Luis Maldonado, the current vocalist and guitarist for Foreigner, has defended the band’s decision to revive their 1980 track “Women”—a song historically criticized for its sexist lyrical themes. The band wanted to refresh their live sets with unplayed material from their deep catalog. Maldonado explained: “We are trying to add more songs in the set from all Foreigner albums. For instance, we just performed ‘Women’ and we had a blast!! It was never before performed live and we felt, why not?”
The song contains controversial lyrics that have long drawn criticism: “Women who satisfy, women you can’t buy / Women that stab you in the back with a switchblade knife.” Despite the dated and problematic nature of these lines, Maldonado’s willingness to perform the track reflects a broader shift in how the band now approaches its extensive catalog and legacy.
Maldonado joined Foreigner as a guitarist in 2021 and was promoted to lead vocalist in 2025. He took over from Kelly Hansen, who had fronted the band for twenty years before stepping down. This transition occurred as Foreigner approached its 50th anniversary, a milestone that prompted the band to reconsider its future direction rather than pursue the initially planned Historic Farewell Tour.
The band’s approach to its material has fundamentally changed under Maldonado’s leadership. The current lineup now emphasizes that the songs themselves are the most important element of the band’s identity, rather than viewing Foreigner as dependent on any single era or frontman. This philosophy has opened doors to exploring deeper cuts from their extensive discography, including tracks that had never been performed live before, such as “Women.” The band has also welcomed original lead singer Lou Gramm back for select performances, where Gramm and Maldonado split vocal duties on classic material.
Foreigner shows no signs of slowing down. The band’s 2026 schedule is nearly completely booked, with plans for additional shows extending into 2027 and beyond. New music is in development, with previously unreleased songs potentially being finished and released as part of the band’s ongoing creative output. The renewed energy surrounding Foreigner has attracted new audiences while maintaining the loyalty of longtime fans, suggesting that the band’s decision to embrace change rather than fade away has proven artistically and commercially sound.
