I Want to Know What Love Is

For the Julie Ruin song, see Julie Ruin.

"I Want to Know What Love Is" is a power ballad^[4] by the British-American rock band Foreigner. It was released in November 1984 as the love theme and lead single from their fifth album, Agent Provocateur. The song hit number one in both the United Kingdom and the United States and is the group's biggest hit to date. It remains one of the band's best-known songs and most enduring radio hits, charting in the top 25 in 2000, 2001, and 2002 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents chart. "I Want to Know What Love Is" has continued to garner critical acclaim, and is listed as one of Rolling Stone magazine's greatest songs of all time at number 476 in 2004 and at number 479 in 2010.^[5] The song is also featured in a number of films.

"I Want to Know What Love Is"
Picture sleeve for some European releases
Single by Foreigner
from the album Agent Provocateur
B-side	"Street Thunder (Marathon Theme)"
Released	November 30, 1984 (1984-11-30)^[1]
Recorded	December 1983^[2]
Genre	Soft rock^[3]
Length	5:04 (album version) 6:23 (12-inch extended)
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Mick Jones, Lou Gramm (uncredited)
Producer(s)	Mick Jones Alex Sadkin
Foreigner singles chronology
"Luanne" (1982) "I Want to Know What Love Is" (1984) "That Was Yesterday" (1985)
Music video
"I Want to Know What Love Is" on YouTube

Song information

I always worked late at night, when everybody left and the phone stopped ringing. "I Want to Know What Love Is" came up at three in the morning sometime in 1984. I don't know where it came from. I consider it a gift that was sent through me. I think there was something bigger than me behind it. I'd say it was probably written entirely by a higher force.

Mick Jones^[6]

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was the first single released from Foreigner's album Agent Provocateur (1984). It is credited to Mick Jones, although former Foreigner member Lou Gramm asserts that he contributed to the song and should be credited to its creation, (somewhere between 5% according to Jones and 35% according to Gramm).^[7][8][9] It was produced by Jones and Alex Sadkin. The song features backing vocals from the New Jersey Mass Choir affiliated with the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday, and featured keyboard work by Thompson Twins frontman Tom Bailey.^[10] The choir also appears in the song's music video.

[Jones'] home was about 15 minutes from my home," Gramm recalled. "So I would drive over to his house and we would work on that song. There'd be moments where it was just magic and then we'd hit our head on something creatively that we couldn't get to the next point. And so we almost had to put the song away for a couple of weeks and come back to it again. I felt we had worked our tails off to make that song what it is...When it was time to decide what the percentages were, I wrote down what I thought it should be and he wrote down what he thought it should be. I think I wrote down 65-35 — 35 for me, 65 for him. And I opened the little piece of paper that [had] what he thought [the correct split] was, and he wrote down 95-5. I was so stunned and crushed that he'd think I contributed next to nothing to that song...And you know what I told him after 95-5? I said, 'Five, Mick?' I said, 'You should just keep it all.' And he did. He didn't say, 'No, Lou. Please. Let's work it out.' I said, 'Five percent for me after all the work I did on the song?' I said, 'You should just keep it all.' And he didn't say anything. He just kept it all.

Lou Gramm^[9]

According to Gramm, Jones was originally reluctant to let Gramm hear his initial rough version of the song. Gramm speculated that the song was emotional to Jones because it "represented things in his own life that he hadn't been able to resolve, and he wasn't too sure he wanted to have millions of people hear about it.^[11]

Cash Box reviewed the single, calling it "a highly dramatic and ultimately very touching song which amply displays Foreigner's musical talents and versatility."^[12] Cash Box specifically praised the band's performances, especially that of lead singer Gramm, who they said "delivers a moving and personal quality which captures the essence of the lyrics.^[12] Billboard said that the "dramatic mood piece grows out of quiet introspection into a full-blown production number with choir."^[13]

"I Want to Know What Love Is" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on January 15, 1985, displacing Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", staying there for three weeks, and knocked Madonna's long-running "Like a Virgin" out of number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 2, 1985. It was Foreigner's first and only pop chart-topper in either country, although the band had four number one Mainstream Rock hits and a number one adult contemporary radio hit in the US. This was the band's third of four number one singles on the Mainstream Rock chart. The song spent five weeks at number one in Australia and also hit the top of the charts in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden, while peaking at number two in Switzerland and South Africa.

