I Was Born to Love You (song)

"I Was Born to Love You (Live at Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014)"
"I Was Born to Love You (Live at Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014)"
Single by Queen + Adam Lambert
from the album Live Around the World
Released	25 September 2020
Recorded	17 August 2014
Venue	Summer Sonic
Genre	Pop rock; glam rock;
Length	4:04
Label	EMI
Producer(s)	Brian May; Roger Taylor;
Queen + Adam Lambert singles chronology
Music video
	"I Was Born to Love You" (Live) on YouTube

"I Was Born to Love You"
"I Was Born to Love You"
	2004 Artwork for Japanese release
Single by Queen
from the album Made in Heaven
Released	28 February 1996; (Japan only)
Recorded	1984, 1993-1995
Genre	Rock
Length	4:49
Label	EMI; Hollywood (North America)
Songwriter(s)	Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)	Queen
Queen singles chronology

"I Was Born to Love You"
"I Was Born to Love You"
Single by Freddie Mercury
from the album Mr. Bad Guy
A-side	"I Was Born to Love You" (Extended Version) (12" single only)
B-side	"Stop All the Fighting"
Released	8 April 1985
Recorded	1984; Musicland Studios, Munich
Genre	Pop, disco
Length	3:37 (7" and album version); 7:03 (12" extended version)
Label	CBS
Songwriter(s)	Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)	Reinhold Mack; Freddie Mercury;
Freddie Mercury singles chronology
Music video
	"I Was Born to Love You" on YouTube

"I Was Born to Love You" is a 1985 song by Freddie Mercury, and was released as a single and on the Mr. Bad Guy album. After Mercury's death, Queen re-worked this song for their album Made in Heaven in 1995, by having the other members play their instrumental parts over the original track, transforming the song from a disco song to a rock song. The Queen version from the Made in Heaven album also includes samples of Mercury's ad-lib vocals taken from "A Kind of Magic" and from "Living on My Own".

The song received its live debut on the 2005 tour of Japan, given by Queen + Paul Rodgers. Brian May and Roger Taylor performed the song acoustically. The song was also performed during the concerts given by Queen + Adam Lambert in South Korea and Japan, which was the first time that a full live band was used for the performance.

Music videos[]

The video for the original Freddie Mercury version of the song was directed by David Mallet and filmed at the now demolished Limehouse Studios, London. The video was choreographed by Arlene Phillips and shows Freddie singing in front of a wall of mirrors, then running through a house with a woman (Debbie Ash of Hot Gossip), before dancing on a podium.

The video for the version used on Made in Heaven was directed by Richard Heslop for the British Film Institute, and included on Made in Heaven: The Films. It shows inhabitants of a block of council flats. Couples kiss, kids play, and teenagers steal and destroy a car in a monochrome film. The audio also uses the vinyl edit.

For the 2004 re-release(see below), a video was created mixing footage of Mercury's original solo video intercut with footage of Queen performing live at Wembley Stadium, plus his solo video "Living on My Own". This video is included on Queen Jewels, the 2004 Greatest Karaoke Hits DVD, and the Japanese release of the documentary Days of Our Lives.

Appearances in other media[]

The song has appeared in multiple television advertisements, mainly in Japan. The original version recorded by Mercury appeared in the TV commercial of Japanese cosmetics company Noevia in the mid 1980s. The Queen version was released as a single exclusively in Japan in February 1996, because the song was used in a TV ad for Kirin Ichiban Shibori,^[2] one of the best-selling liquors of the country produced by the Kirin Brewery Company. The single became their first song that entered the Japanese chart since "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)", released in 1977.

In 1987, Brazilian singer Gretchen made a cover version.

In 2004, Queen's version was used as the theme for Pride, the successful Japanese drama starring Takuya Kimura and Yūko Takeuchi. Jewels, Queen's tie-in compilation album released only in Japan, includes "I Was Born to Love You".

The song was used in episode 29 of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, during a competitive game of gym-class volleyball.

In Malaysia, Mercury's version, using a different mix, was used by Astro in TV advertisements to promote their coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.^[3] The advertisement, commissioned by Astro through agency Dentsu LHS Malaysia and created by Pesona Pictures Indonesia, also have an unused version, which used Queen's version of the song.^[4]

Cover versions were released by Hannah Jones, Worlds Apart and Andrew W.K. in February 2011.

A cover version based on Queen's version is used in the fourth level of the Nintendo DS video game Elite Beat Agents.

Track listings[]

7" single (1985)

A. "I Was Born to Love You" - 3:37

B. "Stop All the Fighting" - 3:17^[5]

12" single (1985)

A. "I Was Born to Love You" (Extended Version) - 7:03

B. "Stop All the Fighting" - 3:17

Personnel[]

Original version

Freddie Mercury - lead vocals, piano, synthesizer, Synclavier
Fred Mandel - synthesizer, rhythm guitar
Paul Vincent - lead guitar
Curt Cress - drums
Stephan Wissnet - bass guitar, Fairlight CMI
Reinhold Mack - Fairlight CMI, Synclavier II

Queen version

Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, keyboards
Brian May - electric guitar, keyboards
Roger Taylor - drums, percussion
John Deacon - bass guitar

Chart history[]

Freddie Mercury version

Chart (1985)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[6]	19
German Media Control Chart	10
Ireland (IRMA)^[7]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[8]	34
UK Singles Chart	11
Austrian Singles Chart	20
Swiss Singles Chart	24
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart	55
South African Singles Chart ^[9]	4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	76
Chart (2016)	Peak position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[10]	69

Queen version

Year	Chart	Peak position
1996	Japanese Oricon Chart	45
2004	Japanese Oricon Chart	1 (Re-Entry)

