What About Love?: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

This 1985 power ballad sits in that sweet spot where pop sensibility meets rock credibility, making it accessible for students who might otherwise dismiss piano-based learning. The lead sheet format gives you flexibility to arrange it for your ensemble or let students explore their own interpretations, whether that means a stripped-down piano and voice performance or a fuller band arrangement.

The song radiates earnest emotion without melodrama, built on a foundation of steady harmonic support that lets the vocal line carry the narrative. There's a rock sensibility underneath the ballad structure, creating tension between restraint and passion that keeps listeners engaged across multiple sections.

This lead sheet works well for students at intermediate level and above who are developing skills with popular music notation and exploring songs beyond the classical canon. Singers, pianists, and jazz/popular music students all benefit from the straightforward lead sheet format that encourages personal expression.

• Pay attention to phrasing in the vocal line; this song lives on sustain and breath placement rather than technical fireworks, so coach singers to find natural resting points that align with the lyrical meaning
• Let the accompaniment breathe with space around the melody, especially in the first verse, to build anticipation for the chorus
• Explore dynamic contrast between verse and chorus; the song gains momentum through subtle additions and textural thickening rather than sudden jumps in volume

Include this in a contemporary music unit or popular standards concert where it can anchor a set of recognizable songs that engage student musicians and audiences alike. The single-page format makes it ideal for a quick rehearsal addition or a solo performance piece in a mixed repertoire recital.

• Reading and interpreting lead sheet notation
• Phrasing longer vocal lines with intentional breath placement
• Building arrangement textures from a single melody line
• Balancing rhythmic precision with expressive rubato
• Understanding harmonic function in pop and rock contexts