Story of Song
The title “making love” is somehow misleading although it does mean having sex, but what he is talking about is making love when there is nothing between them, creating the delusion of an emotional attachment in the absence of any behavioral foundation. It is the opposite of romantic and actually negative (in the beginning). “Nothing at all” could mean that there is nothing at all inside him for anyone. He knows how to fake his emotions, like when he says, “I know just how to whisper, and I know just how to cry, I know just where to find the answers and I know just how to lie.” Meaning he knows exactly what to do to make any girl love him by knowing what to say, how to act, or even pretend he loves her, to get any girl to love him. But, something’s wrong, yes he doesn’t really love her, but still he doesn’t know how to leave her, and he doesn’t know how it happens or how she does it, making love when there is nothing at all inside him for her.
It’s a song of redemption. He is bitter and jaded and never has feelings for anyone. Yet somehow he cannot explain, he has feelings for her and she didn’t do anything to make it happen, it just did. He doesn’t understand how he fell in love with her when she did nothing to try to win his affection. The music video starts with Graham Russell and Jodi Russell (his real life wife) saying goodbye just before he goes on tour. He asks her to come with him but she refuses to come because she just doesn’t see a point in having their relationship continue. But during his journey, Graham realizes that he has feelings for her and that he actually loves her.
Release date
This song was released as a new track in 1983.
Songwriter/s
Jim Steinman
Label
Chart Rankings
US – 2
UK – 80
SOUTH AFRICA – 5
The song also held number 5 on the south African singles chart. It is a power ballad that considered being one of the most romantic songs ever made. The song held number 2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. for three weeks.
Artist’s age on release date
The band had been active for 8 years; Russell Hitchcock was 33 years old.
Cover Versions
The most successful cover was by Bonnie Tyler on her album Free Spirit. Other less famous artists covered it as well.
Andrea Burkhart
April 11, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Anytime I look up info about the music video for Making Love out of nothing at all, there is tons of info about the Russell Graham video, but what about the one you have linked in here about the military guy who meets the girl who drops her groceries. Anybody know who those actors are? Or is this from a movie or something?
Vibrators
May 25, 2019 at 2:52 pm
” Making Love Out of Nothing At All ” is a power ballad written and composed by Jim Steinman and first released by Australian soft rock band Air Supply for their 1983 compilation album
Darik
September 10, 2019 at 10:52 pm
I just heard it and thought it was Meatloaf. It’s something he should have done, don’t you think?
Jo
February 26, 2021 at 3:33 am
I agree!
Boyd
January 2, 2020 at 6:24 pm
This is a great song, despite its meaning, it is romantic, as it is impossible not to be backed by the great group Air Supply!
Alvaro G. Quesada
April 5, 2020 at 1:30 am
I was 30 when I heard the song in 85. I was juggling two girlfriends at the time (dog), and I did fell in love with this girl (18) although we hadn’t had sex yet. Somehow we fell apart, and never saw her again. We dated for about a year, and she dropped me when I told her that I had another lady friend. At least I was honest. Yes, I was a dog. I gave her the nickname Chombi. I still love you Chombi, always will, and I’m sorry for putting you through all of that. Chicago 1985.
Basil
May 3, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Interesting analysis. But the “Nothing at all” refers to the woman and not him: “And I don’t know how YOU do it, Making love, out of nothing at all”.
It has been however one of the most loved romantic ballads.
Stephanie Martins
August 29, 2020 at 6:52 pm
I am glad you pointed that out. I was bothered by the fact people were saying he was emotionally stunted. She was the one who kept him intentionally by her abilities to make love out of nothing they actually had in common. It was her all the way. And he was so conflicted because he didn´t know how to get out of it. She would not let him go after she had him.
T. Meyer
December 25, 2020 at 4:36 pm
Agreed. It is about the other person being in a relationship – that she feels no love or connection. He is saying he can pretty much do everything, but he can’t fake love in a relationship like she seems to be able to do. There are lines in the song that make it clear that he feels love for her, such as when he asks her “do you really wanna see me crawl?”, but that he just doesn’t understand how she can fake love (make love out of nothing at all).
Lanie
January 23, 2021 at 6:22 pm
I can still remember my Papa sings this song, I wad just 4 years old when I memorized the lyrics and up until now I am already 27 and this song still very popular… And I really love Air Supply, I can actually sing all of their songs without reading the lyrics .
Roger
January 30, 2021 at 4:48 am
It was 1983 and I had just met my first girl friend in college. We would go out to night clubs and close dance to this song. We both felt the same way – we were making love out of nothing at all or out of nothing but the togetherness we felt far away from our childhood homes.
The history behind the hits
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