Public Image Ltd – “This Is Not a Love Song”:
Commercialism, Disguised as a Hit
Released on 5 September 1983, “This Is Not a Love Song” became Public Image Ltd’s most unlikely triumph — a subversive anthem from a band built to resist mainstream formulas. With John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) at the helm, PiL wasn’t exactly courting the Top 40. And yet, this sarcastic, bass-driven track soared into the UK Top 5, challenging the very notion of what constitutes a pop single.
It was not a sellout. It was a baited hook.
Irony Set to a Bassline
“This Is Not a Love Song” marries funky, chugging bass with sparse funk guitar, minimalist percussion, and Lydon’s chant-like delivery. The result is hypnotic — more danceable than PiL’s earlier work, yet still defiantly weird. The song’s title is repeated mantra-like, drained of affection until it becomes pure anti-romance.
It’s ironic not only in name but in form — a love song that denies itself even as it seduces listeners with a groove.
A Jab at the Industry
Written by John Lydon, Keith Levene, and Martin Atkins, the song was a pointed response to accusations that PiL had softened their edges to court commercial success. Lyrics like “I’m going over to the other side / I’m happy to have not to have not” are Lydon’s tongue-in-cheek reply to critics. He later explained: > “At the time people were saying that I’d joined big business… so I thought the best way of tackling this would be to pump out a song saying ‘That’s exactly what I am!’ Tongue firmly in cheek.”
By making that message a hit, PiL proved their point — rebellion can wear a suit if it wants to.
Versions and Visuals
The original 1983 single version is leaner and looser than the 1984 re-recording that appeared on PiL’s fourth studio album This Is What You Want… This Is What You Get. Fans and critics generally favor the raw energy of the single mix.
The music video, filmed in Century City, Los Angeles, features Lydon behind the wheel of a vintage Cadillac, decked out as a high-rolling tycoon. The visual — a punk in a power suit — is a satirical punchline to the song’s narrative: you think we sold out? Fine. We’ll sell out louder than anyone else.
Commercial Success, On PiL’s Terms
“This Is Not a Love Song” reached No. 5 in the UK, No. 3 in Ireland, and charted across Europe and Oceania, including No. 10 in Germany, No. 12 in the Netherlands, No. 17 in Australia, and No. 20 in Belgium (Flanders). It even gained traction on dance floors thanks to its propulsive rhythm and sharp-edged production.
For a band rooted in the avant-garde, scoring a hit was itself an act of performance art — especially with a track gleefully denying any emotional warmth.
Legacy: Anti-Anthem with Staying Power
Decades on, “This Is Not a Love Song” remains PiL’s most recognized and remixable track — referenced in dance, indie, and post-punk circles alike. Covered by artists ranging from Nouvelle Vague to Anna Calvi, it continues to serve as a pop culture paradox: catchy but caustic, minimalist but loaded with meaning.
It’s not a love song. It’s a deconstruction of love songs — and of the music industry’s need to label everything. In doing so, PiL gave us something more provocative: a hit that laughed at itself while daring you to dance.