What Is Love (Haddaway song)

"What Is Love"
Single by Haddaway
from the album Haddaway
B-side "Sing About Love"
Released May 8, 1993
Format CD single, CD maxi
Recorded 1992
Genre Eurodance, house
Length 4:29 (album version/7" mix)
Label Coconut
Writer(s) Dee Dee Halligan / Junior Torello
Producer Dee Dee Halligan / Junior Torello
Haddaway singles chronology
"What Is Love"
(1993)		 "Life"
(1993)

"What Is Love" is a song recorded by Eurodance artist Haddaway. It was written and produced by Dee Dee Halligan (Tony Hendrik/Dieter Lünstedt) and Junior Torello (Karin Hartman-Eisenblätter) of Coconut Records in Cologne. Recorded in the early 1990s, it later experienced a revival as the song from the Saturday Night Live "Roxbury Guys" sketches, 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". These sketches were later made into the 1998 feature film A Night at the Roxbury but the "Barhop" role was dropped during the production of the film.

The song peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and Germany, but it reached number one in 13 other countries, all of them European or Asian. The song reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and number 12 in Australia. The song is currently the 75th best-selling single of all time in Germany.[1]

Composition

The female vocalist in the song was sampled from the Zero-G DataFile CD (Volume 1) on tracks 63 and 64. [2][unreliable source]

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Track listings

"What Is Love"
CD single / 7"
  1. "What Is Love" – 4:28
  2. "Sing About Love" – 3:12
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
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Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[3] 12
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 1
Canada (RPM)[6] 17
Canada Dance (RPM)[7] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[8] 1
France (SNEP)[9] 1
Germany (Media Control AG)[10] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 1
Italy (FIMI)[12] 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 1
New Zealand (RIANZ)[14] 48
Norway (VG-lista)[15] 1
Spain (AFYVE)[16] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 1
UK (The Official Charts Company)[19] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 11
US Billboard Pop Songs[20] 4
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[20] 9
Chart (1993)1 Peak
position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 15
Chart (2003)2 Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4] 49
Denmark (Tracklisten)[21] 20
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[22] 100
Germany (Media Control AG)[10] 51
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] 92
Chart (2009)3 Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 37
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[24] 41
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[25] 9
France (SNEP)[26] 5
Germany (Media Control AG)[27] 60
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 49
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[21] 31


1 "What Is Love" - remixes
2 "What Is Love" - reloaded
3 "What Is Love 2K9", by Klaas Meets Haddaway

Year-end charts

Chart (1993) Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[29] 3
Canada Dance (RPM)[30] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 2
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)[33] 8
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[34] 82
Chart (1994) Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[35] 97

Certifications

Country Certification Date Sales certified
Austria[36] Platinum October 19, 1993 30,000
Germany[37] Platinum 1993 500,000
Sweden[38] Gold July 19, 1993 10,000
UK[39] Gold July 1, 1993 400,000
U.S.[40] Gold November 9, 1993 500,000

Chart successions

Preceded by
"Informer" by Snow		 Norwegian VG-Lista number one single
22/1993 – 29/1993 (8 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Mr. Vain" by Culture Beat
Preceded by
"All That She Wants" by Ace of Base		 Austrian number one single
May 9, 1993 – July 4, 1993 (9 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Mr. Vain" by Culture Beat
Preceded by
"Mr. Blue" by René Klijn		 Dutch number one single
May 15, 1993 – June 19, 1993 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You (UB40 song)" by UB40
Preceded by
"Tribal Dance" by 2 Unlimited		 Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single
June 12, 1993 – July 24, 1993 (6 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Can't Help Falling in Love With You" by UB40
Preceded by
"Informer" by Snow		 Swiss number-one single
June 13, 1993 – July 11, 1993 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Mr. Vain" by Culture Beat
Preceded by
"No Limit" by 2 Unlimited		 French SNEP number-one single
July 17, 1993 – August 14, 1993 (5 weeks)		 Succeeded by
"Darla dirladada" by GO Culture
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Cover versions and sampling

