"Love and Understanding" is a song by American singer and actress Cher from her 20th studio album, Love Hurts (1991). Written by Diane Warren and produced by Warren and Guy Roche, it was released as the album's lead single in May 1991 by Geffen for the North American and Oceanian markets. B-side "Trail of Broken Hearts" appears on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film Days of Thunder and is not available on any Cher album.
AllMusic's Joseph McCombs highlighted the song and called it "pleasantly melodic."[1] Larry Flick from Billboard described it as "a spirited pop tune that's framed with orchestral synth/strings and a hand-clapping rock beat. Simplistic lyrical message is delivered with warmth and sincerity. Sounds great on a summer day."[2] Entertainment Weekly editor Jim Farber said it is "socially conscious in a way only Hollywood could conceive, tailor-made for one of those publicity-seeking charity functions."[3]
The single's music video showed Cher and her backing band rehearsing the song, with interlocking scenes of her in an orange colored wig and her dancers dancing around her.