About the song
Released in 1984, “What’s Love Got to Do with It” marked a triumphant return for Tina Turner, cementing her status not just as a survivor of a tumultuous past, but as a powerful solo artist in her own right. The song became her first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, making her — at age 44 — the oldest female solo artist at the time to top the chart.
Featured on her breakthrough solo album Private Dancer, the song earned three Grammy Awards in 1985, including Record of the Year, and became Turner’s defining hit. Its success wasn’t just musical — it was cultural, symbolic of reinvention, resilience, and self-empowerment.
The story and style:
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” is a song of emotional detachment — both vulnerable and assertive. Delivered in Tina’s gritty, soulful voice, the lyrics describe a woman who resists being swept up by emotion or romance, refusing to believe that love is essential to physical or romantic connection:
“What’s love but a second-hand emotion?”
“Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?”
There’s a cool, almost cynical edge to the message, but Tina brings it to life with a performance that feels richly human — one shaped by real experience. Her delivery suggests both pain and empowerment, resignation and control.
Ironically, though the lyrics dismiss love, the performance oozes passion, turning what could’ve been icy into something deeply personal.
The sound and production:
Musically, the track fuses soft rock, pop, and R&B, wrapped in an airy, synth-driven production that reflects its era without feeling locked in time. Written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, the song had actually been passed over by other artists before landing with Turner — a perfect fit for her emotionally textured vocal style.
The production is minimal but effective: soft synth pads, clean guitar licks, and steady electronic drums. But it’s Tina’s voice that dominates — raspy, vulnerable, and undeniably powerful. She doesn’t belt; she smolders, delivering a performance full of nuance and strength.
Legacy and cultural impact:
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” was more than a hit — it was a comeback anthem. After years of career setbacks and personal struggles, Tina Turner emerged not just successful, but iconic. The song became the title of her 1993 biographical film, starring Angela Bassett, which chronicled her life and escape from abuse.
This single helped launch Private Dancer to global success, selling over 10 million copies and ushering in a new era for Tina — one in which she would sell out stadiums, win major awards, and inspire artists across generations.
The track has been sampled, covered, and remixed countless times (notably by Kygo in 2020), yet its original form still stands as one of pop’s most enduring anthems of independence and reinvention.
Final thoughts:
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” is a paradox: a love song that questions love, a soft production paired with a fierce performance, and a major hit that emerged from personal and professional struggle. It’s the sound of a woman reclaiming her voice, and in doing so, leaving an unforgettable mark on pop history.
Few songs so perfectly capture both a moment in time and the timeless journey of personal strength. With this single, Tina Turner didn’t just ask a question — she gave the world a resounding answer.
Video
Lyrics
“What’s Love Got To Do With It”
(from “What’s Love Got To Do With It” soundtrack)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 thatWhat’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’ve read it someplace
I’ve got cause to be
There’s a name for it
There’s a phrase that fits
But whatever the reason you do it for meWhat’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?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 wayWhat’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?What’s love 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?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?What’s love?
Got to do it
Got to do it
What’s love?