Music is weirdly good at making us feel like someone is reading our private journals. You know that feeling when you're driving at night, the streetlights are blurring, and a specific track comes on that just nails exactly how you feel about your partner? For a lot of people right now, that track is "what love is" by LANY. It isn't just a catchy synth-pop tune. Honestly, it’s a raw, almost uncomfortably honest look at the messy reality of long-term commitment. Paul Klein, the frontman and primary songwriter for the band, has a knack for writing lyrics that feel like a text message you almost didn't send.
Released as part of their 2023 album a beautiful blur, the song has taken on a life of its own. It’s become a staple for wedding videos, breakup recoveries, and late-night existential crises alike. People keep searching for "what love is this song" because the title itself is a question we’re all trying to answer. Is love a feeling? Is it an action? Or is it just staying in the room when everything goes sideways?
The Story Behind the Lyrics
LANY has always lived in the space between "I love you" and "I'm hurt." But with "what love is," the perspective shifted. Most pop songs focus on the "spark"—that initial rush of dopamine when you meet someone new and everything is perfect. This song does the opposite. It looks at the grit.
Paul Klein has spoken in various interviews, including conversations with VMAN and Rolling Stone, about how this album was written during a period of intense personal reflection. He wanted to move away from the "pretty" version of romance. The lyrics describe a love that is "patient" and "kind," sure, but it also mentions the parts that suck. Like being wrong. Or staying when you want to run.
The song's core message is basically that love isn't a destination you arrive at; it's a choice you make every single morning. It’s about the endurance. You’ve got these lines that talk about how love doesn't give up, even when it has every reason to. That’s why it resonates. We’re tired of the fairytale; we want the truth.
Why the Sound Matters
If you strip away the lyrics, the production itself tells a story. It’s got that signature LANY shimmer—dreamy synths and a steady, driving beat—but there’s an urgency to it. It feels like a heartbeat.
- The Tempo: It’s mid-tempo, not a slow ballad. This is important because it reflects the "march" of a relationship. It keeps moving.
- The Vocals: Paul’s delivery is breathy and intimate. It sounds like he’s whispering to someone sitting right next to him.
- The Atmosphere: There’s a lot of "air" in the track. It feels big, like the Pacific Coast Highway at sunset, which is very on-brand for a band rooted in the L.A. aesthetic.
Breaking Down the "What Love Is" Meaning
When you really dig into what love is this song, you realize it’s heavily influenced by traditional definitions of love, specifically 1 Corinthians 13 from the Bible, but filtered through a modern, secular lens. It lists the attributes of love: it’s not proud, it’s not selfish, it doesn't keep a record of wrongs.
But LANY adds a layer of human fallibility.
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In the real world, we do keep records of wrongs. We are proud. So, the song becomes a standard to strive for rather than a description of how we always act. It’s an admission of struggle. When Paul sings about how love "believes the best," he’s acknowledging how hard it is to do that when you’re mid-argument and frustrated.
Honestly, the song is a reality check. It’s saying that if you’re looking for a love that never hurts or never requires sacrifice, you’re looking for something that doesn't exist. Real love is the stuff that survives the "blur" of life—the boring parts, the hard parts, and the parts where you don't even like each other very much.
The Impact on the Fans
Since its release, the song has become a massive hit on TikTok and Instagram. Why? Because it’s relatable.
You see these "photo dumps" of couples—not just the filtered, perfect shots, but the blurry ones, the ones where they’re tired, the ones where they’re just grocery shopping. That is the visual language of this song. It has given people permission to celebrate the "boring" parts of their relationships.
It’s also become a source of comfort for people who have lost love. By defining what love is, the song inadvertently highlights what it wasn't in past toxic relationships. It acts as a North Star.
The Evolution of LANY's Songwriting
To understand this track, you have to look at where LANY started. Early hits like "ILYSB" were about the intoxicating, almost obsessive side of young love. It was "I love you so bad" it hurts. It was frantic and neon-soaked.
As the band has aged, so has their audience.
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a beautiful blur represents a more mature LANY. They’ve moved past the heartbreak anthems of Malibu Nights (which was basically the ultimate breakup album of 2018) and into a space of contemplation. "what love is" is the pinnacle of this evolution. It’s the sound of a songwriter who has been through the wringer and come out the other side with a bit more wisdom and a lot less ego.
They aren't trying to be "cool" anymore. They're trying to be honest. And in the music industry, honesty is actually the riskiest move you can make.
A Note on the Production Choices
Mike Friday and the rest of the production team kept the track relatively clean. There aren't a million layers of distracting noise. This was a deliberate choice to keep the focus on the message. When you're trying to define something as massive as "love," you don't need a wall of sound. You need clarity.
The drums are crisp. The guitar licks are subtle. Everything serves the vocal. It’s a masterclass in "less is more."
Common Misconceptions About the Song
Some people think this is just a religious song because of the lyrical parallels to scripture. That’s a bit of a surface-level take. While the influences are clearly there, the song functions more as a universal human manifesto. It’s about the human spirit's capacity to stay committed.
Another misconception? That it’s a "sad" song.
Just because it isn't "happy-clappy" doesn't mean it’s sad. It’s steady. There’s a huge difference. "What love is" is a song of hope, but it’s a grounded hope. It’s the hope of someone who knows exactly how much work it’s going to take and says "I’m in anyway."
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How to Truly Experience the Track
If you really want to get what love is this song, don't just listen to it through your phone speakers while you're doing the dishes.
- Wait for sunset. There is something about the frequency of the synths that just hits different when the light is fading.
- Use good headphones. You want to hear the texture of the vocals.
- Listen in order. Put on the a beautiful blur album from start to finish. This song sits in a specific spot in the tracklist that makes its emotional payoff much stronger.
- Read the lyrics. Don't just hum along. Actually look at the words.
Moving Forward with This Perspective
So, what do we do with a song like this? We use it as a mirror.
Songs like "what love is" remind us to check our own behavior. Are we being patient? Are we keeping records of wrongs? It’s rare for a pop song to actually challenge the listener to be a better person, but that’s exactly what LANY managed to do here.
If you're struggling in a relationship, or if you're looking for one, let this song be your guide for what to look for—and what to be. It’s not about finding someone who never makes a mistake. It’s about finding someone who understands that the "mistakes" are just part of the process of building something that actually lasts.
Actionable Insights for the Listener:
- Audit your relationships: Use the song’s "checklist" (patience, kindness, lack of ego) to see where you can improve in your own life.
- Embrace the "Blur": Accept that life and love won't always be high-definition and perfect; sometimes the most beautiful parts are the ones that are a little messy.
- Communication is key: If a lyric hits you particularly hard, share it with your partner. It’s a great conversation starter for deeper emotional connection.
- Support the Art: Check out LANY’s live performances of this track. The energy in the room when thousands of people sing these words back to the band is something you have to see to believe.
Love is a choice. Every single day. That's the takeaway.