I Was Made for Lovin' You explained

I Was Made for Lovin' You
Cover:KISSIWasMadeForLovinYouFrench7InchSingleCover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Kiss
Album:Dynasty
B-Side:Hard Times
Studio:Electric Lady, Record Plant (New York City)
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:30 (album)
  • 4:01 (7-inch/video)
  • 7:54 (12-inch)
  • 4:18 (Killers version)
Label:Casablanca
Producer:Vini Poncia
Prev Title:You Still Matter to Me
Prev Year:1978
Next Title:Sure Know Something
Next Year:1979

"I Was Made for Lovin' You" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1979 album, Dynasty. It was released as the A-side of their first single from the album, with "Hard Times" as the B-side.

History

The song has become a permanent staple in Kiss's live performances.[3] The band's performance of the song at their 30th anniversary show in Melbourne, Australia, was accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, who wore Kiss-style makeup with their tuxedos.[4] At first Desmond Child said, "Paul wanted to write a good disco song and I decided to help him with that. Paul started to write lyrics and chords then I played the song on the guitar and said 'OK, we'll do something to improve this and make it really a good song.

"I Was Made for Lovin' You" draws heavily from the disco style that was popular in late-1970s United States. According to legend, the members of the band were in conflict with their producers, who wanted the band to shift to a more commercial sound. In response, the band argued that lucrative disco songs could be written by anyone in a short time frame. The story goes that the song's demo was completed in mere hours after the bet. While the story is unproven, Paul Stanley, who co-wrote the song with Desmond Child and Vini Poncia, has stated that it was a conscious effort on his part to prove how easy it was to write and record a hit disco song.[5] Child confirms that he and Stanley wrote the verses together in an hour at SIR Studios, while the "Motown-influenced" chorus was penned by Stanley and Poncia after Child had left the studio.[6] Gene Simmons revealed in a 2018 interview that he always disliked the song because of his vocal part.[7]

Although Peter Criss appears in the video and on the album cover, he did not actually play on the track. As with most of the Dynasty album, session drummer Anton Fig took his place, as Poncia had deemed Criss unfit to play. There is a bootleg audio recording of the writing sessions for the song in which Stanley mentions Criss's name a couple of times, indicating he was present during the arranging of the song.[5] Stanley plays the rhythm guitar and bass guitar while Ace Frehley provided the guitar solo. The rumours that Gene Simmons did not play bass on the recording are incorrect; it is now confirmed by Vini Poncia and others that it is Simmons on the recording.[8] "The Return of Kiss" was how Dynasty was billed in commercials and advertisements for the album.

Release

"I Was Made for Lovin' You" was Kiss's first songwriting collaboration with Desmond Child, who also wrote songs for the albums Animalize, Asylum, Crazy Nights, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits, and Hot in the Shade. While not as drastic as the 1979 "Radio Single Mix", the length of the song is edited by some eleven seconds down to 4 minutes and 16 seconds. Like the 1979 edit, the beginning measures of the song are reduced from four to two and the harmonizing following the guitar solo is halved.

The music video of "I Was Made for Lovin' You" was filmed on June 20, 1979, in the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia, and was directed by John Goodhue. After the show was canceled, it was decided to use the already completed stage to film two videos. A promotional video was shot featuring the song performed on the Dynasty stage set, consisting simply of the band performing the song. It was not included in the "Kissology" DVD series.

The B-side of the single is the album track "Hard Times", which was written by Ace Frehley.

Reception

"I Was Made for Lovin' You" was the band's second Gold single, selling over 1 million copies. The single was certified Gold in the U.S. on August 16, 1979,[9] and in Canada on August 1, 1979.[10] The song was one of the band's few singles to chart in the UK in the 1970s, peaking at No. 50.

The single reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart and No. 1 in the Canadian RPM National singles chart (the band's second chart-topping single in that country, following "Shout It Out Loud"). It further became a hit in Australia, reaching No. 2 on the Kent Music Report in 1979, and in New Zealand, topping the RIANZ Singles Chart. It also charted in Western Europe; it became a top-20 hit in Sweden, a top-10 hit in Norway, and a number-two hit in Switzerland and West Germany. In France and the Netherlands, it reached No. 1. In the UK, it stalled at number 50.

