What Is Love (Howard Jones song)

"What Is Love?"
Single by Howard Jones
from the album Human's Lib
Released	26 November 1983
Format	7" vinyl 12" vinyl
Recorded	1983
Genre	Synthpop[1]
Length	3:41
Label	WEA
Writer(s)	Howard Jones Bill Bryant
Producer(s)	Rupert Hine
Certification	Silver (BPI)[2]
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

Weekly charts Chart (1983–84) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 31 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 16 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[5] 18 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 49 France (IFOP)[7] 80 Germany (Official German Charts)[8] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[9] 17 Italy (FIMI)[10] 18 Norway (VG-lista)[11] 10 Poland (LP3)[12] 11 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 24 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[16] 33 US Cash Box[17] 35 Year-end charts Chart (1984) Peak position Italy (FIMI)[10] 78 Track listing 7" "What Is Love?" (Jones/Bryant) – 3:41 "It Just Doesn't Matter" (Jones/Bryant) – 3:36 12" "What Is Love? (Extended Version)" (Jones/Bryant) – 6:33 "It Just Doesn't Matter" (Jones/Bryant) – 4:30 "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: "What Can I Say? (Live at the Marquee) (Jones/Bryant)" "Bounce Right Back (Live at the Marquee) (Jones)" Demo Tape What Can I Say Always Asking Questions Human's Lib Love? Risk References Andrew, Corey (21 October 2014). "80s-Themed Regeneration Tour Visits Mountain Winery". NBC Bay Area. KNTV. Retrieved 9 May 2015. "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 June 2014. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2013. "Ultratop.be – Howard Jones – What Is Love?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 11 februari 1984" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 1 January 2014. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6773." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2013. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Howard Jones" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 21 June 2013. "Offiziellecharts.de – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – What Is Love (Re 1)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 January 2014. "I singoli più venduti del 1984" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "Norwegiancharts.com – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". VG-lista. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "WHAT IS LOVE? – Howard Jones" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 25 July 2013. "Swedishcharts.com – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "Swisscharts.com – Howard Jones – What Is Love?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "Archive Chart: 1984-01-14" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013. "Human's Lib – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 1 June 2013. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 23, 1984 at the Wayback Machine (archived 30 September 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2014. External links The Official Howard Jones Website Discography Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics