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Reason to Live

"Reason to Live" is a power performed by the American rock band , released as the second from their fourteenth studio , Crazy Nights, on November 12, 1987. Written by Kiss co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist in collaboration with songwriter , the song explores themes of heartbreak, recovery from a toxic relationship, and finding personal strength to move forward independently. Featuring prominent keyboard elements produced by , it marked a shift toward a more pop-oriented sound for the band during their non-makeup era. The track received moderate commercial success, peaking at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 34 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, while achieving a higher position of number 33 on the UK Singles Chart. An accompanying music video, directed by Marty Callner, showcased the band performing in a stylized, futuristic setting with dramatic lighting and choreography, aligning with the era's MTV aesthetic. Despite not matching the chart performance of the album's lead single "Crazy Crazy Nights," "Reason to Live" has been noted for its emotional depth and remains a fan favorite in Kiss's catalog, often performed live during their 1987-1988 tour supporting Crazy Nights. In the broader context of Kiss's discography, "Reason to Live" exemplifies the band's efforts in the late to blend with balladry to appeal to mainstream audiences, contributing to being certified platinum by the RIAA and revitalizing their career post-makeup hiatus. The song's lyrics, emphasizing self-reliance with lines like "Everybody's got a reason to live, baby / Everybody's got a dream and a inside," resonated with listeners navigating turmoil, underscoring Stanley's songwriting prowess in crafting relatable anthems.

Development

Songwriting

"Reason to Live" was primarily written by Kiss frontman Paul Stanley in collaboration with professional songwriter Desmond Child. Child, renowned for co-writing major hits such as Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and Aerosmith's "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", had previously worked with Kiss on their 1979 track "I Was Made for Lovin' You". The song draws inspiration from the emotional aftermath of a romantic breakup, portraying the narrator's journey toward empowerment and self-discovery without dependence on the former partner. Stanley and Child crafted it as a power ballad that emphasizes emotional vulnerability, allowing the band to explore deeper themes amid their evolving sound. The writing process took place in 1987 during the songwriting sessions for Kiss's album Crazy Nights, which marked the band's shift toward a more pop-oriented metal style. In developing the lyrics, Stanley and Child focused on the key lyrical hook—"And when it's over, and you walk away / You'll remember me and all the things I tried to say / I never thought I'd live to see the day / When you find a reason to live without me"—as a metaphor for achieving self-reliance and inner strength post-heartbreak. Child later reflected on the track's universal appeal, noting, "Everybody's got a reason to live," which added a profound dimension to Kiss's catalog.

Recording

The recording sessions for "Reason to Live" occurred as part of the broader Crazy Nights album production, taking place from March to June 1987 at One on One Recording Studios and Rumbo Recorders, both in the Los Angeles area of California. These sessions followed the band's efforts to craft a more accessible sound following their recent songwriting collaborations, including with Desmond Child. The track was produced by , a veteran engineer and renowned for his work on Led Zeppelin's albums such as and , as well as Heart's and . Nevison's approach emphasized polished, dynamic arena-rock elements, layering the instrumentation to enhance the song's radio-friendly pop-metal accessibility while maintaining the band's edge. The core band lineup featured on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, on bass and backing vocals, delivering the lead guitar solo, and on drums. Additional contributions included heavy keyboard layers from session musician Phil Ashley, which were integral to achieving the album's synth-infused pop-metal texture.

Composition

Musical elements

"Reason to Live" has a of 4:00. The song follows a standard power ballad structure, consisting of verses, choruses, a bridge, a , and an outro, building from a relatively soft introduction to more intense sections. Musically, it features a heavy reliance on synthesizers and keyboards to create melodic hooks and atmospheric elements, aligning with the album ' shift toward keyboard-driven production. Guitarist contributes layered riffs and a prominent solo in , supported by a driving including Eric Carr's dynamic fills and cymbal accents. As a pop-metal power ballad influenced by 1980s hair metal, the track employs dynamic shifts from subdued verses to anthemic choruses bolstered by multi-tracked vocal harmonies for dramatic effect. With a tempo of 93 BPM, it emphasizes emotional swells via string-like synth pads and orchestral textures. The overall polish is enhanced by producer Ron Nevison, known for his work on arena rock albums.

