Addicted To Love – Robert Palmer | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1); 1986
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
One of the most striking and enduring images of the 1980’s music video revolution featured a sharp-suited Robert Palmer at the mic with a line of black-dressed guitar-totin’ beauties arrayed behind him.
Palmer’s first solo effort had charted in 1976, yet, over the next 10 years his only hits were Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor), and two as lead singer for the Power Station. Then, Robert awakened one night with the melody to Addicted coursing through his brain.
For the lyric he played off the era’s focus on drug addiction, this time with love as the obsession. Addicted originally featured a duet with Chaka Khan, well-known for her recordings with Rufus (Tell Me Something Good – #3; 1974) and on her own (I Feel For You – #3; 1984).
However, the suits didn’t warm to the idea, and Khan’s vocals were removed. Robert won a Grammy for Rock Male Vocalist and Addicted was nominated for Record and Song of The Year.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Bernard Edwards
Lyrics Written by:
- Robert Palmer
Award:
- Grammy Awards Winner of Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for “Addicted to Love” (1987)
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).