"(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" is a song by

Manic Street Preachers Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Wales, Welsh Rock music, rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, in 1986. The band consists of Nicky Wire (bass guitar, lyrics) and cousins James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, le ...

and was released as the lead single from their tenth album '' Postcards From a Young Man''. The song was made Record of the Week on

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and added to the

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and

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playlists.

Music video

The music video, directed by Alex Smith, was premiered on

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on 26 August 2010. It is set in a 1970s

chess tournament A chess tournament is a series of chess games played competitively to determine a winning individual or team. Since the first international chess tournament in London 1851 chess tournament, London, 1851, chess tournaments have become the standard ...

and stars actor

Michael Sheen Michael Christopher Sheen (born 5 February 1969) is a Welsh actor. After training at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he worked mainly in theatre throughout the 1990s with stage roles in ''Romeo and Juliet'' (1992), ''Don't Fool wi ...

, who portrays an American

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(although playing with a

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), opposite a Soviet chess master portrayed by actress

Anna Friel Anna Louise Friel (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She first achieved fame as Beth Jordache in the Channel 4 soap opera '' Brookside'' (1993–1995), later coming to international prominence with her role as Charlotte "Chuck" Charle ...

.MANIC STREET PREACHERS UNVEIL NEW VIDEO (IT'S NOT WAR) - JUST THE END OF LOVE
, stereoboard.com, 27 August 2010, retrieved 2010-08-31 The entire video unfolds in slight

slow motion Slow motion (commonly abbreviated as slow-mo or slo-mo) is an effect in film-making whereby time appears to be slowed down. It was invented by the Austrian priest August Musger in the early 20th century. This can be accomplished through the use ...

. The match is interrupted when the two mount the chess table and kiss passionately (coinciding with the guitar solo) as the studio audience looks on aghast.

Reception

The single was enthusiastically received by BBC Wales' James McLaren, who stated "Well I like it, I really do. It's got a theatrical pop verve to it. A sweeping string-laden hook, classic Bradders growly verse and a widdly solo in the middle eight. The melody is simple but delivered with classic Manics panache."McLaren, James (2010)
Manic Street Preachers (It's Not War) Just The End Of Love
,

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Wales Music, 26 July 2010, retrieved 2010-08-31

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described it: "It's simple, it's catchy and it's enjoyable, and will have many casual radio listeners rifling through their back catalogue to discover what they've been missing all these years." The ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'' commented that it had "nostalgia...but also an unmistakable sense of vitality and urgency".10 Tracks You Have To Hear This Week
, ''

'', 5 August 2010, retrieved 2010-08-31 In an early review of the album, the ''NME'' described the track as "quite literally the daftest, campest, most outlandish stadium pop song the Manics have ever put their minds to. But in a really excellent way, with one of those choruses you only need to hear once to remember forever."Martin, Dan (2010)
Manic Street Preachers, 'Postcards From A Young Man' – First Listen
, ''

'', 27 July 2010, retrieved 2010-08-31 '' The Fly'' called it a "brilliant start" to the album, saying that it "sets out its grandiose stall from the off as James Dean Bradfield's FM-friendly riff gives way to a warm orchestral flourish".Doherty, Niall (2010)
Manic Street Preachers 'Postcards From A Young Man' // First Listen
", '' The Fly'', 29 July 2010, retrieved 2010-08-31 The single entered the UK Charts at #28, making "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" their lowest charting single since " Life Becoming a Landslide" (1994). It was the band's last Top 40 hit single.

Track listing

CD 1

# "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" – 3:29 # "I'm Leaving You for Solitude" – 3:21 # "Distractions" – 3:56 # "Ostpolitik" – 2:58

CD 2

# "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" # "Lost Voices" ''(Manics website exclusive format)''

7" single

# "(It's Not War) Just the End of Love" # "I Know the Numbers" Manic Street Preachers - (Its Not War) Just The End of Love single details and pre-order
",

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

, 30 July 2010, retrieved 2010-08-31

Chart performance

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:It's Not War Just the End of Love 2010 songs 2010 singles Manic Street Preachers songs Song recordings produced by Dave Eringa Columbia Records singles Songs written by James Dean Bradfield Songs written by Nicky Wire Songs written by Sean Moore (musician) Cold War in popular culture