Foreigner – I Want to Know What Love Is
A rock ballad that turned longing into a global anthem

In November 1984, Foreigner released “I Want to Know What Love Is”—a sweeping, emotional track that would become their biggest hit and signature song. It was the lead single from their fifth album Agent Provocateur, and it didn’t just top charts—it carved out a permanent place in pop history. With its blend of rock, soul, and gospel, the song captured something universal: the ache of not just wanting love, but needing to understand it.
Sound: soft rock meets spiritual crescendo
Written by Mick Jones, the song was produced by Jones and Alex Sadkin, with mixing by Frank Filipetti. It starts quietly, with synths, piano, and orchestral strings setting a reflective mood. Then it builds—slowly, dramatically—into a full-blown gospel-infused power ballad. The New Jersey Mass Choir, Jennifer Holliday, and Tom Bailey (of Thompson Twins) all contribute backing vocals, lifting the final chorus into something transcendent.
The extended 12″ version runs 6:23, with a longer intro and fadeout that stretch the emotion even further.
Lyrics: searching for something deeper
Jones wrote the song during a period of personal reflection, describing it as “probably written entirely by a higher force.” The lyrics are simple but powerful—about longing, heartache, and the desire to truly understand love. Lead singer Lou Gramm delivers them with soulful intensity, especially in lines like: “I want to know what love is / I want you to show me…”
It’s not just romantic—it’s spiritual. The gospel choir adds a layer of uplift and redemption, turning the song into a kind of emotional prayer.
Backstory: tension, inspiration, and a midnight spark
Jones came up with the idea around 3 a.m., during a sleepless night in 1984. He was dealing with a divorce, a new relationship, and creative tension within the band. He woke his fiancée to play her the rough version—she famously replied, “What do you mean? Don’t you already know what love is?” That moment only deepened the song’s emotional core.
Though Jones is credited as the sole writer, Lou Gramm has long claimed he contributed significantly—Jones says 95–5, Gramm says 65–35. The disagreement added to the band’s internal friction, but the song’s impact was undeniable.
Chart climb: global domination
The single hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 2, 1985, knocking Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” off the top spot. It also reached No. 1 in the UK on January 15, 1985, replacing Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” It topped charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden, and hit the Top 5 in Germany, Switzerland, and Portugal.
It was ranked #4 on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 chart for 1985, and certified Platinum in the U.S., 2× Platinum in the UK, and multi-Platinum in Mexico and New Zealand.
Legacy: timeless, covered, and still soaring
“I Want to Know What Love Is” has been covered by Mariah Carey, Tina Arena, Wynonna Judd, Julio Iglesias, and many others. Carey’s version hit No. 1 in Brazil, and Jones praised her for “retaining the integrity of the song.” It’s appeared in TV shows, films, commercials, and even Broadway musicals like Rock of Ages.
Rolling Stone ranked it #479 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in 2024, Foreigner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Gramm performing the song live alongside a gospel choir, Kelly Clarkson, Slash, and Chad Smith.