I Want to Know What Love Is

"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 frontman 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). Despite Gramm's claims, Foreigner's then-bassist Rick Wills states that "I Want to Know What Love Is" was solely written by Jones. 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. The choir also appears in the song's music video, directed by Brian Gibson. 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". Cash Box reviewed the single, calling it "a highly dramatic and ultimately very touching song which amply displays Foreigner's musical talents and versatility." 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. "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. 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." and their first and only gold single in the UK. 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. Musician Mark Ronson has claimed that Jones wrote the song for his mother, Ann Dexter-Jones. In 2025, the band with current lead vocalist Luis Maldonado released a Spanish-language version of the song titled "Quiero Saber Si es Amor", featuring guest vocalist Joy Huerta. == 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 Year-end charts ==Certifications==

}} "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 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Single Edit) • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (R & B Mix) • "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You" (G-Vo Extended Mix) • "Not For Sale" ;Australian CD1 Maxi Single • "I Want To Know What Love Is" (Single Edit) • "Now I Can Dance" (Spanglish Version) • "Now I Can Dance" (Live) • "If I Didn't Love You" (Remix) ;Australian CD2 Maxi Single – The Remixes • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (R'n'B Mix) • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Urban Mix) • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Extended Urban Mix) • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Single Edit) Charts Certifications ==Wynonna Judd version==

}} "I Want to Know What Love Is" was covered by American country singer Wynonna Judd and her recording was released on August 24, 2004, as the fourth single from her album What the World Needs Now Is Love. 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. 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 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" – 5:41 Remixes • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Piper Remix) – 4:05 • "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. Release history ==Mariah Carey version==

"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). The single, produced by Carey, C. "Tricky" Stewart and James "Big Jim" Wright, was sent to European radio stations on August 28 and first impacted US radio on September 14, 2009. 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." 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". 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 Dion after her single "Oh Santa!" reached number one in 2010. 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. "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. Carey's version particularly found massive success in Brazil. Boosted by its inclusion in the international soundtrack for the popular telenovela Viver a Vida, the song stayed at number one for 27 consecutive weeks on the airplay chart, becoming the longest running number one song ever in the country. The song has since been certified Diamond in Brazil. 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. The video premiered on Carey's official website on November 13, 2009. 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. Live performances 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. She later performed the song live on The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 18. Following the album's release, she performed at Rockefeller Plaza for Today on October 2, where she sang the song along with "Obsessed" and "H.A.T.E.U.", also from the album, as well as "Make It Happen" (1992). New York radio station WWPR-FM 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 performed the song as well as "Obsessed" and "H.A.T.E.U.". While in Asia, Carey performed the track on TV shows ''You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook and Music Station, in South Korea and Japan, respectively. In Europe, Carey performed the single on X Factor Italia on November 11, 2009. She also performed the single on the British version of The X Factor on November 22, 2009. Carey additionally performed "I Want to Know What Love Is" on British talk shows Alan Carr: Chatty Man and GMTV''. In response to the song's success in the region, Carey performed the song during a concert in Brazil on August 21, 2010. More than a decade later, Carey performed the song as an encore in both concerts she did in Brazil in September 2024. The next year, she returned to the country and performed "I Want to Know What Love Is" at The Town Festival on September 13, 2025. Formats and track listings • Digital download • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (album version) – 3:27 • UK bundle • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (album version) – 3:27 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Club Edit) – 3:25 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chew Fu Radio Fix) – 3:51 • European CD single • "I Want to Know What Love Is" – 3:37 • "Obsessed" (Cahill Club Mix) – 6:23 • Digital maxi-single • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (album version) – 3:27 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Moto Blanco Club Edit) – 3:25 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chriss Ortega Club Edit) – 3:36 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Cutmore's Club Shakedown) – 6:44 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Donni Hotwheel Tempo Mix) – 3:05 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Low Sunday Tempo Mix) – 3:14 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Chew Fu Radio Fix) – 3:51 • "I Want to Know What Love Is" (Nu Addiction Club Edit) – 3:29 • I Want to Know What Love Is (The Remixes) 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 Charts Weekly charts Monthly charts Year-end charts Certifications and sales Release history ==See also==