Sonnet (The Verve song)


"Sonnet" is a song by Britpop band The Verve and is featured on their third album, Urban Hymns. It was released 2 March 1998 as the final single from the album. The song has the same instrumental layout as "The Drugs Don't Work", consisting of acoustic and electric guitars backed up with a string section which is mainly made up of violins.
At the start of 1998, Hut wanted to release another single from the album, an idea which the band disagreed with. Unusually, Hut pressed them on this matter, and so the band finally agreed to release "Sonnet", but only in a format that would make it ineligible for chart recognition. Consequently, "Sonnet" was released as part of a set of four 12-inch records.
The release of "Sonnet" was limited to just 5,000 copies, despite the huge radio coverage it received, and the official chart refused to recognize it as a single because of the extra content, as planned. The pack was released in a cardboard mailer, and the preceding three singles from the album, all re-released on the same day, fitted into the mailer. However, sales of an imported format resulted in it charting in the United Kingdom at number 74. In New Zealand, "Sonnet" reached number 43 on the RIANZ Singles Chart in June 1998, while in Australia, it peaked at number 83 on the ARIA Singles Chart in January 1999. It became a major hit in Iceland, debuting at number 15 on the Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 and peaking at number four six weeks later.

Music video

The music video is set in a large car park. An "Exit" sign written in Russian can be seen in the background. The rest of the video consists of repeated close-ups of singer Richard Ashcroft sitting in a chair, with different backgrounds each time.

Track listings

CD/12"
  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21
  2. "Stamped" – 5:32
  3. "So Sister" – 4:11
  4. "Echo Bass" – 6:38
Cassette
  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21
  2. "Echo Bass" – 6:38
  3. "So Sister" – 4:11
Promo CD
  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21

    US version

In 1998, "Sonnet" was released in America. The single was distributed by Virgin Records.
Promo CD
  1. "Sonnet" – 3:43
  2. "Sonnet" – 4:22
  3. "Sonnet" – 0:10

    Japanese version

CD
  1. "Sonnet" – 4:21
  2. "Stamped" – 5:32
  3. "So Sister" – 4:11
  4. "Echo Bass" – 6:38

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

In popular culture

"Sonnet" appeared on the MTV animated series Daria in the first episode of the third season, when she starts thinking about using contact lenses.