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[11]	63

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)^[12] physical	Gold	50,000^{^}
Japan (RIAJ)^[13] digital Chaku Uta R	2× Platinum	500,000^*
Japan (RIAJ)^[14] digital Chaku Uta Full R	Gold	100,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

^ "Freddie Mercury Singles Discography". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "クイーンアイ・ワズ・ボーン・トゥ・ラヴ・ユー - goo 音楽 (Release information - Queen - I Was Born to Love You)". music.goo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
^ Astro Malaysia Facebook page
^ Hafiz Ibrahim : Astro World Cup 2018
^ "Freddie Mercury "Mr Bad Guy" album and song lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 198. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Freddie Mercury". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Freddie Mercury" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
^ http://rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(M).html Retrieved 6 January 2014
^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
^ "Queen Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
^ "Japanese single certifications – Queen – I Was Born to Love You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1996年5月 on the drop-down menu
^ "Japanese single digital certifications – Queen – I Was Born to Love You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 27 February 2021. Select 2006年9月 on the drop-down menu
^ "Japanese single digital certifications – Queen – I Was Born to Love You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 27 February 2021. Select 2010年5月 on the drop-down menu

External links[]

Lyrics at Queen official website

[1] "Freddie Mercury Singles Discography". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk.

[goo-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "クイーンアイ・ワズ・ボーン・トゥ・ラヴ・ユー - goo 音楽 (Release information - Queen - I Was Born to Love You)". music.goo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2008.

[3] Astro Malaysia Facebook page

[4] Hafiz Ibrahim : Astro World Cup 2018

[5] "Freddie Mercury "Mr Bad Guy" album and song lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

[aus-6] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 198. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Ireland2_Freddie_Mercury-7] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Freddie Mercury". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 October 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_Freddie_Mercury-8] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Freddie Mercury" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2020.

[9] ttp://rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(M).html Retrieved 6 January 2014

[sc_Poland_-10] "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 17, 2016.

[sc_Billboardjapanhot100_Queen-11] "Queen Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2018.

[RIAJ-12] "Japanese single certifications – Queen – I Was Born to Love You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1996年5月 on the drop-down menu

[RIAJ1-13] "Japanese single digital certifications – Queen – I Was Born to Love You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 27 February 2021. Select 2006年9月 on the drop-down menu

[RIAJ2-14] "Japanese single digital certifications – Queen – I Was Born to Love You" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 27 February 2021. Select 2010年5月 on the drop-down menu

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show v t Freddie Mercury
Discography
Studio albums	Mr. Bad Guy Barcelona
Compilations	The Freddie Mercury Album The Solo Collection Lover of Life, Singer of Songs Messenger of the Gods: The Singles Never Boring
Singles	"I Can Hear Music" "Love Kills" "I Was Born to Love You" "Made in Heaven" "Living on My Own" "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" "Time" "The Great Pretender" "Barcelona" "The Golden Boy" "In My Defence"
Other songs	"There Must Be More to Life Than This"
Depictions	Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God (play) Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender (documentary) Bohemian Rhapsody (film)
Related	The Hectics Smile Queen 17473 Freddiemercury The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Mercury Phoenix Trust Cirolana mercuryi Mercurana Heteragrion freddiemercuryi Logan Place

show v t Queen songs
Queen	"Keep Yourself Alive" "Liar"
Queen II	"The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke "The March of the Black Queen" "Seven Seas of Rhye"
Sheer Heart Attack	"Brighton Rock" "Killer Queen" "Flick of the Wrist" "Lily of the Valley" "Now I'm Here" "Stone Cold Crazy"
A Night at the Opera	"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" "I'm in Love with My Car" "You're My Best Friend" "'39" "Sweet Lady" "Seaside Rendezvous" "The Prophet's Song" "Love of My Life" "Good Company" "Bohemian Rhapsody" "God Save the Queen"
A Day at the Races	"Tie Your Mother Down" "Long Away" "Somebody to Love" "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)"
News of the World	"We Will Rock You" "We Are the Champions" "Sheer Heart Attack" "Spread Your Wings" "It's Late"
Jazz	"Mustapha" "Fat Bottomed Girls" "Jealousy" "Bicycle Race" "Don't Stop Me Now"
The Game	"Play the Game" "Dragon Attack" "Another One Bites the Dust" "Need Your Loving Tonight" "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" "Save Me"
Flash Gordon	"Flash's Theme"
Hot Space	"Staying Power" "Back Chat" "Body Language" "Calling All Girls" "Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love)" "Under Pressure"
The Works	"Radio Ga Ga" "It's a Hard Life" "I Want to Break Free" "Hammer to Fall" "Is This the World We Created...?"
A Kind of Magic	"One Vision" "A Kind of Magic" "One Year of Love" "Pain Is So Close to Pleasure" "Friends Will Be Friends" "Who Wants to Live Forever" "Princes of the Universe"
The Miracle	"The Miracle" "I Want It All" "The Invisible Man" "Breakthru" "Scandal"
Innuendo	"Innuendo" "I'm Going Slightly Mad" "Headlong" "I Can't Live with You" "Ride the Wild Wind" "These Are the Days of Our Lives" "The Show Must Go On"
Made in Heaven	"Made in Heaven" "Let Me Live" "Mother Love" "I Was Born to Love You" "Heaven for Everyone" "Too Much Love Will Kill You" "You Don't Fool Me" "A Winter's Tale"
Queen Rocks	"No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)"
Queen Forever	"Let Me in Your Heart Again" "Love Kills" "There Must Be More to Life Than This"
Other songs	"See What a Fool I've Been" "A Human Body" "Thank God It's Christmas"
Category