Lyrics

The lyrics of "Reason to Live" center on the theme of post-breakup , portraying a narrator who rejects emotional dependency on a toxic romantic partner in favor of self-empowerment and renewal. In the opening verse, the narrator confronts and , singing, ", there's nobody around / All I hear is the sound of a ," which evokes the immediate aftermath of abandonment and the end of prolonged suffering: "Out of time, no more waiting for you / Now the hurting is through and a new day starts." This sets a arc of descent into emotional darkness followed by emergence, as the reflects, "I sailed into dark and endless nights / And made it alive," symbolizing and inner . The second verse deepens the depiction of betrayal and isolation, with the narrator acknowledging prolonged self-disconnection—"Out of touch with myself for so long"—before experiencing a surge of strength: "Now a feelin' so strong's coming over me." Here, a hard-won lesson emerges: "Down the line, there's a lesson I've learned / You can love and get burned, if it has to be," underscoring the risks of vulnerability without succumbing to bitterness. The chorus provides resolution through hopeful defiance, repeating, "Everybody's got a reason to live, baby / Everybody's got a dream and a hunger inside / Everybody's got a reason to live / But it can't be your love," which affirms universal human drive while firmly excluding the ex-partner's influence as a source of purpose. This empowerment avoids despair, instead emphasizing personal growth and emotional independence as the path forward. Poetic devices enhance the anthemic quality and emotional depth, particularly the repetition in the chorus that reinforces the mantra of self-reliance and builds a sense of cathartic release. Metaphors like the "sound of a broken heart" and "sailed into dark and endless nights" symbolize profound grief and the journey toward emotional rebirth, culminating in the bridge's affirmation: "And I see a change in my life / And I'm not alone when I'm strong inside / And I realize." These elements align with 1980s rock ballad tropes of romantic turmoil and triumphant recovery, yet the lyrics draw from Paul Stanley's personal experiences with breakup without overt autobiography. Co-written with Desmond Child, the words achieve a polished universality that amplifies their resonant messaging.

Release

Single details

"Reason to Live" was released on November 12, 1987, by as the second from the album , following "". The primary format was a 7-inch with "Reason to Live" as the A-side and "Thief in the Night"—another track from —as the B-side, bearing the catalog number 870 022-7. A 12-inch promotional version was also issued, featuring an extended mix alongside additional album tracks such as "Who Wants to Be Lonely" and "Thrills in the Night". Cassette singles were available as well, typically mirroring the 7-inch track listing. The single's artwork depicted the band members in stage attire against a dramatic, fiery backdrop, capturing the high-energy aesthetic of their 1980s era. International releases varied; for instance, the UK edition on (catalog KISS 8) included a picture that highlighted the song's romantic elements through close-up band imagery and lyrical excerpts. The single was supported by a that aided its promotion.