Billboard described "I Was Made for Lovin' You" as a "catchy song" which is more melodic than previous Kiss efforts and that incorporates some disco influence and "heavy guitars."[11]

Some Kiss fans dismissed it as a sell-out, with Rolling Stone magazine's David Fricke writing, "The Kiss army is going to mutiny when they hear 'I Was Made for Lovin’ You,' the disco-infected leadoff track on the Masked Marvels’ latest album. They'll demand to know why their heroes, after years of rallying the troops into battle against disco and other threatening schlock, have turned tail and joined forces with uptown popsters like producer Vini Poncia (whose soft-rock credentials include LPs by Ringo Starr and Melissa Manchester) and singer/tunesmith Desmond Child (who cowrote the offending song with Kiss’ Paul Stanley)."[12] Lance Tawzer, curator of a museum exhibit chronicling the infamous Disco Demolition Night riot of 1979, suggested this song may have helped inspire that event, telling the Chicago Tribune, "That's Kiss' disco song, 'I Was Made for Lovin' You... That's the moment when they jumped that shark."[13]

Despite the backlash, the song has become a concert staple over the years, with a different arrangement that de-emphasizes the song's disco elements. Gene Simmons[14] has stated that "I Was Made for Lovin' You" is his least favorite Kiss song, and Ace Frehley[15] [16] and Peter Criss have also indicated that they dislike the song.

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report)[17] 2
Italian Singles (Musica e dischi)[18] 10
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[19] 2
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[20] 37
US Cash Box Top 100[21] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1979)Peak
position
Australian Singles(Kent Music Report)[22] 2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[23] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 6
South African Singles[25] 18
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 16
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[27] 74
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[28] 74

Scooter version

I Was Made for Lovin' You
Type:single
Artist:Scooter
Album:No Time to Chill
A-Side:We Are the Greatest
Released:September 21, 1998
Recorded:Loop D.C. Studio 1 (Hamburg, Germany)
Length:3:28
Label:Club Tools
Prev Title:How Much Is the Fish?
Prev Year:1998
Title2:We Are the Greatest
Next Title:Call Me Mañana
Next Year:1999

A cover version of the song by German musical group Scooter was released as a double A-side with "We Are the Greatest" on September 21, 1998.

Track listing

  1. "We Are the Greatest" (3:27)
  2. "I Was Made for Lovin' You" (3:32)
  3. "We Are the Greatest" (Extended) (4:35)
  4. "Greatest Beats" (3:05)
  1. "We Are the Greatest" (Extended) (4:35)
  2. "We Are the Greatest" (3:27)
  3. "I Was Made for Lovin' You" (3:32)

Charts

Other notable versions

Menudo

Puerto Rican boy band Menudo covered the song in Spanish as "Fui Hecho Para Amarte" on their Xanadu album during 1981. The cover also appeared on their first film, 1981's .[29]

Paulina Rubio

Mexican pop singer Paulina Rubio recorded the song with producer Brian Rawling for her sixth studio album, Border Girl, in 2002 at Soundtrack Studios in New York.

Rubio's version received positive reviews from critics. While reviewing Border Girl, Jose F. Promis of AllMusic selected the song as a highlight, calling it "almost unbelievably" as emblematic as the original version. MTV Asia declared, "Gene Simmons and company would have died to have a groupie like her,"[30] while Rolling Stone said Rubio's version "replaces the song's rollercoaster vocal howls with Rubio's sensuous purr and a dumbed-down dance beat."[31]

Rubio's first performed the song on the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica. As well, performed the song on her Amor, Luz y Sonido Tour in 2007.[32]

Oliver Heldens, VINAI and Le Pedre

Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens reworked the song with vocals provided by Nile Rodgers and British vocal group House Gospel Choir (HGC).[33]

Ricki-Lee Coulter

Australian singer Ricki-Lee Coulter released a version produced by DNA on March 1, 2024 as the fourth single from her fifth studio album, On My Own.[34]

