Sonnet (The Verve song) explained

Sonnet
Cover:	Sonnet HUTCD100.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	the Verve
Album:	Urban Hymns
B-Side:	"Stamped" "So Sister" "Echo Bass"
Studio:	Olympic (London)
Genre:	Britpop
Length:	4:22
Label:	Hut Virgin
Producer:	The Verve Youth
Prev Title:	Lucky Man
Prev Year:	1997
Next Title:	The Thaw Session
Next Year:	2007

"Sonnet" is a song by the English rock band the Verve and is featured on their third album, Urban Hymns (1997). It was released on 2 March 1998 as the final single from the album. The ballad has the same instrumental layout as "The Drugs Don't Work", consisting of acoustic and electric guitars backed up with a string section mainly consisting 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 (backed by "Stamped", "So Sister" and "Echo Bass").

The release of "Sonnet" was limited to just 5,000 copies, despite the huge radio coverage it received, and the UK's Official Charts Company refused to recognise 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 were 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. The song also charted in Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand, reaching numbers 83, 4, and 43, respectively.

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. The music video filmed in July 1997.

Track listing

• European CD and 12-inch single^{[1] [2]}

Australian and Japanese CD single^{[1] [3]}

1. "Sonnet"
2. "Stamped"
3. "So Sister"
4. "Echo Bass"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998–1999)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[4]	83
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[5]	4

Year-end charts

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United Kingdom	2 March 1998	12-inch vinyl		^[7]
Japan	8 July 1998	CD		^[8]

Notes and References

1. Sonnet. The Verve. 1998. European & Australian CD single liner notes. Hut Records, Virgin Records. HUTCD100.
2. Sonnet. The Verve. 1998. European limited 12-inch single sleeve. Hut Records, Virgin Records. HUTTX100.
3. Sonnet. The Verve. 1998. Japanese CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VJCP-12096.
4. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart - Week Commencing 25 Jan 1999. ARIA. Imgur. 6 February 2016.
5. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.4. – 9.4. 1998). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 30. 3 April 1998. 3 October 2019.
6. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 34. 2 January 1999. 8 February 2020.
7. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 27. 28 February 1998. 4 July 2021.
8. Web site: ソネット ザ・ヴァーヴ. Sonnet The Verve. Oricon. ja. 22 January 2024.