Turner began her career with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1957. Under the name Little Ann, she appeared on her first record, "Boxtop", in 1958. In 1960, she debuted as Tina Turner with the hit duet single "A Fool in Love". The duo Ike & Tina Turner became "one of the most formidable live acts in history". They released hits such as "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", "River Deep – Mountain High", "Proud Mary", and "Nutbush City Limits" before disbanding in 1976.
In the 1980s, Turner launched "one of the greatest comebacks in music history". Her 1984 multi-platinum album Private Dancer contained the hit song "What's Love Got to Do with It", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became her first and only number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. At age 44, she was the oldest female solo artist to top the Hot 100. Her chart success continued with "Better Be Good to Me", "Private Dancer", "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)", "Typical Male", "The Best", "I Don't Wanna Fight", and "GoldenEye". During her Break Every Rule World Tour in 1988, she set a then-Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.
Turner also acted in the films Tommy (1975), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Last Action Hero (1993). In 1993, What's Love Got to Do with It, a biographical film adapted from her autobiography I, Tina: My Life Story, was released. In 2009, Turner retired after completing her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which is the 15th highest-grossing tour of the 2000s. In 2018, she became the subject of the jukebox musical Tina.
Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Turner became one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She received 12 Grammy Awards, which include eight competitive awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first black artist, and first woman, to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone ranked her among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Turner has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Ike Turner in 1991 and as a solo artist in 2021. She was a 2005 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and Women of the Year award.
In 2020, she came out of retirement to collaborate with Norwegian producer Kygo on a remix of "What's Love Got to Do with It". With this release, she became the first artist to have a top 40 hit in seven consecutive decades in the UK.
Studio albums
Tina Turns the Country On! (1974)
Acid Queen (1975)
Rough (1978)
Love Explosion (1979)
Private Dancer (1984)
Break Every Rule (1986)
Foreign Affair (1989)
Wildest Dreams (1996)
Twenty Four Seven (1999)
Foreign Affair
Tina Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know the moment that you crossed over the line
A casual glance
No one has to read between the lines
In the south of France, it was springtime
Special feelings come alive
There's romance in the air, so they say
Love is a piece of cake
And making love is all there is to eat
But it's a heart out of a lamb
When you start to feel forever in a kiss
But you must remember there's no point of refuge
You only have a part in a lover's play
And you could be the one left in the dark
If someone takes a shortcut to your heart
And all too soon, you're touching for the last time
No one has to tell you how it is
It's just a memory two people share
File it under foreign affairs, oh
File it under foreign affairs, yeah
File it under foreign affairs
File it, file it under affairs, oh
File it under foreign affairs
Foreign, foreign, foreign affairs
In Tina Turner's song "Foreign Affair," the lyrics explore the idea of chance encounters and the rush of romance that follows. The opening line "A one in a million chance" sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer describes a moment when she crosses a line and experiences an instant connection with someone else. The lyrics suggest that sometimes love can find us unexpectedly, and that even a casual glance can lead to something more.
As the song progresses, the setting moves to the south of France in springtime, which adds to the sense of romance and new beginnings. The lyrics describe the "special feelings" that come alive in this environment, and suggest that love is just a small cafe away. However, the song also acknowledges that love can be complicated and unpredictable, and that there is always the risk of getting hurt. The line "And you could be the one left in the dark if someone takes a shortcut to your heart" is a warning that even the most passionate romances can end abruptly.
In the end, the singer recognizes that love can be fleeting and bittersweet, as memories are all that remain once the affair is over. The line "It's just a memory two people share, file it under foreign affair" suggests that the experience was something unique and special, but ultimately fleeting and distant.
Line by Line Meaning
A one in a million chance
The probability to come across a unique encounter is minimal.
You know the moment that you crossed over the line
You realize when you have embarked on a new journey
A casual glance
Simple eye contact
No one has to read between the lines
There is no hidden meaning or need for interpretation
In the south of France it was springtime
The setting of the story takes place in the south of France during spring season
Special feelings come alive
Romantic emotions start to surface
There's romance in the air, so they say
People often claim that this region is highly romantic
Love could be a small cafe away
Finding love could happen in unexpected places, such as a quaint cafe
Love is a piece of cake
Love is easy and effortless
And making love is all there is to eat
Physical intimacy is the most satisfying thing in a relationship
It's a heart out of a lamb
Love brings passion and excitement out of one's character
When you start to feel forever in a kiss
When you experience a profound and lasting moment of intimacy
But you must remember there's no point of refuge
You must not forget that love can be risky and there is no safe haven
You only have a part in a lover's play
You are only playing a role in your partner's life and their emotions
And you could be the one left in the dark
You could end up being hurt and alone
If someone takes a shortcut to your heart
If someone takes advantage of you, without genuinely caring for you
All too soon, you're touching for the last time
Having to say goodbye too soon
No one has to tell you how it is
You are aware of the end of the relationship
It's just a memory two people share
Only two people hold precious memories of the experience
File it under foreign affair
Label the relationship as a foreign romantic endeavor.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Tony Joe White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pawel L
A one in a million chance
You know the moment that you crossed over the line
A casual glance
No one has to read between the lines
In the south of France it was spring time
Special feelings come alive
There's romance in the air, so they say
Love could be a small cafe away
Love is a piece of cake
And making love is all there is to eat
It's a heart out of a lamb
When you start to feel forever in a kiss
But you must remember there's no point of refuge
You only have a part in a lover's play
And you could be the one left in the dark
If someone takes a shortcut to your heart
All too soon you're touching for the last time
No one has to tell you how it is
It's just a memory two people share
File it under foreign affair
stefano peroni
When a song leaves a mark on your heart, that song will be yours forever !!
Миша Хопин
❤
Carmelo Medina
Una de mis canciones favoritas de Tina Turner. Todo es perfecto, la música, el saxofón, la voz, su interpretación. A pesar de los años transcurridos me sigue llenando como el primer día que la escuché.
Candy Apple Blue
Foreign Affair is pure ear candy! Its slick gorgeous production, haunting melodies, sophisticated lyrics, and Tina's spot-on vocal delivery make this one a real winner! I truly treasure this song! I truly treasure Tina Turner!
Piotr Nartowski
My best. May favourite. We got 25.05.2023 Tina died yesterday. I am sad man... I ve got tears in my eyes, sometimes. Foreign Affairs - my loved bit and music line. Thank You, Tina. I was also born in 26.11, many years later. I feel like her astrological twin.
Sylene Burnley
All songs is a mastpiece. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Perushion Rushion
Any song this woman sings, it's a hit. 💯
João Batista Vicente de Souza
Que saudade profunda. Tive o privilégio de estar na hora certa e no lugar certo. Eu estava no Rio em 88, lá estava a escola da beija flor fazendo uma homenagem a ela,parei e ela veio de encontro de mim e sorriu para mim. Guardarei para sempre aquele sorriso e ela passou por mim e encostou em mim. Que lembrança maravilhosa
mgparis
Suddenly remembered this beautiful song. RIP, Queen! ;(
Savvas Keimonos Apostolakis
I’m glad to be a part of this amazing music decade