Looking for a New Love explained

Looking for a New Love
Cover:LookingForANewLove.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jody Watley
Album:Jody Watley
Released:January 6, 1987
Genre:Freestyle[1]
Length:
  • 5:06 (album version)
  • 3:56 (single version)
Label:MCA
Producer:
  • André Cymone
  • David Z.
Next Title:Still a Thrill
Next Year:1987

"Looking for a New Love" is a song by American dance-pop singer Jody Watley. It was released in January 1987 as the first single from her eponymous debut album. The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charted in several countries worldwide, peaking at number one in Canada. Watley re-recorded and re-issued the song in various remixes in 2005.

Background

While listening to a tape of instrumental tracks given to her by producer André Cymone, Watley reflected on a recent sour romantic breakup. Fusing her own feelings of "I'll show you" with the feel of the track, Watley came up with the basic premise of "Looking for a New Love." The released record is the eight-track demo of the song; that way the emotional urgency of Watley's vocal was still intact. One of the song's key phrases became a popular saying: "Hasta la vista, baby." It wound up on innumerable answering machines and was used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1991 film (see Hasta la vista, baby).

Reception

The single hit number two for four consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1987 and spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.[2] It ranked number 16 on Billboards year-end chart for 1987. The song also reached number one on the RPM Singles Chart in Canada. In 1988, the song was nominated for two Soul Train Music Awards for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video, and Best R&B/Soul Single, Female. She was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Music video

A music video, directed by Brian Grant was released in March 1987 to promote the song.[3] Grant previously made videos for Whitney Houston, Peter Gabriel and Tina Turner.

2005 version

Looking for a New Love '05
Cover:Looking For New 05.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jody Watley
Released:February 14, 2005
Label:
  • Curvve
  • Avitone
  • Peace Bisquit
Producer:
  • Jody Watley
  • Bill Coleman
  • Vinny Troia
Prev Title:Whenever
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Borderline
Next Year:2006

In 2005, Jody Watley re-recorded and released "Looking for a New Love" on Curvve Recordings in conjunction with her own Avitone label and Peace Bisquit. The newly imagined "Looking for a New Love" peaked at number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Awards and nominations

Year Award
1987 Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Looking for a New Love"
1988 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Single of the Year (Female) for '"Looking for a New Love"
1988 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best Music Video for '"Looking for a New Love"
1988 American Music Award nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Looking For A New Love

Track listing

Maxi-CD 2005

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 13
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[5] 15
Greece (IFPI)[6] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 2
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[8]
1
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[9]
1
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[10] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[12] 41
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 16
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[14] 6
US Dance Club Play (Billboard)9
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[15] 8

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesJanuary 6, 1987MCA
United KingdomApril 27, 1987[16]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Point of No Return Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. July 16, 2022. March 30, 2024.
  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 614.
  3. Web site: Jody Watley – "Looking for a new love". Mvdbase.com.
  4. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. St. Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. Illustrated. 334. 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  5. European Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 4. 25. 14. June 27, 1987.
  6. Top 3 in Europe. Music & Media. 4. 24. 16. June 20, 1987.
  7. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. May 2, 1987. March 7, 2023.
  8. Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. April 25, 1987. June 19, 2023.
  9. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. April 4, 1987. March 7, 2023.
  10. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. March 21, 1987. March 7, 2023.
  11. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. September 3, 2005. May 27, 2014.
  12. Top 100 Singles of 1987. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. November 27, 2022.
  13. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1987. Billboardtop100of.com. March 7, 2023.
  14. Top Dance Sales 12-inch Singles / Top Dance Club Play Singles. Billboard. 99. 52. Y-30. December 26, 1987.
  15. Top Black Singles. Billboard. 99. 52. Y-28. December 26, 1987.
  16. New Singles. Music Week. 13. April 25, 1987.