The hauntingly beautiful song “Love Is This” by Luke Maguire Armstrong, featuring Linn Perssons, explores love, sorrow, and the deep feelings that unite them. Through its invitation to view the other side of loss—where grief is, at its core, an expression of love—the song creates a very personal place for listeners to consider their own experiences with grief. I personally thought the lines, “Love is this another face of you,” to be quite relatable because I have listened to this song after losing a loved one. This song helped me realize that grief is just love that has nowhere to go when I was feeling quite down. All of our affection for someone who is no longer with us is reflected in it.
From the first notes of the song, it is clear that “Love Is This” is not just a piece of music; it’s an emotional journey. The opening piano melodies are delicate and slow, creating a serene soundscape that feels like the calm before an emotional storm. The softness of the strings follows, elevating the song to a celestial level, while the bass grounds it with a subtle warmth. It is as if each instrument is in conversation with one another, speaking the language of grief and comfort in a way that words often fail to capture. The gentle percussive touches are placed carefully, never overpowering the flow but adding a heartbeat to the song, a steady pulse that carries the listener through each wave of emotion.
When Luke Maguire Armstrong’s voice enters, it immediately draws you in. His voice carries a depth and richness that feels grounded in personal experience, as if every note is a reflection of his own journey through love and loss. Linn Perssons’ voice joins soon after, and together, their duet is transcendent. The contrast between Armstrong’s deeper, more textured tone and Perssons’ ethereal, airy quality creates a balance that feels almost spiritual. Their voices blend seamlessly, moving in perfect harmony, as though they were always meant to sing this song together.
“Love Is This” has profoundly reflective lyrics that invite listeners to contemplate the various facets of love. According to the song, love is a dynamic emotion that changes, grows, and takes on new forms throughout life. It can appear as happiness, intimacy, or connection, but when there is a loss, it turns into grief. Because of the reflected quality of the song, audiences are able to accept the unsettling fact that love and grief are frequently two sides of the same coin. Even though losing a loved one can seem excruciating, Armstrong and Perssons remind us that this anguish is evidence of how deeply we have been loved.
As “Love Is This” goes on, the instrumentation keeps growing, but it never does so in a hurried or forced fashion. As the violins become more vivid and add more layers of complexity to the environment, the song gains a calm momentum from the subtle introduction of percussion. The song retains its serene and calm tone in spite of the increased energy, drawing the listener in for a moment of silent contemplation. What sets “Love Is This” apart is its balance and continuity; it never veers from its emotional core while yet evolving just enough to keep the listener interested all the way through.
One of the most striking elements of this song is the sheer vulnerability expressed by both Armstrong and Perssons. There is no pretense here, no attempt to mask the raw emotions that come with love and loss. Instead, the song embraces these emotions fully, allowing them to flow naturally through the melodies and lyrics. This level of honesty is rare in music, and it is what makes “Love Is This” feel so deeply personal. Whether you have experienced loss yourself or are simply reflecting on the nature of love, this song provides a space for you to feel seen and understood.
The theme of “Love Is This” speaks to the universal human experience. We all know love in one form or another, and inevitably, we all experience loss. What this song does so beautifully is bridge the gap between the two, showing us that while loss is painful, it is also a testament to how deeply we have loved. The song’s message is one of acceptance and reflection, urging us to cherish the moments of love we have experienced while recognizing that love, in its many forms, is never truly lost—it simply changes.
“Love Is This” provides comfort to individuals who are grieving. The song serves as a gentle reminder that grieving is a natural part of being human and should not be shunned or dreaded. It both affirms our suffering and gives us strength to cling to the love that is still there. In this sense, “Love Is This” transcends beyond its musical form and becomes a solace, a reminder that love endures despite all adversity.
The song “Love Is This,” by Luke Maguire Armstrong and Linn Perssons, is a brilliant fusion of musical skill, emotion, and vulnerability. The intricacy of love—from the joy it brings to the anguish of loss—is encapsulated in this song. With their vocals blending in a way that seems almost unearthly, Armstrong and Perssons’ duet is nothing short of extraordinary. This song offers a peaceful setting for introspection and healing, making it a must-listen for anybody who has experienced love or loss. “Love Is This” is a lovely reminder that love, in all of its forms, is eternal, whether you’re looking for solace at a difficult moment or you’re just looking for a song that touches your heart.
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