What Is Love (Howard Jones song)

For other uses, see What Is Love (disambiguation).
"What Is Love?"
Single by Howard Jones
from the album Human's Lib
Released 26 November 1983
Format
Recorded 1983
Genre Synthpop[1]
Length 3:41
Label WEA
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Rupert Hine
Howard Jones singles chronology
"New Song"
(1983)		 "What Is Love"
(1983)		 "Hide and Seek"
(1984)

"What Is Love?" is the second single by musician Howard Jones. Released in November 1983, from the album Human's Lib, it reached no. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming the singer's highest chart placing to date. In the US, it peaked at no. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the summer of 1984.

The song was originally entitled "Love?" on the demo tape (listing below) which Howard Jones recorded in 1982, which itself was available at his gigs. Jones also used the question mark motif around this time on posters advertising his gigs; posters which also hung behind him on stage at his early 1980s Marquee Club appearances and which read simply "Howard Jones?".

In 2003 it was remade by Hakan Lidbo Featuring Emma Holmgren on vocals and featured on the CDs From Hackney to Caracas and Private Lounge 2. A second recording is also featured on the CD Musique Pour Le Bain Volume 2.

Music video

The music video to What Is Love was filmed in Paris, France and features Jones walking around the city and a park.

Chart performance and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1983–84) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[2] 31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 16
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[4] 18
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] 49
France (IFOP)[6] 80
Germany (Official German Charts)[7] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 17
Italy (FIMI)[9] 18
Norway (VG-lista)[10] 10
Poland (LP3)[11] 11
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 24
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 33
US Cash Box[16] 35

Year-end charts

Chart (1984) Position
Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 68
Italy (FIMI)[9] 78

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 250,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Track listing

7"
  1. "What Is Love?" (Jones/Bryant) – 3:41
  2. "It Just Doesn't Matter" (Jones/Bryant) – 3:36
12"
  1. "What Is Love? (Extended Version)" (Jones/Bryant) – 6:33
  2. "It Just Doesn't Matter" (Jones/Bryant) – 4:30
  3. "Hunt The Self (Live At The Marquee)" (Jones/Bryant) – 5:36
Limited Edition 12"

A limited edition pack was also released featuring the standard 12" single as above, with a bonus 7" single included which featured the tracks:

  1. "What Can I Say? (Live at the Marquee) (Jones/Bryant)"
  2. "Bounce Right Back (Live at the Marquee) (Jones)"
Demo Tape
  1. What Can I Say
  2. Always Asking Questions
  3. Human's Lib
  4. Love?
  5. Risk

References

  1. ↑ Andrew, Corey (21 October 2014). "80s-Themed Regeneration Tour Visits Mountain Winery". NBC Bay Area. KNTV. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Howard Jones – What Is Love?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 11 februari 1984" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6773." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "InfoDisc" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Howard JONES" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Is Love (Re 1)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. 1 2 "I singoli più venduti del 1984" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". VG-lista. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "WHAT IS LOVE? – Howard Jones" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1984-01-14" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Howard Jones – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Howard Jones. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  16. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 23, 1984 at the Wayback Machine (archived 30 September 2012). Cash Box magazine.
  17. ↑ "Jahrescharts – 1984" (in German). Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "British single certifications – Howard Jones". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Howard Jones in the field Search. Select Artist in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
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