What's Love Got to Do with It (song)

Background

This song was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, who originally offered it to Cliff Richard, but it was rejected. It was then given to Phyllis Hyman, who wanted to do the song, but Arista Records head Clive Davis wouldn't allow her. The song then was offered to Donna Summer, who has stated that she sat with it for a couple of years but never recorded it. Some months before Turner recorded the song, the British pop group Bucks Fizz were offered it. Member Jay Aston requested to sing lead on the track after hearing the demo, but was told by the producer that it was unsuitable for a female lead vocal. The group went on to record it in February 1984, but sung by male groupmember Bobby G. Aston recalls that the demo was very similar to the eventual Tina Turner version, but their finished version was in a very different style. It was intended for possible inclusion on their next album I Hear Talk but was shelved when Turner released her version first. The Bucks Fizz version went unreleased until it was included on a re-issue of their Are You Ready album in 2000. The Original Bucks Fizz went on to include the song in their reunion concert tour in October 2009. The name of the song was adapted into an autobiography film in 1993, where it revealed the abusive relationship between Tina and Ike Turner. It became a significant feminist power movement for female artists.

Chart information

Up until the release of "What's Love Got to Do with It", Tina Turner had not had a US top ten single since the early 1970s. The single went to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for three weeks, becoming Turner's first and only solo number-one hit in America. It peaked at #3 on the UK singles chart, which is also her highest singles chart peak there. Turner was 44 when the song hit number one, at the time making her the oldest female solo artist to place a number-one single on the US Hot 100. Grace Slick, who is older than Turner by about one month, hit #1 in 1985 and 1987 with "We Built This City" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", respectively, as a member of Starship. In 1999, Cher, at age 53, became the oldest woman - solo or as part of a group - to have a US number-one hit with her song "Believe".

The song also spent five weeks at #2 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, from July 14 to August 18, 1984; it was kept from the top spot by "When Doves Cry" by Prince (another Hot 100 number-one single).

Versions and remixes

Music video

The music video features Turner walking down the street engaging with the public, intercut with scenes where she is singing directly to camera. The video was shot in New York City during the spring of 1984. The music video also features Sleepaway Camp 2's Pamela Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen's sister, as a street dancer and Samuel L Jackson before achieving stardom. The video was directed by Mark Robinson.

An alternate video exists that was shot in black and white. It features Tina singing the song against a black background while couples argue in a bar.

Awards

The song received three awards at the 1985 Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Turner's live performance of the song at the Grammy show was released on the 1994 album Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I.

The music video for the song claimed a prize at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1985 for "Best Female Video".

In 2012, "What's Love Got to Do with It" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Warren G version

"What's Love Got to Do with It" was also recorded by American artists Warren G and Adina Howard for the Supercop soundtrack. The song both sampled and interpolated the chorus of Tina Turner's 1984 song of the same name, though Warren G replaced the original lyrics with his own. "What's Love Got to Do with It" became a hit, making it to 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Warren G's third top-40 single, as well as 5 on the Hot Rap Singles. While a success in America, the single found greater success in the UK where it made it to #2 on the UK Singles chart.

Music video

A music video (directed by Joseph Kahn) was produced to promote the single, featuring footage of Warren G and Adina Howard performing the song, with clips from the film Police Story 3: Super Cop. Jackie Chan also appears near the end of the video, dancing along with the artists.

A-side

1. "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (album version) – 4:17
2. "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (clean radio version) – 4:17

B-side

1. "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (a cappella) – 4:15
2. "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (instrumental) – 4:15