When the New York rockers Foreigner played their set at Switzerland’s KKL Luzern with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, a spectacular rendition of the band’s all-time greatest hit went viral, amassing 7.8 million views in a handful of years.
In this clip, Foreigner’s latest frontman, Kelly Hansen, hands out some thank you’s and acknowledgments to the band and crew who helped get their show on the road, before the ultra-nostalgic opening notes of Foreigner’s career-defining hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” take hold of the room.
Any Music Man readers that are only accustomed to Foreigner’s classic studio recordings will be blown away by Kelly’s instant likeness to the band’s original, hitmaking singer Lou Gramm, who left Foreigner in 2003 after featuring on all but one of the band’s albums to date.
But Kelly’s grandiose rendition, backed by a symphony orchestra and the chanting of his Swiss audience, is one of the greatest we’ve heard here at The Music Man; a flashback hit that still feels fresh under Kelly’s exhilarating gospel-rock spin. The crowd clearly can’t get enough of this masterful performance as the cheers bleed into a 2-minute long outro segment while Foreigner’s latest line-up bows centre-stage.
Fans online have been stunned by the boundless memories this song possesses, even without its original singer, with one fan writing, “they don’t write songs like this anymore,” and another fan comparing the longevity of the hit’s impact to her evergreen, 32-year marriage to a man who’d once dedicated this hit to his bride.
Foreigner scored their first and only US #1 album in 1981 with their fourth album, “4,” before 1984’s “Agent Provocateur,” containing the single “I Want To Know What Love Is,” became their first and only #1 album in the UK. The single itself claimed the #1 spot in nine countries from Norway to Puerto Rico, knocking the original “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” off the top of the charts in the UK while becoming one of the greatest power ballads in classic rock history.
After a number of lineup changes, guitarist and Foreigner co-founder Mick Jones (now aged 79) remains in the band as its last original member, supported by bassist Jeff Pilson (66), vocalist Kelly Hansen (63), keyboardist Michael Bluestein (37), guitarist Bruce Watson (65), drummer Chris Frazier (57), and guitarist/bassist Luis Maldonado.
If you would like to experience more from the legendary rock band Foreigner, you can watch their performances on their YouTube Channel. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram, or visit their official website for more information.