Most rock fans dislike disco, to put it mildly. However, sometimes famous rock bands are not afraid to experiment and turn to this popular genre. Sometimes these attempts have been incredibly successful. For example, in 1977, The Rolling Stones surprised fans with Miss You, which became a major international hit.
After a couple of years, the Kiss group went off the beaten path. She released the disco track I Was Made for Lovin’ You (“I Was Made to Love You”). The top lines in the charts of several countries and more than a million copies of the disc sold prove that the musicians did not risk in vain.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song I Was Made for Lovin’ You
It was written by Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia and Desmond Child.
As legend has it, the producers demanded that the band members adhere to a style that would sell better. In the wake of the conflict, flaming musicians said that anyone could quickly record a commercially successful disco song.
Stanley shared his version of the birth story of I Was Made for Lovin’ You:
It was written while I was hanging around Studio 54. I was like, “Wow, I could write one of these songs.” It seemed like every song in Studio 54 was about “tonight,” so I went home, set my drum machine to 126bpm, and got to work.
Childe also recounted those events:
Paul wanted to write a good disco song and I decided to help him. Paul started writing words and chords, and I played the song on guitar and said, “Okay, we’ll improve it somehow and make it a really good song.
It was the band’s first collaboration with songwriter Desmond Child. He later recalled:
In 1979 I wrote I Was Made for Lovin’ You with Paul Stanley of Kiss. It’s a group that didn’t write with outsiders very often. Paul and Gene wrote songs together, then they wrote songs separately, and later they mixed these songs together. That’s the way it was at Kiss.
So, Paul invited me to write a song with him, and it turned out to be an incredible hit that is still profitable, played frequently, and on Kiss greatest hits compilations to this day. It is also often used in advertising, movies and the like.
It opened doors to career opportunities that didn’t exist before. The bands usually wrote on their own as a collaborative effort, and usually the vocalist and guitarist took care of it. Sometimes they let a producer join them, which could give the producer copyright. But bands didn’t think it was smart or cool to bring in a professional songwriter from outside because they were afraid they might be thought they weren’t capable of writing songs for themselves. For some reason it was acceptable to involve a producer, but not an outside songwriter.
So when I did it with KISS, that opportunity opened up for other bands as well. The next band I collaborated with was Bon Jovi. The first day we got together, we wrote You Give Love a Bad Name. A couple of weeks later we wrote Livin’ on a Prayer.
SongFacts.com, 2012
Release and achievements
Kiss is said to have recorded the demo version of I Was Made for Lovin’ You in a few hours.
In May 1979, the track was released as the second single from the Dynasty album. On the back of the record was the song Hard Times.
The single topped the charts in Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium. It went platinum by August, the second time in Kiss history.
At the band’s 30th anniversary concert, Kiss played the song, accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Check out the music video for I Was Made for Lovin’ You.
Clip I Was Made for Lovin’ You – Kiss
The music video for the song was filmed on June 20, 1979 at the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia.
Why not watch the I Was Made for Lovin’ You video again and listen to the legendary hit of the rock band Kiss.
Cover versions
This is how Scooter performed I Was Made for Lovin’ You.
A very unusual version of I Was Made for Lovin’ You was presented by the SILENZIUM trio.
Interesting Facts
- Drummer Peter Criss appears in the video for I Was Made for Lovin’ You, but he did not feature on this Kiss song. He was replaced in the studio by session musician Anton Fig.
- In a 2018 interview with OK magazine, Gene Simmons admitted that he didn’t like performing I Was Made for Lovin’ You. He especially dislikes humming: “Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do.”
- Ace Frehley also called it his least favorite Kiss song.
- Some music critics believe that Bruce Springsteen used the riff from I Was Made for Lovin’ You in his song Outlaw Pete.
I Was Made for Lovin’ You Lyrics
Tonight I want to give it all to you
In the darkness
There’s so much I want to do
And tonight I want to lay it at your feet
‘Cause girl, I was made for you
And girl, you were made for me
chorus:
I was made for lovin’ you baby
You were made for lovin’ me
And I can’t get enough of you baby
Can you get enough of me
Tonight I want to see it in your eyes
Feel the magic
There’s something that drives me wild
And tonight we’re gonna make it all come true
‘Cause girl, you were made for me
And girl I was made for you
I Was Made For Lovin’ You Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
I Was Made for Lovin’ You Lyrics
Tonight I want to give you everything
In the dark.
I want to do so many things
And today I want to put it at your feet
‘Cause girl I was made for you
And girl, you were made for me.
Chorus:
I was made to love you baby
You were made to love me.
I always miss you, baby
Are you missing me?
Tonight I want to see it in your eyes
Feel the magic.
Something is driving me crazy.
Today we will make it all come true
‘Cause girl you were made for me
And I was made for you.