We did a few takes, and it was good, but it was still a bit tentative. So then they all got round in a circle, held hands and said The Lord's Prayer. And it seemed to inspire them, because after that they did it in one take. I was in tears, because my mum and dad were in the studio too, and it was so emotional.

— Mick Jones on recording with the choir.^[14]

The song has received positive retrospective reviews from critics, with Bret Adams of AllMusic writing: "It's not hard to see why it became Foreigner's first number one single. Its dreamy, hypnotic feel is due in part to Lou Gramm's soulful lead vocals and the New Jersey Mass Choir's background vocals."^[7]

The song was also issued as a 12-inch single with a longer running time of 6:23. This version contains a slightly longer intro and an extended vocal chorus/fadeout ending. The single's B-side, "Street Thunder (Marathon Theme)," is an instrumental track originally appearing on The Official Music of the XXIII Olympiad – Los Angeles 1984 and later on the band's 2-CD compilation Jukebox Heroes: The Foreigner Anthology (2000).

Soon after Foreigner's single topped the charts, the New Jersey Mass Choir released its own similar-sounding version of the song on an album also titled I Want to Know What Love Is. The choir's single peaked at number 37 on the then-Hot Black Singles chart and number 12 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was ranked as the number four Billboard Hot 100 single of 1985.^[15] It was the band's third platinum single in the US^[16] and their first and only gold single in the UK.^[17] It was certified double-platinum in the UK in 2023.^[17]

Jones has rated it as one of his 11 favorite Foreigner songs.^[18]

Originally consisting of three verses, a pre-chorus and a chorus, the song was extended with a bridge written by original songwriter Mick Jones specifically for Tina Arena's cover in 1998.

Personnel

Foreigner

• Lou Gramm – lead vocals
• Mick Jones – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals
• Rick Wills – bass, backing vocals
• Dennis Elliott – drums

Personnel

• Produced by Mick Jones and Alex Sadkin
• Mixed by Frank Filipetti

Guest Musicians

• Tom Bailey – synthesizers
• Don Harper – backing vocals
• Jennifer Holliday – backing vocals and arrangements
• New Jersey Mass Choir of the GMWA – backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[19] 1 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[20] 7 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[21] 6 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)^[22] 7 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[23] 9 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[24] 1 Canada (CHUM)^[25] 1 Denmark (Hitlisten)^[26] 3 Finland (Finnish Singles Chart)^[27] 7 France (SNEP)^[28] 18 Ireland (IRMA)^[29] 1 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[30] 24 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[31] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[32] 5 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[33] 1 Norway (VG-lista)^[34] 1 Portugal (AFP)^[35] 2 Puerto Rico^[36] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[37] 2 Spain (AFYVE)^[38] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[39] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[40] 2 UK Singles (OCC)^[41] 1 US Billboard Hot 100^[42] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[43] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[44] 3 US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)^[45] 85 US Cash Box Top 100^[46] 1 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[47] 3 Chart (2021) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[48] 96

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)^[49]^[50] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[51] 22 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[52] 30 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[53] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[54] 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[55] 36 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[56] 17 South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[57] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[58] 12 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[59] 11 US Billboard Hot 100^[15] 4 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[60] 21 US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[61] 16 US Cash Box Top 100^[62] 8 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[63] 16

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[64]	Platinum	90,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)^[65]	Gold	50,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[17]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[66]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
United States (RIAA)^[66] Digital	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Tina Arena version

"I Want to Know What Love Is"
Single by Tina Arena
from the album In Deep
Released	August 6, 1998 (1998-08-06)
Length	6:21 (album version) 5:34 (Australian album edit) 4:55 (single edit)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Mick Jones
Producer(s)	Mick Jones
Tina Arena singles chronology
"Whistle Down the Wind" (1998) "I Want to Know What Love Is" (1998) "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You" (1998)
Audio
"I Want to Know What Love is" on YouTube
Music video
"I Want to Know What Love is" on YouTube

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was covered by Australian singer Tina Arena and her recording was released as a single in 1998 from her album In Deep. Arena's version of the song was produced by Foreigner band member Mick Jones, who wrote the song. This version of the song includes a previously unrecorded bridge between the second and third choruses, specifically written for Tina Arena by Mick Jones.

