Kygo & Tina Turner, What’s Love Got to Do with It | Track Review 🎵

Though totally inoffensive & respectable, Kygo falls short of recapturing the magic of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It.”

After his success on the Whitney Houston cover of Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love”, Norwegian producer Kygo sets his sights on a more iconic hit: “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” “What’s Love Got to Do with It” was a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Tina Turner back in 1984.  Even today, take one listen to the record, and it screams classic.  So, was a remix of “What’s Love Got to Do with it” necessary? Is this the ‘updated’ version of a certified gem we need in our lives?

The answer is simply, NO.  What is respectable about Kygo is his musicianship, which is easily perceptible with how much finesse and refinement his songs tend to possess.  Sometimes, while listening to his music, I might nitpick by asserting he could provide even more pizzazz or punch.  Here, on “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” he takes a somewhat conservative approach, only modernizing the record in the biggest moments of the song, such as the chorus and key change.  The thing is, it’s sort of predictable, not only how his tweaks end up sounding, but also where those tweaks occur.  Basically, you go into “What’s Love Got to Do with It” with a good idea of what’s going to happen, and when it does happen, well, you’re disappointed.

Final Thoughts

Is the Kygo remix of “What’s Love Got to Do with It” bad? No, but the original by Tina Tuner has no competition what’s so ever.  Sure, if “What’s Love Got to Do with It” were originally recorded in 2020, it would sound different.  That said, even with the 80s cues firmly planted, and its classic status cemented, this is an unnecessary remix in my opinion.  Basically, after listening, I just feel underwhelmed as opposed to wowed when hearing the original.

Kygo & Tina Turner • “What’s Love Got to Do with It” • Sony • Release: 7.17.20

Photo Credit: Sony