Song Meaning
John Barrowman's rendition of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" isn't just a question; it's a plaintive cry from the heart of someone utterly bewildered by love's capricious nature. The lyrics paint a portrait of vulnerability, a raw exposure to the bewildering power that love wields. It's a sentiment as old as romance itself, yet Barrowman imbues it with a sense of personal bewilderment that resonates with anyone who's felt blindsided by Cupid's arrow. The 'funny thing called love' is not amusing here; it's a source of profound confusion and, arguably, pain. The simplicity of the language belies the depth of the emotional turmoil at play.
The core of the song meaning lies in the stark contrast between the initial encounter – 'one wonderful day' – and the subsequent heartbreak. This isn't a slow burn of a relationship gone sour; it's a sudden, almost violent emotional shift. The act of having one's heart 'thrown away' suggests a callousness, a disregard for the speaker's feelings that amplifies the sense of betrayal and bafflement. It's a classic tale of idealized romance crashing headfirst into the brick wall of reality, leaving the protagonist reeling and questioning the very nature of affection.
Ultimately, the repeated questioning – 'What is this thing called love?' – transforms the song into an almost existential inquiry. It's not just a personal lament; it's a universal expression of the human struggle to comprehend an emotion that can simultaneously elevate and devastate. The almost childlike repetition at the song's close emphasizes the rawness of the emotion. Barrowman's delivery, presumably tinged with a mix of sincerity and theatrical flair, likely further underscores the song's central theme: love as an enigma, a force that defies easy explanation and often leaves us questioning everything we thought we knew.
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