What About Love
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| "What About Love" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Heart | ||||
| from the album Heart | ||||
| B-side | "Heart of Darkness" | |||
| Released | June 1, 1985[1] | |||
| Format | 7", 12", CD Single (UK only) | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 3:41 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Writer(s) | Brian Allen Sheron Alton Jim Vallance |
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| Producer(s) | Ron Nevison | |||
| Heart singles chronology | ||||
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"What About Love" is a song originally recorded by Canadian rock group Toronto but is best known for the 1985 release by the rock group Heart. The song was Heart's "comeback" single. It was the first Heart track to reach the top 40 in three years, and their first top 10 hit in five. It was released as the first single from the band's self-titled 1985 album, Heart, as well as their first hit single on their new record label, Capitol Records.
Contents
Background
The song was originally recorded in 1983 by Canadian rock group Toronto, of which songwriters Sheron Alton and Brian Allen were members. (The other songwriter, Jim Vallance, was not a member of Toronto, though he played drums on Toronto's recording of the song.) However, Toronto, by group vote, elected not to release their version at that time. Following the band's breakup, Brian Allen played Toronto's demo of the song to Michael McCarty at ATV Music Publishing. McCarty agreed to represent the song and he offered it to Heart who turned it into a worldwide hit. Toronto's original version remained commercially unreleased until 2002, when it appeared as a bonus cut on the CD Toronto: The Greatest Hits.
Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas, co-lead vocalists of Starship at the time, provide additional background vocals on the song.
Reception
The song's sound marked a considerable change in the musical direction for Heart, moving from the hard rock and folk rock of their earlier work to a more polished, power ballad sound. "What About Love" received extensive airplay on MTV and returned Heart to the Top-10 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in five years, peaking at #10.
The song peaked at #14 on the UK Singles Chart upon its re-release in 1988. Exclusively in its UK release, "What About Love" was also featured in an extended version on 12" and CD single versions.
The song's chorus was featured in a series of Swiffer WetJet TV commercials from late 2010 into the following year. The campaign followed a series of previous Swiffer commercials using popular songs of the '70s and '80s.
Chart performance
Original release
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[citation needed] | 28 |
| Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart[2] | 3 |
| Canadian Singles Chart[3] | 8 |
| German Singles Chart[4] | 43 |
| Polish Singles Chart[citation needed] | 26 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Maintstream Rock Chart[6] | 3 |
1988
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[7] | 14 |
2008
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot Digital Singles Chart[6] | 37 |
Cover versions and samples
- On the compilation album of the 2006 season of American Idol, the song was performed by finalist Melissa McGhee.[8] Janell Wheeler performed the song in Season 9 of the series. Season 11 Erika Van Pelt sang the song in the top 12 Girls night. In Season 12, Amber Holcomb sang it during the Top 7's Rock week.
- Rick Ross samples "What About Love" in his song "Shot to the Heart."
- Lil Wayne samples "What About Love" in his song "Something You Forgot."
- On the TV show Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious, finalist Chrystina performs this song in the series finale which eventually leads to her making the final group.
- Rytmus samples "What About Love" in his song "Na Toto Som Cakal."
- Kelly Clarkson covered the song during as part of her 2012 Stronger Tour, the pop rock singer-songwriter performing the song during a Boston, Massachusetts appearance.
References
- ↑ http://www.heart-music.com/albums/album_detail.asp?album_id=517 Heart-Discography
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- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/303367/heart/chart?f=379
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- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/american-idol-season-5-encores-mw0000405420
