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Tears Are Falling
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| "Tears Are Falling" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kiss | ||||
| from the album Asylum | ||||
| Released | September 9, 1985[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1985 | |||
| Studio | Electric Lady, New York City | |||
| Genre | Glam metal[2] | |||
| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter | Paul Stanley | |||
| Producers | Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons | |||
| Kiss singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Tears Are Falling" on YouTube | ||||
"Tears Are Falling" is a song by American rock band Kiss. It was released as the lead single from the band's 1985 studio album Asylum.
Background
[edit]The track was written and sung by vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley. It is one of Kiss' few songs since the 1970s to have been solely created by him. It would also be Stanley's last individual composition until "Loving You Without You Now" on his 2006 solo album Live to Win.
Reception
[edit]Music video
[edit]A video to promote the single was filmed in London in September 1985, and was directed by David Mallet. It was one of three videos produced in promotion of the 'Asylum' album, along with 'Uh! All Night' and 'Who Wants to Be Lonely'. Despite the low production values of the 'Tears Are Falling' video, it was heavily played on MTV's Dial MTV phone video-request show for several months, until a new ruling stated that the requested videos had to be only a few weeks old to qualify.
Chart performance
[edit]The song enjoyed minor success when it was released as a single in the United States and United Kingdom. It peaked at number 20 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and 51 on the Billboard Hot 100, meanwhile peaking at 57 in the UK Singles Chart.
Personnel
[edit]- Paul Stanley - lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
- Gene Simmons - backing vocals
- Bruce Kulick - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Eric Carr - drums, backing vocals
- Allan Schwartzberg - additional stereo drum overdubs
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] | 83 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 57 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 51 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[7] | 20 |
References
[edit]- ^ "New Releases" (PDF). FMQB. September 6, 1985. p. 25. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ McPadden, Mike (June 26, 2015). "Brace Yourself For The Top 10 Hair Metal Hits of 1985". VH1 News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. October 26, 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Image 0608". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 3/11/1985 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ "Kiss Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
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Tears Are Falling
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Composition and recording
Writing process
"Tears Are Falling" was written solely by Paul Stanley, who also performed lead vocals on the track, making it a standout in Kiss's catalog as his only individual composition between 1980 and 2006—the next being "Loving You Without You Now" on his solo album Live to Win.[2][3] The song's inspiration aligned with Kiss's mid-1980s transition to a pop-oriented glam metal sound, evident across their 1985 album Asylum, where Stanley incorporated Motown influences, particularly the riff echoing the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)."[4][5] This stylistic shift aimed to blend hard rock energy with accessible pop hooks to maintain relevance in the evolving hair metal landscape. Lyrically, the track delves into themes of emotional turmoil and the pain of relational endings, with the chorus's repetitive "tears are falling" hook serving as its emotional core. Stanley described it as capturing "the moment a relationship is over."[6] Developed during the Asylum recording sessions, it was selected as the lead single to bolster the band's commercial revival after unveiling their non-makeup personas in 1983.[7]Studio recording
"Tears Are Falling" was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City during the Asylum album sessions in June and July 1985.[8][9] The track was produced by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, with Dave Wittman serving as recording and mixing engineer, assisted by Ed Garcia and Ken Steiger.[10] The production took place amid Kiss's transition in the mid-1980s, aiming for a polished sound that blended hard rock elements with commercial appeal. Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, the sessions captured the band's lineup performing the core instrumentation.[10] Paul Stanley provided lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and bass on the track, while Gene Simmons contributed backing vocals and additional bass; Bruce Kulick handled lead guitar duties, and Eric Carr played drums.[11] As the song's primary songwriter, Stanley influenced its arrangement to feature prominent guitar riffs and layered vocal harmonies in the chorus, enhancing its memorable hook. The final recording clocks in at 3:55 and falls within the glam metal genre, incorporating pop sensibilities for broader accessibility.[9]Release and promotion
Single release
"Tears Are Falling" was released in September 1985 by Mercury Records as the lead single from Kiss's album Asylum.[8] The single was issued in multiple formats, including 7-inch vinyl with "Any Way You Slice It" as the B-side in the United States and a 12-inch vinyl maxi-single featuring extended versions. International editions varied, such as the UK release on Vertigo Records with a live version of "Heaven's On Fire" as the B-side, and promotional 7-inch singles in markets like Japan and Canada. Digital reissues became available later through platforms under Universal Music Group.[12] Promotion for the single aligned with Kiss's 1985 Asylum tour, which launched on November 29 in Little Rock, Arkansas (Barton Coliseum), and emphasized the song's catchy, radio-oriented structure to target MTV viewers and attract a wider pop-rock audience.[13][5] Mercury Records strategically highlighted Paul Stanley's lead vocals, influenced by Motown soul styles, to differentiate the track from heavier hard rock material and expand appeal beyond the band's core fans.[5] Regional variations included promotional releases with localized Spanish titles for non-English markets, featuring the original English track, such as "Lágrimas Cayendo = Tears Are Falling" in Mexico on Mercury and "Las Lágrimas Caen" in Argentina.[12]Music video
The music video for "Tears Are Falling," released in September 1985 as the lead single from Kiss's album Asylum, was directed by David Mallet and filmed on a soundstage in London during September 1985.[14][5] It depicts the band—Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick, and Eric Carr—in their flashy 1980s stage costumes, performing energetically amid abstract visual effects, including simulated falling rain and a volcanic eruption that evoke the song's theme of tears. The video intercuts wide shots of the group's synchronized playing with close-up shots emphasizing Stanley's passionate vocal performance and facial expressions.[15] Despite its low-budget aesthetic and reputation for cheesiness, the video achieved heavy rotation on MTV, contributing to the single's visibility during Kiss's non-makeup era by reintroducing elements of theatrical spectacle through lighting, effects, and pyrotechnic bursts.[11][16][17]Reception
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Tears Are Falling" was praised by critics for its catchy chorus and polished pop-rock arrangement, which contributed to its strong MTV presence and broad appeal. Cash Box highlighted the associated album Asylum's solid songwriting and trademark vocals, noting how they sustained Kiss's commercial viability for headbangers while embracing accessible hooks.[18] Retrospectively, "Tears Are Falling" is frequently regarded in Kiss discographies as a reliable mid-tier single that exemplified Paul Stanley's knack for anthemic songwriting amid the band's 1980s resurgence. Recent analyses, such as Sleaze Roxx's 2020 revisit, affirm its strengths in melody and production while acknowledging weaknesses in originality, positioning it as a fun but unremarkable entry in the catalog.[19]Commercial performance
"Tears Are Falling" achieved moderate commercial success upon its release in 1985, peaking at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[20] It performed better on rock-oriented formats, reaching number 20 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[21] Internationally, the single entered the UK Singles Chart at number 57, where it spent two weeks.[22] In Canada, it peaked at number 83 on the RPM Top Singles chart.[23] The song's performance was modest compared to Kiss's earlier hits, such as the 1976 re-release of "Rock and Roll All Nite," which reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24] Despite not achieving top-40 status in major markets, "Tears Are Falling" benefited from heavy rotation of its music video on MTV, which helped drive radio airplay and contributed to the band's visibility in the 1980s rock scene.[21] The single did not receive any certifications from the RIAA or equivalent bodies, reflecting its limited sales impact. However, it played a key role in promoting the Asylum album, which was certified gold by the RIAA on November 13, 1985, for shipments of 500,000 units shortly after release.[25]| Chart (1985) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 51 |
| US Mainstream Rock Tracks | 20 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 83 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 57 |