Mariah covered the song “I Want To Know What Love Is” — originally recorded by Foreigner in 1984 — for her 2009 album, Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel. “I wanted to respect the original version. I didn't want to make it something unrecognizable, but I did incorporate my own vision,” Mariah said about the cover. “I wanted more drums, and Randy [Jackson] got a drummer who works predominantly in church, which took it to a different level.”
“I Want To Know What Love Is” made its premiere on European radio on August 28, 2009. In the United States, the song impacted radio on September 14 and was digitally released as the album's second single a day later. “I Want To Know What Love Is” made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 3, peaking at number sixty two weeks later.
In the United Kingdom, “I Want To Know What Love Is” was released on December 5, 2009, and made its debut at number nineteen, becoming her highest debuting and peaking song since 2008's “Touch My Body,” which peaked at number five.
“I Want To Know What Love Is” became Mariah's biggest hit in Brazil, where it stayed atop the charts for twenty-seven weeks, becoming the longest chart-topper in the history of the Crowley Broadcast Analysis.
The dance remixes of “I Want To Know What Love Is” were produced by Chew Fu, Chriss Ortega, Richard Cutmore and Moto Bianco, among others. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart during the week of December 19, 2019.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Chew Fu Club Mix
Produced by Chew Fu. |
6:05 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Chew Fu Radio Mix
Produced by Chew Fu. |
3:54 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Chriss Ortega Club Mix
Produced by Chriss Ortega. |
6:07 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Chriss Ortega Radio Mix
Produced by Chriss Ortega. |
3:38 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Cutmore's Club Shakedown
Produced by Richard Cutmore. |
6:47 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Cutmore's Radio Shakedown
Produced by Richard Cutmore. |
3:15 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Donni Hotwheel Tempo Mix
Produced by Donni Hotwheel. |
3:08 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Low Sunday Tempo Mix
Produced by Low Sunday. |
3:18 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Moto Blanco Club Mix
Produced by Miki Moto, Bobby Blanco. |
6:55 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Moto Blanco Radio Mix
Produced by Miki Moto, Bobby Blanco. |
3:27 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Moto Blanco Dub
Produced by Miki Moto, Bobby Blanco. |
6:25 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Nu Addiction Club Mix
Produced by Simon Langford, Mark Bambach. |
6:56 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Nu Addiction Radio Mix
Produced by Simon Langford, Mark Bambach. |
3:32 |
| I Want To Know What Love Is | Nu Addiction Dub
Produced by Simon Langford, Mark Bambach. |
8:43 |
The music video for “I Want To Know What Love Is” was directed by Hype Williams and filmed in Brooklyn, NY. It premiered on Mariah's official website on November 13, 2009.
“I Want To Know What Love Is” was only physically available in Europe. The CD single, released on both a cardboard sleeve and a slimline jewel case, includes the album version of the song and the Cahill Club Edit of “Obsessed.”
I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm colder
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Written by Mick Jones.
Produced by Mariah Carey, C. “Tricky” Stewart and James “Big Jim” Wright. Additional production by Randy Jackson.
