Sonnet (song)

"Sonnet"
Single by The Verve
from the album Urban Hymns
Released	2 March 1998
Format	CD, 12", Cassette
Recorded	1996,Olympic Studio London
Genre	Britpop
Length	4:21
Label	Hut
Producer(s)	Youth, The Verve
The Verve singles chronology
"Lucky Man" (1997) "Sonnet" (1998) "Love Is Noise" (2008)

"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 (see 1998 in British music). 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 asked The Verve to put out 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 was limited to just 5000 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 made it chart at number 74.

The music video consists of repeated close-ups of Richard Ashcroft sitting down on a chair, with different backgrounds each time.

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

Track listing

• CD HUTCD 100

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

• Cassette HUTC 100

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

• 12" HUTTX 100

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

• Promo CD HUTCDP 100

1. "Sonnet" – 4:21

US version

In 1998, "Sonnet" was released in America. The single was distributed by Virgin Records.

• Promo CD DPRO-13196

1. "Sonnet" (LP edit) – 3:43
2. "Sonnet" (LP version) – 4:22
3. "Sonnet" (Call Out Hook) – 0:10

Japanese version

• CD VJCP-12096

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