Who Sang ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’? Song Origins & Meaning

Few songs capture a moment of vulnerability the way Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” does. Released in 1984, it became an instant classic, hitting #1 in multiple countries, and behind the soaring chorus lies a story of a band in flux.

Release year: 1984 · Album: Agent Provocateur · Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 · Original lead singer: Lou Gramm · Songwriter: Mick Jones

Six defining facts, one pattern: the song’s creation and success were fueled by a partnership that would later fracture, then reform.

Who originally sang I Want to Know What Love Is?

The song was performed by the rock band Foreigner, with lead vocalist Lou Gramm delivering the iconic performance. Gramm, born Louis Andrew Grammatico, was Foreigner’s original frontman and lead vocalist on all of the band’s hit records (Wikipedia – Lou Gramm biography). Mick Jones, the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter, wrote the song after a difficult personal period (Songfacts – song history database).

Who is the original owner of the song?

• The track was written by Mick Jones, making him the original copyright owner.
• Gramm has stated in interviews that he and Jones wrote it together, working on it for a long time before recording (Interview clip on SPIN – music publication).

Who wrote I Want to Know What Love Is?

• Mick Jones is credited as the sole writer on the album, though co-writing credit has been acknowledged by Gramm.
• Jones recalled auditioning about 40 vocalists before remembering Gramm and recruiting him for the new band (Real Life Stories – interview archive).

The pattern: the song’s authorship is officially singular but creatively collaborative, a tension that mirrors the band’s later splits.

What happened to the original Foreigner lead singer?

Lou Gramm left Foreigner in 1990 after creative differences and health issues. He battled a brain tumor in the 1990s and later underwent treatment that affected his singing (Real Life Stories – interview archive). He rejoined briefly in the mid-1990s and again in the 2000s, but final departure came around 2003. Kelly Hansen became the lead singer in 2005 and continues to front the band today (Wikipedia – Foreigner band history).

Who was the best lead singer of Foreigner?

• Subjective question; Lou Gramm is widely considered the classic era voice, while Kelly Hansen has led the band for two decades (Rolling Stone – Foreigner songs list).
• Gramm was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Foreigner in 2024.

Are there any original members of Foreigner still alive?

• As of 2025, Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards) remains a member and occasionally performs.
• Original drummer Dennis Elliott is retired; bassist Rick Wills left in the 1990s. Lou Gramm is alive and continues to release solo music (Syracuse.com – new song report).

The implication: Foreigner’s legacy is tied to a specific voice that no longer leads the band, creating a lasting disconnect between classic hits and live performances.

What movie had the song I Want to Know What Love Is?

The song has been used in multiple films, most notably The Bodyguard (1992) and Love Actually (2003) (IMDb – Love Actually soundtrack). Despite a persistent rumor, it was not featured in Top Gun. That film’s soundtrack includes songs like “Take My Breath Away” but not this one (IMDb – Top Gun soundtrack).

Is I Want to Know What Love Is in Top Gun?

• No. The misconception may come from the similar power-ballad style (Snopes – fact check).

The catch: the song’s emotional heft makes it easy to misremember it as part of Top Gun‘s iconic soundtrack, but the record is clear.

What is the meaning of I Want to Know What Love Is?

The lyrics express a desire to understand and experience love. Mick Jones wrote it during a period of personal difficulty and has described it as a search for connection. The song is often interpreted both as a romantic ballad and as a spiritual yearning, and the addition of a gospel choir in the outro reinforces that duality.

What are the lyrics about?

• “I’m gonna take a little time, a little time to think things over” — opening line suggesting introspection.
• The chorus repeats the title as a plea, not a statement, framing love as something unknown.

Why did Foreigner write this song?

• Jones wrote it after a period of loneliness and personal struggles, channeling that vulnerability into the song (Songfacts – songwriter interview).
• Gramm has said the universal theme of seeking love resonates with everyone (Real Life Stories – Gramm interview).

Why this matters: the song’s enduring appeal is rooted in its raw vulnerability — a quality rare in mainstream rock anthems.

How has I Want to Know What Love Is been performed live and covered?

Foreigner continues to perform the song at every show, now with Kelly Hansen on vocals. The band also performed it with the original lineup at the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (Rolling Stone – Hall of Fame coverage).

What are notable live performances?

• Foreigner with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2006 (YouTube – official video).
• Lou Gramm solo performances of the song since leaving Foreigner.

Which artists have covered the song?

The pattern: few songs from the 1980s have crossed as many genre boundaries as this one, proving the power of a simple, deeply felt melody.

“I Want to Know What Love Is” is more than a hit — it’s a document of a band’s creative peak and subsequent fracture. For Foreigner, the song remains both a legacy and a burden: it defines them, but it also sets a standard that later material has struggled to match. For fans, the question is whether the song’s emotional honesty can be replicated by a lineup that no longer includes the voice that made it famous.