If you close your eyes and think of the mid-1980s, you probably see a row of pale, expressionless women in tight black dresses, slicked-back hair, and bright red lipstick, all pretending to play instruments they clearly aren't plugged into. It’s one of the most iconic visuals in music video history. But the man standing in front of them, dressed in a sharp power suit and crooning with a gritty, soulful baritone, is the real star. Robert Palmer is the artist who sings "Addicted to Love," and honestly, his journey to that 1986 chart-topper is way more interesting than just a catchy chorus and some high-fashion models.
Palmer wasn't a new face when the song dropped. He’d been grinding since the late 60s. He did the blues thing. He did the blue-eyed soul thing. He even dipped his toes into weird synth-pop with tracks like "Looking for Clues." But "Addicted to Love" changed everything. It turned a respected, somewhat niche British singer into a global megastar almost overnight.
The Accidental Solo Success of 1986
It’s kinda wild to think that "Addicted to Love" was originally intended to be a duet. Imagine the track with a gritty female vocal cutting through those heavy drums. Palmer actually wrote the song with Chaka Khan in mind. They even recorded a version together. Unfortunately, the music industry’s red tape—the "business" side of art—got in the way. Khan’s management didn't want her vocals on a track released by a different label (Island Records), fearing it would compete with her own solo projects. So, her vocals were scrubbed, and Palmer re-recorded the parts himself.
The song appeared on his eighth studio album, Riptide. While the album is solid top to bottom, this specific track was the lightning bolt. Produced by Bernard Edwards—the legendary bassist from Chic—the song has a heavy, funk-influenced backbeat that was a bit of a departure from the "New Wave" sound dominating the airwaves at the time. It was rock, but it was danceable. It was sophisticated, but it was raw.
You’ve likely heard the opening drum fill a thousand times. That was Tony Thompson, also of Chic and Power Station fame. He hit the drums so hard they sounded like a sledgehammer hitting a concrete wall. That aggressive percussion is a huge reason why the song still sounds massive on modern speakers.
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The Power Station Connection
To understand how Palmer landed on this specific "rock-god-in-a-suit" sound, you have to look at the side project he did just a year prior. In 1985, he joined forces with John Taylor and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, along with Tony Thompson, to form The Power Station.
They were louder and funkier than Duran Duran. Palmer’s vocals on their cover of "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" showed the world he could front a heavy rock band without losing his cool. When he went back to record Riptide, he took that newfound edge with him. "Addicted to Love" is basically the DNA of The Power Station injected into a solo pop record. It worked. The song hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Palmer a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
That Music Video: More Than Just Red Lipstick
We have to talk about the video. Directed by Terence Donovan, it became the visual shorthand for the MTV era. The "models" weren't musicians; they were actually fashion models hired to look like a high-concept art installation. It was provocative without being overtly sexual in the way videos are today. It was just... cool.
Interestingly, Palmer himself was actually quite shy about the whole thing. He wasn't a natural "video star" in the sense of being a dancer or a theatrical performer. His stillness, contrasted with the rhythmic swaying of the models behind him, created a tension that viewers couldn't look away from. It was parodied by everyone from Shania Twain to "Weird Al" Yankovic. Even Pepsi used the aesthetic for commercials.
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But beneath the fashion, the song is a masterclass in songwriting. The lyrics aren't particularly deep—it’s a metaphor comparing romance to chemical dependency—but the phrasing is perfect. "Your lights are on, but you're not home" became an instant idiom. Palmer’s delivery is what sells it. He sounds genuinely worn out by the "addiction" he’s singing about.
Misconceptions and Cover Versions
Because the 80s were a blur of big hair and similar-sounding production, people often misattribute "Addicted to Love." I’ve heard people swear it was a Duran Duran song (close, but no) or even something by Bryan Ferry. Ferry and Palmer shared a similar "debonair gentleman" aesthetic, but Palmer had a much deeper, more R&B-inflected voice.
Then there are the covers. Tina Turner used to crush this song live. Her version is arguably more energetic than the original, leaning into the rock-and-roll grit. More recently, Florence + The Machine and even metal bands have tried their hand at it. It’s a "durable" song. You can strip away the 80s production and the core melody still works.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we’re still talking about a song from four decades ago. Honestly, it’s because "Addicted to Love" represents a moment when rock music became truly "adult." It wasn't about teenage rebellion or spandex; it was about a grown man in a bespoke suit dealing with adult compulsions.
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Robert Palmer passed away in 2003, which is a tragedy because he was still evolving as an artist. He never quite replicated the chart success of Riptide, though he had other hits like "Simply Irresistible" (which used the same video formula because, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it).
How to Experience the Best Version
If you really want to appreciate the track, don't just listen to the radio edit. Find the 12-inch version or the high-fidelity remaster.
- Listen for the bassline. Bernard Edwards’ influence is all over this. The way the bass interacts with the kick drum is what makes your foot tap.
- Watch the live versions. Palmer was a phenomenal live singer. His performance at the 1987 Grammy Awards shows he wasn't just a "studio creation." He had the pipes.
- Explore the rest of Riptide. The album features a great cover of "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On," which shows off his more playful, soulful side.
Identifying the True Artist
So, the next time someone asks who sings that song with the models in the background, you know it’s Robert Palmer. He wasn't just a guy in a suit; he was a soulful, adventurous musician who happened to stumble into one of the most successful marketing moments in pop history. He managed to bridge the gap between the Motown records he loved as a kid and the hard rock sounds of the 80s.
To get the full Robert Palmer experience, check out his earlier work with the band Vinegar Joe or his 1974 solo debut Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley. You'll realize that "Addicted to Love" was just one chapter in a very long, very funky book.
If you're building a playlist of quintessential 80s rock, make sure you're using the remastered version from his Gold collection for the best audio clarity. Also, take five minutes to watch the original music video on a high-definition screen; the color grading and cinematography by Terence Donovan are still taught in film schools for a reason. Finally, if you're a musician, try playing that riff—it's surprisingly tricky to get the "swing" just right without making it sound too stiff.