Haddaway’s 1993 song “What Is Love” made the Trinidadian-German singer an international one-hit wonder.
Produced by Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann, the Eurodance recording pairs a forceful beat with Haddaway’s repeated question about the nature of love. It became a major European hit and established his signature vocal style.
“What Is Love” reached number one in several countries, including Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, and peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it became widely known through the recurring Saturday Night Live sketch featuring characters played by Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan.
The song is often remembered through that comedy sketch, but it was already an international hit before the sketch appeared. Haddaway continued releasing music, though none of his later singles matched this song’s global impact.