Lea Michele's debut album, Louder, is shaping up to be pretty awesome. Her first single, "Cannonball," showed off her blissful mix of Broadway pipes with candy pop. Then came the token piano ballad, "Battlefield." Early January brought us "Louder," the you-can-do-it single that's as catchy as it is empowering. And now, with a little over a month before the full March 4 release, we're getting a taste of how all those three elements come together in the rest of the album.
"What Is Love" combines the powerhouse chords of "Battlefield" with a hint of "Cannonball's" production while lyrics similar to "Louder" float above it all. Sure, the whole theme of questioning romance and defining it is a tried-and-true trope, but it works for Michele. She brings an air of sincerity to the track, which could easily have gone down the disposable pop ballad route. "What Is Love" is dramatic without being in your face. Plus, her vocal delivery is enough to floor you.
Opening Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Records.