What Is Love (Haddaway song)

"What Is Love"
Single by Haddaway
from the album The Album
B-side	"Sing About Love"
Released	8 May 1993 (Europe) August 1993 (US)
Format	7" single 12" single CD single cassette single
Recorded	1992
Genre	Eurodance[1][2]
Length	4:29
Label	Coconut
Writer(s)	Dee Dee Halligan Junior Torello
Producer(s)	Dee Dee Halligan Junior Torello
Haddaway singles chronology
"What Is Love" (1993) "Life" (1993)

"What Is Love" is a song recorded by Trinidadian-German Eurodance artist Haddaway for his debut album, The Album. It was written and produced by Dee Dee Halligan (Dieter Lünstedt a.k.a. Tony Hendrik) and Junior Torello (Karin Hartmann-Eisenblätter a.k.a. Karin van Haaren) of Coconut Records in Cologne. The song is recognizable by its refrain "What is love? Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more."

Recorded in the early 1990s, it later experienced a revival as the song from the Saturday Night Live "Roxbury Guys" sketches (later expanded into a movie called A Night at the Roxbury), where two brothers (played by Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell) frequently went to dance clubs with a third person (including actors such as Sylvester Stallone and Jim Carrey), credited as "Barhop".

"What Is Love" peaked at number 2 in the United Kingdom and Germany and hit number 1 in 13 other countries. Debuting at number 87 on 28 August 1993, the song reached number 11 on the Hot 100 in the United States. The song also peaked at number 12 in Australia. By March 1994, worldwide sales of "What Is Love" had already reached 2.6 million.^[3]

Track listings

"What Is Love"

CD single / 7"

1. "What Is Love" – 4:28
2. "Sing About Love" – 3:12

CD single - United Kingdom

1. "What Is Love" Radio Edit 7" Mix – 3:57
2. "What Is Love" Club Mix – 5:00
3. "What Is Love" 12" Mix – 6:40
4. "What Is Love" Tour De Trance Mix – 6:00
5. "What Is Love" Refreshmento Extro Mix – 5:42

CD maxi – France

1. "What Is Love" (7" mix) – 4:29
2. "What Is Love" (12" mix) – 6:40
3. "What Is Love" (club mix) – 5:02
4. "Sing About Love" – 4:36

"What Is Love" – remix

CD single – France

1. "What Is Love" (eat-this mix – radio edit) – 4:19
2. "What Is Love" (refreshmento extro mix) – 3:52

CD maxi

1. "What Is Love" – remix (eat-this mix) – 6:54
2. "What Is Love" (tour de trance-mix) – 6:00
3. "What Is Love" (7" mix) – 4:27

"What Is Love" – reloaded

CD maxi

1. "What Is Love" – reloaded (video mix) – 3:16
2. "What Is Love" – reloaded (reloaded mix) – 6:09
3. "What Is Love" – reloaded (what is club mix) – 6:39
4. "What Is Love" – reloaded (Jens O.'s hard remix) – 5:32
5. "What Is Love" – reloaded (Nathan Jolly's NRG remix) – 6:48
6. "What Is Love" – reloaded (radio edit) – 2:56
7. "What Is Love" – reloaded (lunaris remix) – 6:21

Charts and sales

Weekly charts

Original version Chart (1993–94) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[4] 12 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 1 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[7] 1 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[8] 2 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 17 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 1 France (SNEP)[12] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[13] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 1 Italy (FIMI)[15] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 48 Norway (VG-lista)[19] 1 Spain (AFYVE)[20] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[23] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[24] 11 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[24] 9 US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[24] 6 US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[24] 15 US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream[24] 4 US Cash Box[25] 9

What Is Love – Remix Chart (1993) Peak position Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 15 Spain (AFYVE)[20] 4 What Is Love – Reloaded Chart (2003) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27] 49 Denmark (Tracklisten)[28] 20 Germany (Media Control Charts)[29] 51 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 100 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 92 Other reissues Chart (2008) Peak position US Billboard Hot Digital Songs[24] 68 Chart (2012) Peak position Denmark (Tracklisten)[32] 31

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Australia (ARIA Singles Chart)[33] 78 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35] 3 Canada (RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks)[36] 2 Germany (Media Control Charts)[37] 2 Italy (FIMI)[38] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[39] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 2 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[42] 8 US Billboard Hot 100[43] 82 Chart (1994) Position US Billboard Hot 100[44] 97

Certifications and sales Region Certification Sales/shipments Australia (ARIA)[33] Gold 35,000 Austria (IFPI Austria)[45] Platinum 50,000 Germany (BVMI)[46] 3× Gold 750,000 Sweden (GLF)[47] Gold 25,000 United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Gold 400,000 United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 500,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart successions