  • In 2006, Finnish heavy metal band Leningrad Cowboys covered the song on their covers album Zombies Paradise.
  • In 2007, the song has been 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".[41]
  • In 2009, singer and songwriter Diane Birch completely rearranged the song,[42][43] that later was featured on [Billboard Magazine Mashup Monday] in 2010.[44]
  • In 2010, it was also sampled for the song "No Love" (featuring Lil Wayne) by rapper Eminem for his album Recovery.
  • In 2010, Sharaya J sampled the chorus for her performance on Missy Elliott's European tour.[45]
  • 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.[46]
  • In 2012 Israeli singer Daniella Pick (daughter of Svika Pick) released a videoclip cover of the song.[4]
  • In 2012 Irish Souncloud artist Genevieve covered the song. [5]
  • In 2012 the song was covered on eight floppy drives on Youtube.[6]
  • In 2012, it was covered by Paige Thomas on The X Factor in a contemporary dance-pop arrangement.[47]
  • In 2013, it was covered by the band Sheeva, in a variety of genres, from jazz to metal and gangnam. [48]
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References

  1. ^ Best-selling singles of all time in Germany Musicline.de (Retrieved May 17, 2009)
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien.
  4. ^ a b "Haddaway – What Is Love – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  5. ^ "Ultratop.be – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  6. ^ [2] Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada
  7. ^ [3] Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada
  8. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3. 
  9. ^ "Lescharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
  10. ^ a b "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  11. ^ "Irish Singles Chart, database". Irishcharts. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
  12. ^ "Hit Parade Italia - Indice per Interprete: H". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved July 6, 2012. 
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Haddaway search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.
  14. ^ "Charts.org.nz – Haddaway – What Is Love". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  16. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. 
  17. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  18. ^ a b c "Haddaway – What Is Love – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  19. ^ ""What Is Love", UK Singles Chart". Chartstats. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
  20. ^ a b c "Haddaway singles, Billboard". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
  21. ^ a b "Danishcharts.com – Haddaway – What Is Love - Reloaded". Tracklisten. Hung Medien.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Haddaway – What Is Love - Reloaded" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  23. ^ "Klaas Meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9 – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Klaas Meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Klaas Meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in French). Ultratip. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  26. ^ "Lescharts.com – Klaas Meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien.
  27. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  28. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Klaas Meets Haddaway – What Is Love 2K9". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien.
  29. ^ "1993 Austrian Singles Chart" (in German). Austriancharts. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
  30. ^ Canadian Dance Top Tracks of 1993
  31. ^ "Single top 100 over 1993" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 15 April 2010. 
  32. ^ "1993 Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Hitparade. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
  33. ^ The Complete Book Of British Charts by Warwick/Kutner/Brown
  34. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1993". Retrieved 2010-08-27. 
  35. ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1994". Retrieved 2010-08-27. 
  36. ^ "Austrian certifications, database" (in German). Ifpi. Retrieved 17 August 2008. 
  37. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('What+Is+Love')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 17 August 2008. 
  38. ^ "Swedish certifications, 1987-1998" (in Swedish). Ifpi. Retrieved 11 September 2008. 
  39. ^ "UK certifications, database". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2008. 
  40. ^ "U.S. certifications, database". Riaa. Retrieved 17 August 2008. 
  41. ^ Simon Price (2 September 2007). "Interpol/The Gossip, Reading Festival". The Independent. Retrieved 16 December 2009. 
  42. ^ "Diane Birch In Concert". NPR. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2011-02-04. 
  43. ^ Name * (2009-07-27). "Diane Birch covers Haddaway’s “What Is Love?” « LOFT965". Loft965.com. Retrieved 2011-02-04. 
  44. ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums (2010-03-08). "Diane Birch De-Clubs "What Is Love"". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-02-04. 
  45. ^ "Sharaya @ Bamboo Mamaia - 16 iulie 2010 - HD video 5a". YouTube. July 16, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2013. 
  46. ^ scandipop (2010-10-28). "– EMD cover Haddaway’s ‘What Is Love’!". Scandipop.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-12. 
  47. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUp2Jl_G3SI
  48. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaX_ArYXUGk
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External links

Haddaway
Studio albums
Compilation albums
  • All the Best: His Greatest Hits
  • Best of Haddaway: What Is Love
Singles
E.M.D.
Studio albums
Singles
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Last modified on 15 May 2013, at 23:23