From The Vault is back this week with a classic that taught music industry’s tastemakers an important lesson. Notably that when the music is undeniable, age really ain’t nothing but a number.
Today’s pick is Tina Turner’s iconic ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’
Released in 1984 as the third single from comeback album ‘Private Dancer,’ ‘Love’ stands as the artist’s signature song and is among pop culture’s most celebrated tunes.
Written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, the track was sent to many artists such as Donna Summer and Phyllis Hyman before landing on Turner’s lap.
Exactly 35 years ago, the track hit #1 on the US Hot 100, her first and only chart topper to this day. It also managed to land inside the Top 3 of the Australian, German and British charts.
The song’s equally memorable video was directed by Mark Robinson and follows a striking Tina around New York City as she engages with the various street dancers she meets along the way.
It was also one of the premier outings of her trademark legs and “that” rockstar hair-do.
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RELATED: TGJ Replay – Tina Turner’s ‘Private Dancer’ Era
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With this very song, Turner defied all the odds and became one of Pop’s hottest commodities… aged 44.
Which goes to show: with the right material, the right team, and perhaps the right alignment of luck – mature acts can secure a seat at the Pop table.
Thanks to this song and its parent album, Tina went on to become a legend in her own right.
If there’s a potent take-away for some of the older acts of today it’s that: rebranding is key. Turner managed to update her artistic narrative, making way for a contextually relevant sound – which still felt like “her” – and a more refined look that never saw her lose her flair.
Obviously, a million names pop in our heads when thinking about which veteran artists we’d like to see enjoy a chart resurgence akin to this one, but we’d like to know:
Who do YOU think is more deserving of a comeback like this?