Christine Sixteen
Encyclopedia
"Christine Sixteen" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss
. The song originally appeared on their 1977
album Love Gun
. Released as a single in the United States in 1977, the single peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart that year, and would do well in Canada
, peaking at number 22.
Written and sung by bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons
, the song is about an older man with a crush on a sixteen-year old girl named Christine. The song's subject and lyrics were controversial and made some hit radio stations reluctant to put it on their playlists at all, while others (including WABC in the band's home town of New York, and WKBW in Buffalo) only played it after 7 PM as an album cut. The song's title was originated by bandmate Paul Stanley
who was planning to write a song under the title, until Simmons beat him to it. Two different time lengths are printed on the single; one at 3:13, and another at 2:52. They both run 3:10.Although Kiss is often considered a heavy metal band by many, longtime fans know that the group also had a soft spot for the Beatles and old-time rock & roll -- as evidenced by their covers of "Kissin' Time," "Then She Kissed Me," "Any Way You Want It," and the 1977 original "Christine Sixteen" (off Love Gun). Written by Gene Simmons, the song lyrically deals with your usual Simmons fair -- sex, sex, sex -- as he professes his admiration for a 16-year-old high-school student. A simplistic, repetitive piano figure gives the song a rock & roll feel throughout, while the harmony in the chorus (supplied by Paul Stanley and Simmons) is pure early-'60s rock, as is a romantic midsong "rap" by Simmons. One of Kiss' more overlooked tracks, it proves to be one of Simmons' more tuneful (he's known mainly for penning Kiss' heaviest songs). And there's an interesting story behind the demo of "Christine Sixteen." Simmons had befriended a then-unknown band in Los Angeles, Van Halen (then known as Mammoth), and had guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen play on the song's demo. Simmons was so impressed with Eddie's melodic lead that he made Kiss' guitarist Ace Frehley play it note for note on Kiss' version.
The song was sampled by Tone Lōc
in his 1989 song "Funky Cold Medina
".
The song was covered by the Gin Blossoms
on the 1994
Kiss tribute album
Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
and by All
on Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation
.
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
. The song originally appeared on their 1977
1977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
album Love Gun
Love Gun
Love Gun is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Kiss. It was certified platinum on June 30, 1977, just two weeks after the album's release....
. Released as a single in the United States in 1977, the single peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart that year, and would do well in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, peaking at number 22.
Written and sung by bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
, the song is about an older man with a crush on a sixteen-year old girl named Christine. The song's subject and lyrics were controversial and made some hit radio stations reluctant to put it on their playlists at all, while others (including WABC in the band's home town of New York, and WKBW in Buffalo) only played it after 7 PM as an album cut. The song's title was originated by bandmate Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley
Stanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
who was planning to write a song under the title, until Simmons beat him to it. Two different time lengths are printed on the single; one at 3:13, and another at 2:52. They both run 3:10.Although Kiss is often considered a heavy metal band by many, longtime fans know that the group also had a soft spot for the Beatles and old-time rock & roll -- as evidenced by their covers of "Kissin' Time," "Then She Kissed Me," "Any Way You Want It," and the 1977 original "Christine Sixteen" (off Love Gun). Written by Gene Simmons, the song lyrically deals with your usual Simmons fair -- sex, sex, sex -- as he professes his admiration for a 16-year-old high-school student. A simplistic, repetitive piano figure gives the song a rock & roll feel throughout, while the harmony in the chorus (supplied by Paul Stanley and Simmons) is pure early-'60s rock, as is a romantic midsong "rap" by Simmons. One of Kiss' more overlooked tracks, it proves to be one of Simmons' more tuneful (he's known mainly for penning Kiss' heaviest songs). And there's an interesting story behind the demo of "Christine Sixteen." Simmons had befriended a then-unknown band in Los Angeles, Van Halen (then known as Mammoth), and had guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen play on the song's demo. Simmons was so impressed with Eddie's melodic lead that he made Kiss' guitarist Ace Frehley play it note for note on Kiss' version.
The song was sampled by Tone Lōc
Tone Lōc
Anthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:...
in his 1989 song "Funky Cold Medina
Funky Cold Medina
"Funky Cold Medina" is a hip hop song written by Young MC, Michael L. Ross and Matt Dike, and first performed by Tone Lōc. It was the second single from Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark . The single was released on March 18, 1989, and rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following month...
".
The song was covered by the Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
on the 1994
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
Kiss tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
KISS My Ass: Classic KISS Regrooved
-Charts:Album - Billboard Singles - Billboard -External links:*...
and by All
ALL (band)
All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
on Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation
Hard to Believe: Kiss Covers Compilation
-Various labels:Waterfront Records DAMP-121 Southern Records DAMP-121 Records C/Z Records CZ-024 -External links:* Amazon...
.
Personnel
- Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
- lead vocals/bass guitar - Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyPaul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
- lead guitar - Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
- rhythm guitar/backing vocals - Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
- drums - Eddie KramerEddie KramerEdwin H. Kramer is an audio engineer and producer who has worked with, among others, Led Zeppelin, Triumph, Kiss , Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Spooky Tooth, Peter Frampton, Curtis Mayfield, Santana, Anthrax, Carly Simon, Loudness, and Robin Trower.-1960s:Eddie...
- piano
Charts
| Country (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 99 |
| Canada | 22 |
| Germany | 46 |
| United States | 25 |