Making Love Out of Nothing at All

"Making Love Out of Nothing at All"
Song

"Making Love Out of Nothing at All"
Song

"Making Love Out of Nothing At All" is a song written and composed by Jim Steinman and has been released by Air Supply and Bonnie Tyler. There have also been numerous other versions that have not been as commercially successful.

History of recording

The song was first performed by Air Supply, gaining them a number two hit in the US. The song subsequently became the title track of their 1983 album. The B-side of the single was a song called "Late Again". They have included the song on their numerous greatest hits and live albums, and recorded an acoustic version for their 2005 album The Singer and the Song. The original is also featured on the Mr. and Mrs. Smith soundtrack album, where it was played during the car chase / gunfight scene. It was also used in the films, Click and Dumb And Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd

Steinman gave the song, along with "Total Eclipse of the Heart", to Meat Loaf for his Midnight at the Lost and Found album. However, Meat's record company refused to pay for Steinman and he wrote the songs himself. Steinman's songs were then given to Bonnie Tyler and Air Supply.

Lyrics

The first part of the song lists several things that the vocalist knows how to do, followed by something that they do not. The structure is similar to Steinman's "I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)", where the chorus consists of things that the vocalist would and then wouldn't do.

And I know just where I touch you

And I know just what to prove

I know when to pull you closer

And I know when to let you lose

Like the final lines of each chorus in "Anything for Love", the end of "Making Love" contrasts with the previous stating what he doesn't know how to do. The final part of the verse laments:

But I don't know how to leave you

And I'll never let you fall

And I don't know how you do it

Making love out of nothing at all

The title is repeated six times, with background vocals supplying the "making love" part, and the lead vocalist singing the last part of the line.

Strong drumbeats begin the next section of the song, which concentrates upon the attributes of its subject:

Every time I see you all the rays of the sun

Are streaming through the waves in your hair

And every star in the sky is taking aim at your eyes like a spotlight

There is an instrumental interlude, dominated by the melody of the title line played by piano. The final verse returns to the structure of the first. The original Air Supply version had an American football analogy, with "I can make the runner stumble, I can make the final block; And I can make every tackle at the sound of the whistle, I can make all the stadiums rock."

Video

The video for the Air Supply version begins with a couple driving to an airport. The male singer is leaving for "one more tour" and asks the woman to join him, as he "can give you anything". The remainder of the video intersperses the singer on stage with a microphone with various scenes of the relationship. Graham and Russell, who comprise Air Supply, leave their dressing room for the stage. As they sing with the band, the female is shown packing and leaving their home, placing their photograph face down on the table in the process. However, she changes her mind and does a u-turn on the freeway, and now drives to the airport. She meets him at the side of the stage near the end of the song and they embrace.

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
UK Singles Chart	80

Bonnie Tyler version

The song was later covered by Bonnie Tyler on her album Free Spirit. It opens with a word-less choral voice, before the melody begins, played on piano. All Music Guide call this version "fantastic, clocking in at nearly eight minutes, and seems perfectly suited for her voice. [Air Supply's] version was already great, but hers is awesome." It was produced by Steinman, with Steven Rinkoff as co-producer, at The Hit Factory, New York City. Ma-Elsie Hopkins provided some vocals.

These lines were changed for the Tyler version, and also for the subsequent Karine Hannah version, to:

I can make you find your power

I can make you lose your fear

I can make your body do some very magical things

I'll make your inhibitions all disappear

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Belgian singles chart	2
Netherlands singles chart	17
UK singles chart	45

Other cover versions

• Karine Hannah recorded a demo of the song when she was working with Steinman on an album. The project fell through, but her version has been leaked onto the internet.

• The song was covered by singer Frankee under the name Nikki A. in 2003 for Louie Devito's Dance Divas, Volume One.

• An electronica pop version was recorded by artist Sexton Blake.

• A Wendy's commercial now features 2 guys eating burgers, one from Wendys (with the guy wearing a comical red Wendy's wig), and one pretend promotional burger from a competitor that sings 'Making Love Out of Nothing at All. Hilarious especially since the song is so sappy

Live performances, appearances in other media, etc.

• The Dream Engine have performed the song at their "Over the Top" concerts.

• In 2005, Carrie Underwood performed the song during the fourth season of American Idol.