"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 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (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. 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, losing to Janet Jackson's "Control" and Anita Baker's "Sweet Love". She was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, losing to Aretha Franklin's album, Aretha.
Music video A music video, directed by Brian Grant was released in March 1987 to promote the song. Grant previously made videos for Whitney Houston, Peter Gabriel and Tina Turner.
2005 version
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)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.13Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)15Greece (IFPI)3Italy Airplay (Music & Media) 2US Billboard Hot 1002US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)1US Dance Club Play (Billboard)1US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)1US Cash Box Top 1002
Chart (2005)PeakpositionUS Dance Club Play (Billboard)1
Year-end charts Chart (1987)PositionCanada Top Singles (RPM)41US Billboard Hot 10016US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)6US Dance Club Play (Billboard)9US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)8US Cash Box Top 100 10 Chart (2005)Position US Dance Club Play (Billboard)35
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJanuary 6, 1987MCAUnited KingdomApril 27, 1987
See also List of number-one dance singles of 2005 (U.S.)
References