This, That, and the Other

For this week’s edition of Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has asked us to focus on songs by an artist or a group that was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. The artist I have selected is Tina Turner. In November 1967, Turner became the first female artist and the first black artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

Above is Tina Turner appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone Volume 1, Number 2 published on November 25, 1967. The Tina Turner song I’m featuring is “What’s Love Got To Do With It”

“What’s Love Got To Do With It” was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle. It was recorded by Tina Turner and released in 1984. It was taken from her fifth solo album, Private Dancer, and became Turner’s most successful single. Interestingly, the song was offered to a number of other singers, including Cliff Richard, Phyllis Hyman, and Donna Summer, but ultimately Tina Turner recorded it and was her “comeback song.”

Tina Turner first hit the pop charts with her husband Ike in 1960, and their biggest hit came in 1971 with a cover of “Proud Mary.” After enduring years of spousal abuse, Tina split from Ike in 1976 and her career was in limbo until “What’s Love Got To Do With It” thrust her back in the spotlight 13 years after “Proud Mary.”

In “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” a woman enjoys having sex with her lover, but feels no emotional attachment. She wants him to know that there’s nothing more to it, as for her it’s purely physical. Their relationship has nothing to do with love, which she dismisses as “a sweet, old-fashioned notion.”

Turner initially hated what she called an “anti-love” song. She balked at recording it, but she ultimately deferred to her manager, Roger Davies, who was engineering her comeback and was sure the song would be a hit.

The song won Grammys in 1985 for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Female Vocal Performance. Tina gave one of the awards to Davies, whom she credited with reviving her career.

Turner set two records when this song went to number 1 on the Hot 100 on September 1, 1984. At 44, she became the oldest female solo artist ever to top the chart, a remarkable feat in an industry that prizes youth, especially among female singers.

She also set the record for longest time between first song to chart and first number 1 hit. Her first song to chart was “A Fool In Love” with Ike Turner in 1960, 24 years earlier.

Here are the lyrics to “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”

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'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 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

Ooh

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

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) Ooh 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 with it) Oh oh, got to do with it
(What's love)