Track listings

European Maxi Single

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Single Edit)
2. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (R & B Mix)
3. "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You" (G-Vo Extended Mix)
4. "Not For Sale"

Australian CD1 Maxi Single

1. "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Single Edit)
2. "Now I Can Dance" (Spanglish Version)
3. "Now I Can Dance" (Live)
4. "If I Didn't Love You" (Remix)

Australian CD2 Maxi Single – The Remixes

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (R'n'B Mix)
2. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Urban Mix)
3. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Extended Urban Mix)
4. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Single Edit)

Charts

Chart (1998/99)	Peak Position
Australia (ARIA)^[67]	36
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[68]	39
European Hot 100 Singles^[69]	50
France (SNEP)^[70]	13

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)^[71]	Gold	250,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Wynonna Judd version

"I Want to Know What Love Is"
Single by Wynonna Judd
from the album What the World Needs Now Is Love
Released	August 24, 2004 (2004-08-24)
Length	5:41 (album version)
Label	Asylum Curb
Songwriter(s)	Mick Jones
Producer(s)	Narada Michael Walden Wynonna
Wynonna Judd singles chronology
"Flies on the Butter" (2004) "I Want to Know What Love Is" (2004) "Rescue Me" (2005)
Audio
"I Want to Know What Love Is" on YouTube

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was covered by American country singer Wynonna Judd and her recording was released on August 24, 2004, from her album What the World Needs Now Is Love as fourth single. Wynonna's version of the song was produced by Narada Michael Walden, known for his work with Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and George Michael, and Wynonna. This version of the song was included in a popular Brazilian soap opera, Senhora do Destino.

Personnel

• Wynonna Judd – lead vocals
• Tim Akers – keyboards
• Steve Nathan – keyboards
• Jeff Beck – lead guitar
• Tom Bukovac – electric guitar
• Dann Huff – electric guitar
• Jerry McPherson – electric guitar
• Don Potter – acoustic guitar
• Paul Franklin – steel guitar
• Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass
• Willie Weeks – bass
• John "J.R." Robinson – drums
• David Huff – loop programming
• Eric Darken – percussion
• David Campbell – string arrangements and conductor
• Suzie Katayama – string contractor
• Bob Bailey – backing vocals
• Bekka Bramlett – backing vocals
• Kim Fleming – backing vocals
• Vicki Hampton – backing vocals

Track listings

Digital download

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" – 5:41

Remixes

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Piper Remix) – 4:05
2. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Piper Club Mix) – 7:42

Charts

In the US, the song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. On the Hot Dance Club Songs of Billboard, it debuted at number 50 and peaked at number 12. It is also her first single to chart in Sweden, where it debuted at number 67 and peaked at number 15.

Chart (2004/2005)	Peak position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[72]	15
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[73]	14
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs^[74]	12

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States	August 24, 2004^[75]	Digital download, CD single	Asylum
United States		Remixes	Curb Records
Sweden	February 20, 2005	Digital download, CD single	Curb Records

Mariah Carey version

"I Want to Know What Love Is"
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
B-side	"Obsessed" (Cahill Club Mix)
Released	September 22, 2009 (2009-09-22)
Recorded	2009
Studio	The Boom Boom Room, Burbank, California The Setai, Miami, Florida Honeywest, New York City Soapbox, Atlanta
Length	3:37 (single version) 3:27 (album version)
Label	Island
Songwriter(s)	Mick Jones
Producer(s)	Mariah Carey C. "Tricky" Stewart James "Big Jim" Wright
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Obsessed" (2009) "I Want to Know What Love Is" (2009) "H.A.T.E.U." (2009)
Music video
"I Want to Know What Love Is" on YouTube

