A soaring meditation on desire and survival, where love becomes the very air that keeps the heart alive
When Sweet released “Love Is Like Oxygen” in early 1978, the song marked a dramatic and unexpected resurgence for the band, climbing to number two on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was drawn from their ambitious album Level Headed, a record that signaled a bold stylistic shift away from stomping glam rock toward a more expansive, progressive sound. On 20 March 1978, Sweet brought the song to German television on the influential music program Disco, hosted by Ilja Richter, presenting the track with their original and classic lineup at full strength.
By this point in their career, Sweet were widely known for explosive hits and glitter-fueled bravado, yet “Love Is Like Oxygen” revealed a different artistic identity. Written by Andy Scott and Trevor Griffin, and produced by the band themselves, the song unfolds with patience and restraint. It begins almost tentatively, built on a measured rhythm and spacious arrangement, before gradually expanding into something grand and immersive. This slow burn was a conscious departure from their earlier immediacy, reflecting a band eager to evolve rather than repeat past formulas.
The lyrics frame love not as romance alone, but as necessity. Oxygen is not optional. It is invisible, life sustaining, and only truly noticed when it is gone. This metaphor gives the song its emotional gravity. Love here is not glamorous or fleeting, but essential and consuming. The words carry a quiet desperation, suggesting dependence and vulnerability beneath the polished surface. It is a mature perspective on intimacy, one that resonates long after the final chorus fades.
Musically, the track is defined by Andy Scott’s layered guitar work and synthesizer textures, which lend the song its shimmering, almost cosmic atmosphere. Steve Priest’s bass moves fluidly beneath the arrangement, while Mick Tucker’s drumming provides steady propulsion without overwhelming the song’s subtle dynamics. At the center stands Brian Connolly, delivering one of his most controlled and expressive vocal performances. His voice, once known for raw power and swagger, now carries restraint and longing, perfectly suited to the song’s introspective tone.
The Disco performance from March 1978 captures this balance beautifully. It shows Sweet not as a novelty act or glam survivors, but as a cohesive, seasoned band fully in command of their evolution. There is confidence in their restraint, and a quiet pride in presenting a song that relies on atmosphere and emotional resonance rather than volume or spectacle. Seeing the original lineup perform this piece reinforces its significance as a collective achievement.
In the broader arc of Sweet’s career, “Love Is Like Oxygen” stands as a defining moment of reinvention. It bridged the gap between their glam rock past and a more expansive musical future, proving they were capable of depth, patience, and sophistication. Decades later, the song endures not only as a chart success, but as a powerful reminder that love, like oxygen, is most profound when it is woven into every breath we take.