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I Was Made for Lovin' You

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Not to be confused with I Was Made to Love You or I Was Made for Loving You (Tori Kelly song).

"I Was Made for Lovin' You"
Single by Kiss
from the album Dynasty
B-side"Hard Times"
ReleasedMay 20, 1979 (1979-05-20)
StudioElectric Lady, Record Plant (New York City)
Genre
Length
  • 4:30 (album)
  • 4:01 (7-inch/video)
  • 7:54 (12-inch)
  • 4:18 (Killers version)
LabelCasablanca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Vini Poncia
Kiss singles chronology
"You Still Matter to Me"
(1978) 		"I Was Made for Lovin' You"
(1979) 		"Sure Know Something"
(1979)
Music video
"I Was Made for Lovin' You" on YouTube

"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

[edit]

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 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

[edit]

"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.[9] 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.[10] After the show was canceled,[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]

Reception

[edit]

"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,[14] and in Canada on August 1, 1979.[15] 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."[16]

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)."[17] 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."[18]

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[19] has stated that "I Was Made for Lovin' You" is his least favorite Kiss song, and Ace Frehley[20][21] and Peter Criss[21] have also indicated that they dislike the song.

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[22] Platinum 100,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[48] Gold 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Gold 75,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[50] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[51] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[52] Platinum 50,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[53]
Digital single 		Gold 100,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[54] Gold 50,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[55] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57] Gold 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Scooter version

[edit]
"I Was Made for Lovin' You"
Single by Scooter
from the album No Time to Chill
A-side"We Are the Greatest"
ReleasedSeptember 21, 1998
RecordedLoop D.C. Studio 1 (Hamburg, Germany)
Length3:28
LabelClub Tools
Songwriter(s)
Scooter singles chronology
"How Much Is the Fish?"
(1998) 		"I Was Made for Lovin' You" / "We Are the Greatest"
(1998) 		"Call Me Mañana"
(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

[edit]
  • CD single
  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)
  • 12-inch maxi-single
  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

[edit]
Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[58]
Double A-side with "We Are the Greatest" 		36
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[59]
Double A-side with "We Are the Greatest" 		50
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[60]
Double A-side with "We Are the Greatest" 		98
Germany (GfK)[61]
Double A-side with "We Are the Greatest" 		26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[62]
Double A-side with "We Are the Greatest" 		45

Other notable versions

[edit]
[edit]

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 Menudo: La Pelicula.[63]

Paulina Rubio

[edit]

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.[64] MTV Asia declared, "Gene Simmons and company would have died to have a groupie like her,"[65] 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."[66]

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.[67]

Oliver Heldens, VINAI and Le Pedre

[edit]

Dutch DJ Oliver Heldens reworked the song with vocals provided by Nile Rodgers and British vocal group House Gospel Choir (HGC).[68]

Ricki-Lee Coulter

[edit]

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.[69]

Yungblud

[edit]

British singer-songwriter Yungblud covered the song for the 2024 film The Fall Guy in April of the same year.[70]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Donald A. Guarisco. "I Was Made for Lovin' You review on Allmusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 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. ^ Scott Floman. "KISS". Retrieved 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. ^ "Kiss Budokan Hall Japan 1988 – I Was Made For Lovin' You". YouTube. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  4. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved October 15, 2016.[dead YouTube link]
  5. ^ a b Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography, Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0-446-53073-5
  6. ^ Linnaeus, Carl (2022). KISS - Den sista dynastin. Alex Bergdahl. Fifth Island Music. ISBN 978-91-987448-0-4. OCLC 1317823645.
  7. ^ Krol, Charlotte (October 18, 2018). "Gene Simmons reveals why he hates Kiss' classic song 'I Was Made For Lovin' You'". NME. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  8. ^ Alex Bergdahl, Carl Linnaeus (2022). Den Sista Dynastin [The Final Dynasty] (in Swedish). Sweden: Gain. ISBN 9789198744828.
  9. ^ C.K. Lendt, Kiss and Sell: The Making of a Supergroup (1997), Billboard Books
  10. ^ "Kiss: I Was Made for Lovin' You (1979)", iMDb
  11. ^ Jeff Suhs; Curt Gooch, Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History (2002), Billboard Books
  12. ^ "Kiss - I Was Made For Lovin' You", YouTube, June 13, 2019
  13. ^ Goldmine Records and Prices (2004), Krause Publications.
  14. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  15. ^ "CRIA certified awards". Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  16. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. May 26, 1978. p. 87. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Rolling Stone: (Album Reviews) "Dynasty" by David Fricke". August 23, 1979.
  18. ^ Steve Johnson (June 28, 2017). "Disco Demolition is now a museum show". Chicago Tribune.
  19. ^ Madden, Casey (September 27, 2018). "Find Out What KISS Song Gene Simmons Hates Playing!". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  20. ^ Gostin, Nicki (November 2, 2011). "Ace Frehley 'No Regrets': KISS Member Talks Rocker Lifestyle, Gene Simmons' Crabs In New Memoir". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  21. ^ a b Epstein, Dan (March 26, 2014). "Comparing the Original Kiss Members' Memoirs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  22. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  23. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6849a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 4718." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  27. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved February 20, 2024. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Kiss".
  28. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kiss" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You". VG-lista. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  32. ^ Samson, John. "I was made for lovin' you in South African Chart". Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  33. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  34. ^ "Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  36. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  37. ^ "KISS awards on Allmusic". Allmusic. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  38. ^ "Top 100 1979-08-11". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  39. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin' You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  40. ^ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  41. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6855a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  42. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979". Top40.nl. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  43. ^ "End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  44. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1979". Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  45. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1979 - hitparade.ch". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  46. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1979/Top 100 Songs of 1979". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  47. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  48. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Loving You" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  49. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Loving You". Music Canada.
  50. ^ "Danish single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Loving You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  51. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kiss; 'I Was Made For Lovin' You')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  52. ^ "Italian single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Lovin' You" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  53. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Lovin' You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 25, 2020. Select 2016年11月 on the drop-down menu
  54. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Lovin' You" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved August 24, 2018. Enter I Was Made for Lovin' You in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1980 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  55. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Lovin' You". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Lovin' You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  57. ^ "American single certifications – Kiss – I Was Made for Loving You". Recording Industry Association of America.
  58. ^ "Scooter – We Are The Greatest" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  59. ^ "Scooter – We Are The Greatest / I Was Made For Lovin' You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  60. ^ "Scooter – We Are The Greatest" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  61. ^ "Scooter – We Are the Greatest / I Was Made for Lovin' You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  62. ^ "Scooter – We Are The Greatest". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  63. ^ Caferri, Agustina (March 18, 2015). "Aunque no lo creas Menudo hizo un cover de KISS y es sensacional". BuzzFeed.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  64. ^ Promis, Jose F.. I Was Made for Lovin' You at AllMusic
  65. ^ Jon, Ng. "Paulina Rubio: Border Girl (Universal)". MTV Asia. Archived from the original on December 18, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2002.
  66. ^ Micallef, Ken (June 25, 2002). "Paulina Rubio: Border Girl : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 17, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  67. ^ "Paulina Rubio: Passion-packed pop". The News-Times. May 25, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  68. ^ "Oliver Heldens Collaborates with Nile Rodgers and Gospel Choir on 'I Was Made for Lovin' You'". May 6, 2022.
  69. ^ "Australian Idol star Ricki-Lee Coulter sends fans wild with outfit post". Channel 7 (Australia). February 16, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  70. ^ Blabbermouth (April 26, 2024). "YUNGBLUD Covers KISS's 'I Was Made For Lovin' You' For 'The Fall Guy' Movie". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
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