What Love Is

Mary J. Blige's song "What Love Is" delves into the complex and multifaceted nature of love, capturing its beauty, pain, and everything in between. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of love as a force that can bring immense joy and deep sorrow, often simultaneously. Blige describes love as both "beautiful" and "horrible," highlighting its ability to make us laugh and cry, to start fights and make up, and to be both heaven and earth. This duality is a central theme, emphasizing that love is an essential yet enigmatic part of the human experience.

The song also touches on the universal need for love, despite its complexities and contradictions. Blige sings about how no one truly understands love, yet everyone needs it and cannot live without it. This paradox is further explored through metaphors like "darkest day" and "brightest night," illustrating how love can be both a source of light and darkness. The lyrics suggest that love is a fundamental aspect of life, one that brings both joy and pain, sunshine and rain. This duality is what makes love so powerful and indispensable.

Blige's soulful delivery and emotive voice add depth to the song's exploration of love's many facets. The repetition of phrases like "it feels like joy" and "it feels like pain" reinforces the idea that love is a complex, ever-changing emotion. The song ultimately serves as a reminder that love, in all its forms, is a vital part of our lives. It can uplift us or break us down, but it is something we all need and seek. Through her poignant lyrics and heartfelt performance, Blige captures the essence of what love truly is: a beautiful, terrible, magical, and essential force.