Introduction:
The Story Behind ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by the Bee Gees
The Bee Gees were behind some of pop music’s most iconic hits, and at the peak of their disco-era resurgence in the late 1970s, they delivered one of their most enduring ballads: How Deep Is Your Love.
Originally recorded for the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, the song quickly became a global hit and remains one of the Bee Gees’ most beloved tracks. It later reached new heights when British group Take That covered it in 1996, scoring a number one hit with their version.
Who Wrote ‘How Deep Is Your Love’?
Like many Bee Gees classics, How Deep Is Your Love was written by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. Barry collaborated on the melody with keyboardist Blue Weaver, though Weaver is not officially credited as a co-writer.
Co-producer Albhy Galuten later acknowledged Weaver’s significant input:
“One song where Blue [Weaver] had a tremendous amount of input. There was a lot of things from his personality. That’s one where his contribution was quite significant, not in a songwriting sense, though when you play piano, it’s almost like writing the song.”
Weaver’s piano work played a crucial role in shaping the track’s elegant musical structure.
The Song’s Origins
Producer Robert Stigwood had asked the Bee Gees to write songs for a film project that would eventually become Saturday Night Fever. The group provided five tracks, including How Deep Is Your Love.
While the Bee Gees never cited a specific romantic inspiration for the lyrics, Barry Gibb once explained:
“A lot of the textures you hear in the song were added later. We didn’t change any lyrics, but the way we recorded it was a little different than how we wrote it in terms of construction. The title was perfect—we thought it said everything.”
Originally Meant for Another Singer
How Deep Is Your Love was initially written with American singer Yvonne Elliman in mind. However, Stigwood insisted that the Bee Gees record it themselves for the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
Elliman instead performed another Bee Gees composition, If I Can’t Have You, which went on to become a number one hit in the U.S.
Chart Success
The song became a number one hit in the United States and reached number three in the UK.
Reflecting on its UK success, Barry Gibb said:
“You have no idea what a thrill it is to have a top five single in England. With all the new wave and punk rock out, I would have thought something like How Deep Is Your Love wouldn’t have a chance. We always kept going forward and we’re getting stronger every day.”
A Landmark Copyright Case
How Deep Is Your Love also played a role in shaping music copyright law.
In 1983, songwriter Ronald Selle sued the Bee Gees, claiming they had copied his unreleased 1975 track Let It End. Although Selle had only sent a home recording of the song to publishers, the jury ruled in his favor, based on an expert musicologist’s technical analysis.
However, the judge overturned the verdict due to a lack of evidence that the Bee Gees had ever heard Selle’s song. Selle appealed, but the decision was upheld.
The case led to a significant change in copyright law: “striking similarities” between two songs would no longer be sufficient grounds for plagiarism. Plaintiffs would need to prove that the alleged infringer had access to the original work—a precedent that has influenced music industry practices ever since.
Notable Cover Versions
In 1996, Take That released How Deep Is Your Love as their final single before their hiatus. It reached number one in the UK.
Lead singer Gary Barlow later said:
“We wanted to prove that we could still do a cover version this far on in our career and do it very well.”
Barry Gibb later joined Take That for a reimagined version of the song, which appeared on their 2018 Odyssey compilation album.
The song has also been covered by several renowned artists, including:
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Luther Vandross
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Johnny Mathis
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The Bird and the Bee
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Lea Michele (on Glee)
How Deep Is Your Love continues to resonate with generations of fans, proving its timeless appeal and the enduring genius of the Bee Gees.