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band’s first Top 10 hit and a defining moment of the New Pop era.
A Sound That Reshaped Pop
Musically, “Love Action” is sleek, stylish minimalism — all sharp synth stabs, programmed drums, and icy-cool textures. Under the guidance of producer Martin Rushent, the track strips pop to its electronic bones, but never feels cold. In fact, it grooves. Its robotic beat and stuttering textures were crafted using Roland System 700 modular synths, with even Jo Callis’s guitar filtered through effects to resemble synth patterns. The entire production gleams with analog warmth and newfound pop accessibility.
Phil Oakey’s signature deadpan vocals are perfectly offset by the harmonies of Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, creating a vocal blend that’s futuristic yet oddly emotional — a hallmark of The Human League’s greatest work.
Lyrics With a Wink and a Knife
Despite its seemingly optimistic title, “Love Action (I Believe in Love)” plays with emotional distance. Oakey opens with a spoken-word line: “This is Phil talking” — a direct reference to Iggy Pop’s meta lyric “Jesus, this is Iggy.” The song then twists conventional love song tropes, embracing both cynicism and honesty: “I believe in love / I’ll believe in anything / That’s gonna get me what I want / And get me off my knees.” It’s sardonic and sincere all at once — questioning romantic idealism while still drawn to its gravity.
References to Lou Reed (another of Oakey’s icons) are tucked into the lyrics, reinforcing the idea that this is no straightforward pop love song — it’s a clever rewire of what a love song can be.
More Than a Hit
“Love Action” wasn’t just a commercial breakthrough — it was a turning point for electronic music in Britain. With tracks like this, Dare proved that pure synth-pop could hit just as hard as guitar-led rock, and possibly even feel more modern. The song’s success paved the way for “Don’t You Want Me”, “Open Your Heart,” and the League’s ascension to international stardom.
A music video — filmed after the single’s initial success for U.S. promotion — featured wedding dresses, suburban drama, and loose nods to The Graduate, reinforcing the band’s arch, stylish aesthetic.
The track also inspired future generations: it was sampled by Utah Saints, George Michael, and Betty Boo, and appeared in both Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and The Last American Virgin, proving its lasting pop culture reach.
Cool Hearts, Warm Circuits
“Love Action (I Believe in Love)” asks what happens when we strip love songs of fantasy and sing about modern emotion with synthetic precision. It’s bold, self-aware, and irresistibly catchy — proof that pop could be ironic, romantic, and revolutionary all at once. And more than 40 years later, it still pulses with style and subtext.