The week of February 2, 1985, found Foreigner atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘I Want to Know What Love Is.’
Foreigner’s ‘Waiting For a Girl Like You’ holds the record for the most weeks at #2 without ever reaching #1. That happened in 1981. Four years later, the band finally got over that hump and landed their first (and only) #1 hit with this undeniable power ballad.
The lead single of the triple-Platinum Agent Provocateur, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ was written by the band’s founder Mick Jones, though frontman Lou Gramm claims he went uncredited for his own contributions.
Jones wrote the song for his fiancee, who upon hearing the lyrics the first time, exclaimed “What do you mean you want to know what love is? We’re about to get married!”
I have a feeling daily commenter Dana is going to trash this song, but I have to admit I kind of love it. I have a soft spot for 80s cheese.
[Note: ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ also has the distinction of being performed by Tom Cruise (and Malin Ackerman) in a truly hilarious seduction scene in the movie Rock of Ages.]
I’ve gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I’m older
[Verse 2]
Now, this mountain, I must climb
Feels like the world upon my shoulders
Through the clouds, I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder
[Pre-Chorus]
In my life, there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far
To change this lonely life
[Chorus]
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Oh
[Verse 3]
I’m gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I’ve got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
[Pre-Chorus]
In my life, there’s been heartache and pain
I don’t know if I can face it again
Can’t stop now, I’ve traveled so far
To change this lonely life
[Chorus]
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
[Outro]
(And I wanna feel) I wanna feel what love is
(And I know) I know you can show me
Let’s talk about love
(I wanna know what love is) The love that you feel inside
(I want you to show me) And I’m feelin’ so much love
(I wanna feel what love is) No, you just cannot hide
(I know you can show me) Yeah
I wanna know what love is (Let’s talk about love)
I want you to show me, I wanna feel
(I wanna feel what love is) And I know, and I know
I know you can show me (Yeah)
(I wanna know what love is) (I wanna know)
(I want you to show me) I wanna know, I wanna know, wanna know
(I wanna feel what love is) (I wanna feel)
(I know you can show me)
Meet Me In Montauk 
Nostalgia for the 80s has softened my disdain for the more schmaltzy songs from that decade, but this one remains high on my list of crappy songs from once great rock bands and artists. Other examples include:
REO Speedwagon : “I Can’t Fight this Feeling Anymore”
Styx: “Mr. Roboto”
Stevie Wonder: “I Just Called to Say I Love You”
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson: “The Doggone Girl Is Mine”
Jefferson Starship f/k/a Jefferson Airplane : We Built This City (on Rock and Roll)”
Joe Cocker: “Love Lifts Us Up Where We Belong”
Kenny Loggins: “Footloose” “Highway to the Danger Zone” (though the tie in to the movies saves them a bit)
Elton John: “I’m Still Standing”
Billy Joel: “This is the Time”
R.E.M.: “ Shiny Happy People” “Stand”
I’m sure there are more, but those are some off the top of my head early on a Sunday morning.🤪
I kinda like this song too. And that Tom Cruise video is hilarious 😂