About the song
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” stands as one of Tina Turner’s most iconic songs, and a pivotal track in her remarkable career. Released in May 1984 as a single from her fifth studio album *Private Dancer*, the song quickly became a defining moment for Turner. Written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, it emerged as Turner’s biggest-selling single, marking a major milestone in her career.
Despite a successful year with a top 30 hit from her rendition of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” it was “What’s Love Got to Do with It” that truly cemented Turner’s place in music history. The song soared to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Turner, at the age of 44, the oldest female solo artist to achieve this feat at the time. It became the second-biggest single of 1984 in the U.S. and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, illustrating its broad international appeal. The track’s success was not only commercial but also critically acclaimed, earning three Grammy Awards at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
The song’s catchy, synth-driven melody and Turner’s commanding vocal performance received praise for their “pop perfection,” as noted by critics. The music video, featuring Turner in a leather miniskirt walking through New York City, became a memorable visual component of the track, adding to its cultural impact. The song’s appeal extended beyond its initial release, with its influence and popularity enduring through various cover versions and remixes by artists such as Warren G, Kygo, and Black Stone Cherry, among others.
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” also inspired the title of the 1993 biographical film about Tina Turner’s life, underscoring its significant role in her personal and professional narrative. Its induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012 and its ranking on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” further affirm its status as a classic. The song’s legacy continues to resonate, with its impact felt across multiple generations and in various musical interpretations.
Video
Lyrics
You must understand, though the touch of your hand makes my pulse react
That it’s only the thrill of boy meeting girl, opposites attract
It’s physical
Only logical
You must try to ignore that it means more than that
Oh-oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love, but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
It may seem to you that I’m acting confused when you’re close to me
If I tend to look dazed, I read it some place, I got cause to be
There’s a name for it
There’s a phrase that fits
But whatever the reason, you do it for me
Oh-oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love, but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
Who?
I’ve been taking on a new direction
But I have to say
I’ve been thinking about my own protection
It scares me to feel this way
Oh-oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love, but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love, but a sweet old-fashioned notion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
ooh, got to do with it?
(What’s love? A second-hand emotion)
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
(What’s love) ooh-ooh (got to do with it?) got to do with it?