"I Want to Know What Love Is" was covered by American singer Mariah Carey and released as the second single on September 22, 2009, from her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009).^[76] The single, produced by Carey, C. "Tricky" Stewart and James "Big Jim" Wright, was sent to European radio stations on August 28^[77] and first impacted US radio on September 14, 2009.^[77] Mick Jones said of her version: "I think she's actually retained the integrity of the song. You know, the arrangement is very similar to the original. They haven't tampered with the song too much. She's captured a certain emotional thing, a feeling." The remixes of her rendition were released on October 20, 2009.^[78]

Critical reception

The single was generally well received by critics; Australian magazine Rhyme & Reason stated that "[While Carey stayed] [...] true to the original, this piano-led remake is less an overhaul of the classic '80s hit than it is a modest but impressive update."^[79] Bill Lamb from About.com said that "Mariah Carey's new version could leave you speechless. The diversity of vocal coloring expressed in this recording is stunning. While the single 'Obsessed' remains disappointing, this single is a reminder of just how formidable Carey's talents are given a strong production and arrangement".^[77]

Writing in a Los Angeles Times music blog, Todd Martens said, "[T]ackling a well-known power ballad seems like a safe choice. It's a comfortable fall-back plan after "Obsessed" performed well, but did far from blockbuster numbers. It will undoubtedly be a hit, but it's giving me more reason to fear Imperfect Angel."^[80]

Performances and promotion

• Carey debuted "I Want to Know What Love Is" at her Live at the Pearl concerts in the Pearl Arena at The Palms Casino & Resort, Las Vegas, on September 11 and 12, 2009.^[81]
• Carey performed the song live on The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 18.^[82]
• A New York radio station contest featured as its prize a mini concert by Carey at the P.C. Richard Theater in TriBeCa, New York on October 5, where she sang the song as well as "Obsessed" and "H.A.T.E.U.", also from the album.^[83]
• Carey performed the single on X Factor Italia in Italy on November 11, 2009.^[84]
• Carey performed the single on The X Factor in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2009.
• Carey performed the song on the Angels Advocate Tour, solely in Brazil, due to her version's massive success there.

Music video

Carey filmed a music video for "I Want to Know What Love Is" in September 2009 in New York City, directed by Hype Williams.^[85] The video premiered on Mariah's official website on November 13, 2009.^[86] The video features Carey singing in Yankee Stadium, intercut with shots of the audience, often accompanied by loved ones, and some glimpses into the tough times in their past, as they grow emotional from the song's performance. A gospel choir joins Carey at the center of the stadium at the video's end. Carey wears the signature curly hairstyle from the initial stages of her career circa 1990–1993, maintaining the Memoirs theme of the album.

Formats and track listings

• Digital download^[87]

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (album version) – 3:27

• UK bundle^[88]

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (album version) – 3:27
2. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Club Edit) – 3:25
3. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chew Fu Radio Fix) – 3:51

• European CD single^[89]

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" – 3:37
2. "Obsessed" (Cahill Club Mix) – 6:23

• Digital maxi-single^[90]

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (album version) – 3:27
2. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Club Edit) – 3:25
3. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chriss Ortega Club Edit) – 3:36
4. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Cutmore's Club Shakedown) – 6:44
5. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Donni Hotwheel Tempo Mix) – 3:05
6. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Low Sunday Tempo Mix) – 3:14
7. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chew Fu Radio Fix) – 3:51
8. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Nu Addiction Club Edit) – 3:29

• I Want to Know What Love Is (The Remixes)^[78]

1. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Donni Hotwheel Tempo Mix) – 3:06
2. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Low Sunday Tempo Mix) – 3:16
3. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Club Edit) – 3:25
4. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Cutmore's Radio Shakedown) – 3:13
5. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chew Fu Radio Fix) – 3:52
6. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chriss Ortega Club Edit) – 3:36
7. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Nu Addiction Club Edit) – 3:30
8. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Club Mix) – 6:53
9. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Cutmore's Club Shakedown) – 6:45
10. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chew Fu Club Fix) – 6:03
11. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chriss Ortega Club Mix) – 6:05
12. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Nu Addiction Club Mix) – 6:54
13. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Dub) – 6:23
14. "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Nu Addiction Dub) – 8:43

Credits and personnel

Adapted from CD liner notes.^[91]
Recording locations

• Recorded at The Boom Boom Room (Burbank, California), The Setai (Miami, Florida) and Honeywest Studios (New York City).
• Additional background vocals and mixing at Soapbox Studios (Atlanta).

Personnel

Mariah Carey – lead vocals Matt Rollings – keyboards Tricky Stewart – keyboards, Hammond B3 organ Big Jim Wright – keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, backing vocals John Lemkuhl – keyboard programming Randy Jackson – bass Jerohn Garnett – drums Sherry McGhee – backing vocals Mary Ann Tatum – backing vocals Sherry Tatum – backing vocals

Producer – C. "Tricky" Stewart, James "Big Jim" Wright and Mariah Carey Additional Producer – Randy Jackson Recorded by Brian Garten, Chris 'Tek' O'Ryan and Kevin Guarnieri Assistant Engineer – Luis Navarro Additional Engineers – Carlos Oyanedel and Damien Lewis Mixed by Phil Tan Written by Mick Jones

Chart performance

The song peaked on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart at number 10 bringing Carey's total number of Top Ten hits on that chart to 20, one short of Celine Dion's record. She has since surpassed this and is now tied with Celine Dion after her single "Oh Santa!" reached number one in 2010.^[92] However, it only peaked at #60 on the US Hot 100. On the UK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 19 on the week ending November 29, 2009, becoming her highest debuting and peaking song since 2008's "Touch My Body", which peaked at number five.^[93] "I Want to Know What Love Is" was also a successful hit on the Dance Club Songs chart, peaked at #2 on the week of December 19, 2009.

The song debuted at number six in France, selling 1,910 CDs in its first week.^[94]

In Brazil, the song was boosted for its inclusion in popular telenovela Viver a Vida and stayed at number one for 27 consecutive weeks on the airplay chart, becoming the longest running number one song ever.^[95]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009–2010) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[96] 45 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[97] 40 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[98] 14 Brazil (Crowley Broadcast Analysis)^[99] 1 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[100] 57 Canada AC (Billboard)^[101] 16 CIS (TopHit)^[102] 163 Croatia (HRT)^[103] 3 Denmark (Tracklisten)^[104] 14 European Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)^[105] 16 France (SNEP)^[106] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)^[107] 37 Global Dance Songs (Billboard)^[108] 20 Hong Kong (Metro Radio)^[109] 4 Hungary (Mahasz)^[110] 6 Ireland (IRMA)^[111] 41 Italy (FIMI)^[112] 41 Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[113] 3 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)^[114] 4 Portugal (Billboard)^[115] 5 Scotland (OCC)^[116] 30 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)^[117] 84 Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[118] 41 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[119] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[120] 25 UK Singles (OCC)^[121] 19 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[122] 7 UK Pop Club (Music Week)^[123] 1 US Billboard Hot 100^[124] 60 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[125] 10 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[126] 39 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[127] 2 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[128] 40 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[129] 29

Monthly charts Chart (2010) Position Brazil (Brasil Hot 100 Airplay)^[130] 1 Brazil (Brasil Hot Pop Songs)^[131] 1 Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position Brazil (Crowley Broadcast Analysis)^[132] 34 Croatia (HRT)^[133] 70 France (SNEP)^[134] 97 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[135] 37 Chart (2010) Position Brazil (Crowley Broadcast Analysis)^[136] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[137] 31 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[138] 48

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States	September 22, 2009^[139]	Digital download	Island
Norway	October 20, 2009	The remixes (digital)^[140]	Universal Music
South Korea		CD single^[141]
United Kingdom	November 22, 2009^[88]^[142]	Digital download	Mercury
France	November 30, 2009^[143]	CD single	Universal Music
Germany	December 4, 2009^[144]

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1985

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