Promotion

The music video for "Reason to Live," directed by , was a key promotional element for the single, featuring performing on stage intercut with narrative scenes of betrayal and empowerment. The performance segments were filmed at the Orange Pavilion in , while the storyline sequences, including a model portraying a jilted woman burning a of her lover and a , were shot in locations. Model Eloise Broady starred in the video's dramatic role, embodying themes of emotional resilience that aligned with the song's lyrical message. Promotion for the single, released on November 12, 1987, coincided with the launch of the on November 13, 1987, in , where the track was incorporated into setlists to showcase the album's new pop-infused sound aimed at expanding Kiss's audience beyond traditional fans. The tour's staging and the ballad's heartfelt tone were leveraged to appeal to broader pop sensibilities, with the overall campaign seeking to reposition the band amid the era's synth-driven trends. A targeted radio push focused on (AOR) stations highlighted the song's emotional depth to attract mainstream listeners. The video received significant exposure on , including topping the Dial MTV countdown, which helped sustain visibility during the tour's early months. This television rotation, combined with the tour's high-energy shows, underscored the single's role in Kiss's strategy to blend their theatrical roots with accessible pop elements for wider commercial reach.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, "Reason to Live" received mixed , with praise centered on Paul Stanley's vulnerable vocal delivery and the song's anthemic chorus. Reviewers highlighted Stanley's ability to convey emotional intensity through his thick voice and upper-register flourishes, creating a sense of grandeur and confidence that elevated the track beyond typical power ballads. The chorus, bolstered by layered background vocals and precise drumming from , was described as particularly majestic and catchy, contributing to the song's hopeful resonance. Critics also noted the track's formulaic elements as characteristic of 1980s balladry, criticizing its heavy reliance on synthesizers and overproduction, which rendered it somewhat generic despite its polish. Producer , however, defended the song as a "gorgeous" and "passionate" piece with emotional depth, arguing it had strong radio potential akin to Foreigner's hits, though it ultimately faced resistance. In a retrospective, Ultimate Classic Rock emphasized the ballad's emotional core and themes of resilience but attributed its lackluster reception to audience fatigue with Kiss's softer material following earlier successes like "." Over time, the song has gained appreciation as an underrated power ballad, valued for its uplifting message of self-sufficiency amid heartbreak and its place in compilations celebrating the genre.

Commercial performance

"Reason to Live" peaked at number 64 on the US chart and number 34 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It reached number 33 on the . The single also charted at number 85 in and number 89 in the . The single did not receive RIAA gold certification in the US and had modest chart performance similar to the album's lead single (which peaked at number 65 on the Hot 100 but reached number 4 in the UK). Radio airplay was robust on rock-oriented formats but limited for pop crossover appeal, contributing to its modest overall success. Internationally, the song's performance was mixed, with relatively stronger results in the UK bolstered by video airplay. Released in 1987 amid the height of the hair metal era, the ballad was largely overshadowed by the album's more energetic, uptempo tracks.

Legacy

Live performances

"Reason to Live" debuted live during the on November 13, 1987, and became a staple of the setlist throughout the 1987–1988 trek. Performed mid-set after high-energy tracks like "," the ballad served as an emotional breather for audiences, with delivering the lead vocals amid the band's signature stage spectacle, including . The song was positioned to highlight its uplifting message, often eliciting strong audience response in an era when Kiss performed without their classic makeup. A standout rendition occurred on December 18, 1987, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the crowd joined in a prominent during the chorus. Video footage from this show, captured as part of tour broadcasts and fan recordings, showcases the performance's energy and the song's resonance with fans. The song was exclusively performed during the 1987–1988 and was not included in any subsequent tours.

Covers

"Reason to Live," written by and , has inspired various fan-driven and tribute covers. Notable among these is the 2020 acoustic collaboration by Phil Proietti and Keysha Veen, featuring guitar from former member using pre-recorded tracks, produced during the quarantine as part of Proietti's tribute series to and Stanley. In 2019, independent musician Alyona Yarushina from released a solo vocal-focused cover on , highlighting the song's melodic balladry and garnering attention within Kiss fan communities. The track has also appeared in various Kiss tribute albums, such as the 2011 Legends Tribute to Kiss by MissKiss, which includes a cover emphasizing the original's rock elements, and the 2013 KISS 40th Anniversary Tribute Album for Cancer Care by , a Canadian offering a heartfelt rendition to support charitable causes. Sampling of "Reason to Live" remains rare, with no prominent instances in hair metal revivals or later genres documented in music databases. Post-2010, fan covers proliferated online, particularly on , where numerous uploads by amateur musicians and enthusiasts demonstrate the song's enduring appeal among rock aficionados. During the 2020 , and his wife Lisa Lane Kulick shared an intimate acoustic home performance of the track, recorded live in their living room and uploaded to , capturing a stripped-down essence of the 1987 original.

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