Yungblud

British singer-songwriter Yungblud covered the song for the 2024 film The Fall Guy in April of the same year.[35]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: I Was Made for Lovin' You review on Allmusic . Donald A. Guarisco . Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . July 1, 2013. "This careful balance of elements made "I Was Made For Lovin' You" a surprisingly workable cross between hard rock and disco"
  2. Web site: KISS . Scott Floman . July 1, 2013. "many older fans were further alienated by 'I Was Made For Loving You,' a smash disco hit that while catchy and danceable certainly wasn't very KISS-like."
  3. Web site: Kiss Budokan Hall Japan 1988 – I Was Made For Lovin' You . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cDZggIp3t1s . December 21, 2021 . live. . September 14, 2007 . October 15, 2016.
  4. Web site: YouTube . . October 15, 2016.
  5. Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003.
  6. Book: Linnaeus, Carl . KISS - Den sista dynastin. . 2022 . Alex Bergdahl . Fifth Island Music . 978-91-987448-0-4 . 1317823645.
  7. Web site: Gene Simmons reveals why he hates Kiss' classic song 'I Was Made For Lovin' You' . Krol . Charlotte . . October 18, 2018 . October 23, 2018.
  8. Book: Alex Bergdahl, Carl Linnaeus . Den Sista Dynastin . Gain . 2022 . 9789198744828 . Sweden . Swedish . The Final Dynasty.
  9. Web site: RIAA Gold & Platinum database . Recording Industry Association of America. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152533/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=kiss&format=SINGLE&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 . dead . September 24, 2015 . February 7, 2009 .
  10. Web site: CRIA certified awards. February 10, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120428130225/http://www.musiccanada.com/goldplatinum.aspx. April 28, 2012.
  11. News: Top Single Picks. Billboard. July 8, 2020. 87. May 26, 1978 .
  12. News: Rolling Stone: (Album Reviews) "Dynasty" by David Fricke. August 23, 1979.
  13. News: Disco Demolition is now a museum show. Chicago Tribune. Steve Johnson. June 28, 2017.
  14. Web site: Madden . Casey . Find Out What KISS Song Gene Simmons Hates Playing! . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/akeN-tteH48 . December 21, 2021 . live. YouTube . October 25, 2018.
  15. Web site: Gostin . Nicki . Ace Frehley 'No Regrets': KISS Member Talks Rocker Lifestyle, Gene Simmons' Crabs In New Memoir . Huffington Post . July 21, 2019 . en-AU . November 2, 2011.
  16. Epstein . Dan . Comparing the Original Kiss Members' Memoirs . Rolling Stone . July 21, 2019 . March 26, 2014.
  17. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  18. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. February 20, 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Kiss".
  19. Web site: I was made for lovin' you in South African Chart . Samson . John . June 3, 2013.
  20. Web site: KISS awards on Allmusic . Allmusic . June 3, 2013.
  21. Web site: Top 100 1979-08-11 . . March 19, 2015.
  22. Web site: Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979. Kent Music Report. Imgur.com. January 10, 2023.
  23. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979. Top40.nl. April 23, 2021.
  24. Web site: End of Year Charts 1979 . . May 1, 2017 .
  25. Web site: Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979 . October 22, 2018.
  26. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1979 - hitparade.ch. Swisscharts.com. April 23, 2021.
  27. Web site: Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979 . Musicoutfitters.com . October 15, 2016.
  28. Web site: Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979 . . April 12, 2016 .
  29. Web site: Aunque no lo creas Menudo hizo un cover de KISS y es sensacional. Agustina. Caferri. BuzzFeed.com. April 23, 2021.
  30. Web site: Ng . Jon . Paulina Rubio: Border Girl (Universal) . MTV Asia . August 5, 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041218005641/http://www.mtvasia.com/Review/CD/C2002080503.html . December 18, 2004 . dead.
  31. Ken. Micallef . June 25, 2002. Paulina Rubio: Border Girl : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone. https://web.archive.org/web/20080617125214/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/paulinarubio/albums/album/104917/review/5943801/border_girl. June 17, 2008. June 16, 2011. dead. .
  32. Web site: Paulina Rubio: Passion-packed pop . May 25, 2007 . The News-Times . August 25, 2021 .
  33. Web site: Oliver Heldens Collaborates with Nile Rodgers and Gospel Choir on 'I Was Made for Lovin' You' . May 6, 2022 .
  34. Web site: Australian Idol star Ricki-Lee Coulter sends fans wild with outfit post . . March 5, 2024.
  35. Web site: Blabbermouth . 2024-04-26 . YUNGBLUD Covers KISS's 'I Was Made For Lovin' You' For 'The Fall Guy' Movie . 2024-05-31 . BLABBERMOUTH.NET . en.