Foreigner Drops Spanish ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ with Joy Huerta — A Bilingual Power Move
What do you get when you cross a rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut with one of Latin pop’s most soulful voices? A genre-defying, cross-cultural power duet that just might melt your streaming app. That’s exactly what Foreigner and Joy Huerta have cooked up with “Quiero Saber Si Es Amor” — the Spanish-language revival of the band’s immortal 1984 mega-ballad “I Want To Know What Love Is.” It’s the power ballad we all sobbed to — now with Latin soul and bilingual heart.
Set for release on May 15 via Rhino Records, the track arrives in two distinct versions: one fully in Spanish, and another offering a bilingual Spanish-English fusion. Either way, it hits you right in the feels — no translation needed.
A Love Letter to Latin America
This isn’t just a one-off experiment. It’s a full-circle tribute. Foreigner just wrapped a whirlwind 2025 South American tour that lit up Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and more. After nearly five decades of rocking out in English, the band is now offering something more personal — a heartfelt homage to the Latin fans who’ve supported them from the start.
“We have been embraced by our Latino fans for decades,” said Luis Maldonado, Foreigner’s guitarist and vocalist who steps into the lead on this track. “Recording these songs in Spanish is our way of thanking them and sharing the music in a more intimate and personal way.”
Joy Huerta: The Perfect Vocal Match
Enter Joy Huerta, one half of the Grammy-winning duo Jesse & Joy, and recently the first Mexican woman ever nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score for her work on “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical.” This isn’t just a cameo — Huerta is a vocal equal to Maldonado’s rock-smooth delivery, injecting the track with warmth, depth, and that unmistakable Latin emotionality.
During a moment in the studio with Foreigner’s founding father Mick Jones, Huerta asked him: “What is love?” His answer? “Love is a sentiment — and so much more.” And that’s exactly the vibe of this rendition — sentimental, soaring, and something more.
“Having grown up with this song, recording it now in my own language is truly incredible,” Huerta said.
Behind the Scenes: Latin Roots, Global Vibes
To give “I Want To Know What Love Is” a fresh but faithful spin, the band enlisted Cris Zalles, a Warner Chappell Music songwriter and Chilean music producer with a knack for turning classics into Latin chart contenders. Zalles masterfully translated the song’s universal longing into “Quiero Saber Si Es Amor”, preserving its emotional DNA while layering in the rhythms, phrasings, and soul of the Spanish language.
It’s not just a new version — it’s a reimagination, tailor-made for a different audience without losing the core of what made the original such a timeless anthem.
Why It Matters — And Why It Works
Let’s be real: bilingual and Latin crossovers are nothing new in 2025, but this one hits different. It’s not some industry-forced feature with names slapped together for clout. This is an authentic musical bridge between generations and geographies — classic rock meets Latin passion. And both parties show up, vocally and spiritually.
In an age where TikTok charts and nostalgia rule the airwaves, Foreigner is reminding everyone why they’re still on top of the game. Their Spotify streams hover above 15 million a week, and their classics — “Cold As Ice”, “Hot Blooded”, “Juke Box Hero”, and of course, “I Want To Know What Love Is” (a proud member of Spotify’s Billions Club) — still get played like they dropped yesterday.
With “Quiero Saber Si Es Amor”, they’re not just resting on legacy. They’re writing a new chapter — one that speaks Spanish, sings from the heart, and connects continents.
