What Is Love Essay 2

Tim Roettker
Professor Waggoner
ENG CCP 1101
14 February 2021
“What Is Love”
The song “What Is Love” by Haddaway shows the effects of love on a person and how a
person can be afraid of getting hurt by their partner. On the other hand, the remix by Jaymes
Young shows how a death of a loved one can torment a person and leave them depressed.
Therefore both versions show the effects of love on a person but they differ in scenarios. The
songs also differ in music style and video, which ultimately can change the emotion of the song
completely. Both versions use pathos as well to convey the claims that they are making.
The original version of “What Is Love” by Haddaway, depicts a man walking through a
treacherous castle with beautiful women dancing crazily. At one point in the music video,
Haddaway is getting his blood sucked by a vicious lady vampire, which can represent how
someone you love can just suck all the love out of you. This can lead someone to be afraid of
getting hurt and try to avoid love at all costs. The main claim of this song is to be treacherous of
love and to be aware before getting hurt.
The music style is an important part of a song’s message, the original version is very
upbeat and gives off a disco type of emotion that relates to older viewers that grew up in that era
of music. Even though the message is sad and morbid, the style of the music contradicts that.
This changes the song completely and creates a happier atmosphere over its dark claim.
Hadaway also uses pathos with the style of the music to provide good emotions while conveying
a message about being aware of getting hurt.

Different from the original, “What Is Love” by Jaymes Young begins with a young
couple out for a drive and then suddenly gets into a serious accident. The wife of the man ends
up dying to her injuries. This leaves the widower to remember all the good times he had with his
wife. These memories torment him and he can’t seem to find closure, which truly shows how the
death of a loved one can affect a person. This also goes along with the lyrics of the song “What is
love, baby don’t hurt me” the man doesn’t want to be hurt anymore by the death of his wife. This
can also be seen at the end of the video where the man is on a train and he doesn’t see any more
memories of his deceased wife.
The music style produced by the remix is very different compared to the original. Jaymes
Young uses pathos and a slow guitar melody that delivers an emotional beat for the story being
shown. His version is focused on being emotional to the younger viewers so they can connect
more to the song and the story being portrayed.
Comparing the versions, the original is more upbeat and joyful as opposed to the remix
that is slow and sad. Both versions show the effects of love on a person but are completely
different in scenarios. The original took place in a large castle with Haddaway being attacked by
vampires while the remix took place in an urban setting with a man mourning over the loss of his
spouse. The different scenarios also change the audience for each of the songs. Due to the
costumes, scenery, and style of music, the original would be geared more towards the older
generations. The remix on the other hand would be focused on a younger audience.
The claims made by each song differ as well. Haddaway claimed that people should be
aware of loving someone because they can end up taking the love away from them. Young
claimed that losing someone you love is tough and a hard process to get over. However, both
versions may differ in many ways, they still show the effects of love on a person. The song used
in both versions has a broad meaning which can be used in many situations relating to love and
other claims can be made.
In conclusion, the original and remix of the song “What Is Love” may have different
claims but relate to a broader theme of how love can affect anyone. Along with the claims made,
the situation presented in each was different as well, which affected people viewing the videos.
Both also use pathos to relate to viewers and make a well-established connection, especially with
those who have gone through those situations.

Performance by Haddaway, Haddaway - What Is Love, Clean Bandit, 1993,
www.bing.com/videos/search?view=detail%2Cwhat+is+love+haddaway. 21 Feb.
2021
Young, Jaymes. What Is Love-Jaymes Young. Bing, LikeChannelMusic, 2016,
www.bing.com/videos/search?q=what%2Bis%2Blove%2Bjaymes%2Byoung%2B
music%2Bvideo&docid=608050246001754816&mid=CBA0640CBB09E62C0CF
CCBA0640CBB09E62C0CFC&view=detail&FORM=VIRE. 21 Feb. 2021

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Tim Roettker

ENG CCP 1101

love and to be aware before getting hurt.

a message about being aware of getting hurt.

memories of his deceased wife.

more to the song and the story being portrayed.

other claims can be made.

those who have gone through those situations.

Young, Jaymes. What Is Love-Jaymes Young. Bing, LikeChannelMusic, 2016,

CCBA0640CBB09E62C0CFC&view=detail&FORM=VIRE. 21 Feb. 2021

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