From Leo AI: "Looking for a New Love" is the debut solo single by American singer Jody Watley, released on January 6, 1987. Serving as the lead track for her self-titled debut album, the song established Watley as a major solo force following her tenure with the group Shalamar. Co-written by Watley and André Cymone, the track blends freestyle, dance-pop, and R&B elements. Notably, the released version is the original eight-track demo, preserved to maintain the emotional urgency of Watley's vocal performance following a romantic breakup.
The single was a commercial breakthrough, peaking at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks in May 1987, kept from the top spot by hits from Cutting Crew and U2. It achieved number one status on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart, the Hot Dance Club Play chart, and the RPM Singles Chart in Canada. The song was certified Gold in Canada and ranked number 16 on Billboard's year-end chart for 1987.
In 1988, the track earned Watley nominations for two Soul Train Music Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Watley ultimately won the Grammy for Best New Artist that same year.
The song is culturally significant for popularizing the catchphrase "Hasta la vista, baby," which appeared in the lyrics years before Arnold Schwarzenegger famously used it in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The phrase became a widespread cultural phenomenon, appearing on answering machines globally.