Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is

Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is” is one of the most powerful rock ballads of the 1980s, combining heartfelt lyrics with a sweeping musical arrangement that builds towards an unforgettable climax. Released in 1984, the song revealed a more reflective side of the British-American rock band, whose reputation had largely been built on hard-driving guitars and energetic arena rock.

Written by Foreigner’s founder Mick Jones, the song grew from his personal experiences and reflections on relationships, longing and emotional vulnerability. Its lyrics express a desire to understand love more deeply, moving beyond romantic attraction towards something more meaningful and lasting. Rather than presenting love as an easy answer, the song captures the uncertainty of someone still searching for genuine emotional connection.

The recording begins with a restrained keyboard passage before gradually expanding into a rich arrangement featuring guitars, synthesizers and a powerful rhythm section. Lou Gramm’s distinctive lead vocal carries the song with a mixture of strength and tenderness, rising in intensity as the music develops. One of the recording’s defining features is the contribution of the New Jersey Mass Choir, whose gospel harmonies bring an uplifting spiritual dimension to the final section.

This combination of rock instrumentation and gospel-inspired vocals gives the song an emotional scale that few conventional ballads achieve. The choir does more than decorate the arrangement; it reinforces the sense of searching, hope and revelation at the heart of the lyrics.

“I Want To Know What Love Is” remains a timeless expression of vulnerability, demonstrating Foreigner’s ability to unite arena-rock power with genuine emotional depth.

The song peaked at No. 01 in the UK singles chart on 19th January 1985.