Cover versions and sampling

• In 2007, the song was covered by indie band The Gossip, with lead singer Beth Ditto changing the lyrics to "When Is Lunch?, Baby I'm Hungry, I'm Hungry, For More".^[50]
• In 2009, singer and songwriter Diane Birch completely rearranged the song,^[51][52] that later was featured on Billboard magazine's Mashup Monday in 2010.^[53]
• In 2010, Sharaya J sampled the chorus for her performance on Missy Elliott's European tour.^[54]
• In 2010, Swedish boy band E.M.D. released a piano ballad version of "What Is Love" as the second single from their upcoming sophomore studio album Rewind.^[55]
• In 2010, American rappers Eminem and Lil Wayne sampled the song for the single "No Love" from Eminem's 7th studio album, Recovery.^[2]
• In 2013, it was covered by the band Foolstop in a rock style.^[56]
• In 2014, Canadian singer Kiesza did a "piano-and-synth cover" of the song.^[57]

Klaas version

In 2009, German DJ Klaas remixed the song under the title "Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9". This remix charted in several European countries.

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[58]	37
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[59]	13
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[60]	9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[61]	41
France (SNEP)[62]	5
Germany (Official German Charts)[63]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[64]	49

References

1. Raberg, Leif (9 February 2008). "First Full dress rehearsals in Gothenburg are over". Esctoday.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
2. Weiss, Jeff (22 June 2010). "Review: 2 1/2 stars for Eminem's 'Recovery'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 June 2014. Haddaway's "What Is Love," the Eurodance ballad mocked in the "Saturday Night Live" skits and spinoff movie.
3. Weinert, Ellie (26 March 1994). "Casebook: Haddawa". Billboard 106 (13): 58. ISSN 0006-2510.
4. "Australian-charts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
5. "Austriancharts.at – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
6. "Ultratop.be – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
7. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 12 juni 1993" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
8. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2222." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2291." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
10. "Hits of the World". Billboard: 37. 10 July 1993. ISSN 0006-2510.
11. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
12. "Lescharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Haddaway – What Is Love". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
14. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Is Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
15. "SINGOLI – I NUMERI UNO (1959-2006) (parte 4: 1990-1996)" (in Italian). It-charts.150m.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Haddaway - What Is Love search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
18. "Charts.org.nz – Haddaway – What Is Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
20. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
21. "Swedishcharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
22. "Swisscharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
23. "Archive Chart: 1993-07-03" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
24. "Haddaway – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
25. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending OCTOBER 30, 1993 at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 October 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
26. "Swisscharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love - Remix". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
27. "Austriancharts.at – Haddaway – What Is Love - Reloaded" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
28. "Danishcharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love - Reloaded". Tracklisten. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
29. (German) Single – Haddaway, What Is Love – Reloaded at the Wayback Machine (archived 25 October 2014). Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
30. "dutchcharts.nl – Haddaway – What Is Love – Reloaded" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
31. "Haddaway – What Is Love – Reloaded – hitparade.ch" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
32. "Danishcharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". Tracklisten. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
33. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
34. "Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
35. "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
36. "Dance/Urban – Volume 58, No. 23, December 18, 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
37. (German) Jahrescharts – 1993 at the Wayback Machine (archived 14 July 2014). Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
38. "I singoli più venduti del 1993" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
39. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
40. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
41. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
42. Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums (3rd ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-8444-9058-5.
43. "Top 100 Hits for 1993". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
44. "Top 100 Hits for 1994". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
45. "Austrian single certifications – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Haddaway in the field Interpret. Enter What Is Love in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
46. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Haddaway; 'What Is Love')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
47. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
48. "British single certifications – Haddaway – What Is Love". British Phonographic Industry. Enter What Is Love in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
49. "American single certifications – Haddaway – What Is Love". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
50. Price, Simon (2 September 2007). "Interpol/The Gossip, Reading Festival". The Independent. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
51. "Diane Birch In Concert". NPR. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
52. "Diane Birch covers Haddaway’s "What Is Love?"". Loft965.com. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
53. "Diane Birch De-Clubs "What Is Love"". Billboard. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
54. "Sharaya @ Bamboo Mamaia – 16 iulie 2010 – HD video 5a". YouTube. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
55. "EMD cover Haddaway’s ‘What Is Love’!". Scandipop. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
56. "Foolstop – What Is Love (Haddaway Rock Cover)". YouTube. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
57. Daw, Robbie (23 April 2014). "Kiesza Covers Haddaway’s "What Is Love": Watch The Video For Her Rendition Of The '90s Classic". Idolator. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
58. "Austriancharts.at – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
59. "Ultratop.be – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
60. "Ultratop.be – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
61. "Ultratop.be – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
62. "Lescharts.com – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
63. "Offiziellecharts.de – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
64. "Swedishcharts.com – Klaas meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 January 2014.

External links

• "What Is Love" at Discogs
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics