Love Will Tear Us Apart Again

Love Will Tear Us Apart Again maps all known cover versions of the iconic 1979 song by Joy Division. Spanning the 43 years since the record was released, the graph shows the subsequent 200+ cover versions arranged in chronological space. The original song variants recorded by the band are radially flanked by the numerous covers. The original 10 recordings by Joy Division occupy the 12 o'clock position, with the covers arranged in clockwise chronological space. The cover versions are further grouped by decade to reveal the variation in cultural impact of the song since the early 1980s. Information for each release includes band name, EP/LP name, and record label catalogue data. Additional quantitative information such as frequency of re-release is shown as radiating dots. Original recordings by Joy Division : studio recordings : 3; video recordings : 1; live recordings : 4; posthumous remixes : 2. Cover versions of the song per decade : 1980s = 19, 1990s = 31, 2000s = 95, 2010-2021 = 103. The central sunburst structure displays a comparative waveform analysis of the three studio versions (outer ring) recorded by Joy Division and the two posthumous remixes (inner ring) released in 1995. Interestingly, the visualisation shows the inherent variation in song structure from recording to recording as the band engineered the particular sound they wanted the song to express. Comparative waveform visualisation of studio recordings by Joy Division : light line : Peel Sessions recording at BBC Studios, Maida Vale, November 26th 1979. Heavy line : Strawberry Studios recording, Stockport, March 1980. Dotted line : Pennine Sound Studios recording, Oldham, January 1980. Light line negative : Arthur Baker mix by Arthur Baker, 1995. Heavy line negative : Permanent mix by Don Gehman, 1995. The remarkable number of cover versions and the enduring popularity of Love Will Tear Us Apart is a resounding testament to what is widely considered to be one of the greatest pop songs ever written. Love Will Tear Us Apart Again is produced yearly with updated data as a serigraph print on various media. Print specifications of the 2021 edition : serigraph print milk-white gloss ink on black 250 μm polycarbonate film. Print by K2 London.