Top 10 Desmond Child Songs

Desmond Child Songs

Our Top 10 Desmond Child Songs list takes a look at legendary songwriter and producer. He has worked with some of the biggest acts in music. He has over 80 songs that have appeared in the Top 40 on the Billboard 100 charts. Some of the people he’s worked with are Kiss, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Barbra Streisand, Ricky Martin, Cher, Bonnie Tyler, Kelly Clarkson, Sia, Garth Brooks, Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Hanson, Michael Bolton, Carrie Underwood as well as others. Some of his hits are “I Was Made For Loving You,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Livin’ la Vida,” “She Bangs,” “How Can We Be Lovers,” “Living on a Prayer,” “Inside Your Heaven,” as well as other hits. He’s been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Desmond Child has sold over 500 million records worldwide. He also has over a billion views on YouTube as well as other streaming apps.

John Charles Barrett was born on October 28, 1953. Songwriting was in his blood because his mother was a songwriter too. His aunt was a singer named Olga Guillot. She was known as the Queen of Bolero. After he graduated college, he formed a band called Desmond Child & Rouge. The band released a couple of albums that received positive reviews. He would go on to become a songwriter for many artists. He did record one album during his career. He recorded Discipline in 1991. The album features the singles “Love on a Rooftop,” “I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend,” “Discipline,” “Obsession” and “Do Me Right.”

Desmond Child has been writing songs for decades. Chances are you have heard his songs at one time or another. You may not be too familiar with his name, but you have heard his music. He has a lot of hit songs. He can write any genre and create a hit for it. He has written pop, rock and Latin music. Narrowing this list down to 10 songs was a hard task because he has so many hit songs to choose. We were up for the challenge. Our Top 10 Desmond Child Songs list will feature his best songs.

# 10 – I Was Made For Loving You –  Kiss

The first song on our Top 10 Desmond Child Songs list is “I Was Made For Loving You” by Kiss. The track is from the Dynasty album. The song has a disco and rock beat. The sultry song is about a man who wants to have a steamy romance with his girlfriend. He wants her to know that he was supposed to love her. This track caused issues for the band. They were known for their hard rock songs, but they decided to release a disco and rock track. Their diehard fans weren’t too happy about it. They thought the band sold out by releasing this song. It was a good thing they did release it because it became a big hit for them. The people who were against them didn’t outweigh the people who love the song because it’s one of Kiss’ biggest hits.

This song helped other songwriters be able to write songs for rock acts. This is Desmond Child’s first hit single as a songwriter. Desmond Child and Paul Stanley created a very good song about lust. They may have written a song that made Kiss diehard fans angry, but they didn’t change their style too much. Desmond Child must have been a good enough writer because Kiss didn’t usually write with other people. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons usually wrote their own songs at that point.

This song fits in with the disco and rock era at the time. Fans of both genres will be impressed with this track. If you listen closely, you will notice the melody of the chorus is similar to the Four Tops’ “Standing in the Shadows of Love.” You would never think that Kiss would include anything remotely related to the Four Tops’ music in their song, but it works.  Bruce Springsteen released a track called “Outlaw Pete,” many years later that caused some Kiss fans to accuse Bruce Springsteen of copying the melody from the Kiss song.

The band sounds fantastic playing this track. Paul Stanley showed vocal versatility during the bridge. His voice gets really high while he’s singing the bridge. The song has a fabulous chorus that will stay in your head after the song is done.

# 9 – Waking Up In Vegas – Katy Perry

The next song on our Top 10 Desmond Child Songs list is “Waking Up in Vegas” by Katy Perry. The song appears on her album One of the Boys. The song has a pop, rock and dance beat. The exciting song is about a woman who hangs out with her friend so they can have fun. They end up drinking a lot. She gets drunk and has a hangover. They realize they aren’t where they’re supposed to be. They realize they are in Vegas.

The woman has lost everything and didn’t realize what was going on. She tells her friend not to worry because they were in this together. She doesn’t want her friend to tell her mother. She decides she wants them to have a good time. Desmond Child wrote a song that sounds like the plot of a movie. It may not happen in real life, but it sounds like something you would watch instead of experience. It makes the song unique.

Andreas Carlsson and Desmond Child wanted to find someone who could pull off this type of track. They thought Katy Perry was the perfect choice because of her personality and she knew how to make the song work. This is a fun song that’s relatable to both men and women. This song could bring up memories of when you were hanging out with your friends and getting into some trouble. If you’ve ever gone to Vegas, this song will hit close to home. This song has an excellent pop and rock song.

The guitar riffs will blow your mind. The drumbeat gives the song tempo. Katy Perry’s vocals are strong on the track. She can be heard over the very loud music. She needed to have a big voice to pull off the song. Her voice suits the style of the song. The chorus is explosive. She makes you want to sing along with her. Her voice is stacked and she sounds like more than one person.

# 8 – Dude Looks Like a Lady – Aerosmith

The revolutionary song is from the Permanent Vacation album. The song has a metal, hard rock and blues sound. The controversial song is about a man who is mistaken for a woman because he has feminine features. The song was considered controversial at the time because it was considered transphobic. They were afraid people would be offended by the lyrics about transgenders.

The song had a different title while it was being written. The band was going to call the song “Cruisin’ for the Ladies” because they didn’t want to offend anyone. Desmond Child let them know that he’s gay and wasn’t offended by the lyrics. He wanted to write the song anyway. He was able to convince the band to use the song. It went on to be a big hit. Here is some trivia about the song. The song was written because Steven Tyler saw Vince Neil and thought he was a woman. The band made fun of him because of it.

“Dude Looks Like a Lady” was ahead of its time. There weren’t too many songs written about this subject. People are free to be themselves now, but it didn’t happen like that when this song was released. People were able to overlook what the song was about and enjoyed it anyway. People were singing it everywhere. The song is incredibly upbeat and has a wonderful blend of instruments. The chord progression in the bridge is worth checking out. The music will make you wish that you could play guitar. The band’s playing is on point. If you don’t like loud music, you will have to turn down the volume.

This song is loud and will put you in a euphoric state of excitement. Steven Tyler’s vocals are excellent. He screams over the music and it’s not hard on the ear. He screams a lot on his tracks and it could have been annoying, but he was able to control it on this track. You probably won’t be able to listen to the song without singing along with Steven Tyler. Despite the controversy surrounding the song, it was a huge hit for Aerosmith.

# 7 – She Bangs – Ricky Martin

The fun song is from the Sound Loaded album. The song has a dance and Latin beat. The energetic song is about a man who is infatuated with a woman. He compares the woman he loves to an explosive bomb. He thinks she’s dynamite. Desmond Child as well as the other songwriters didn’t want to write a graphic song about sex. They wanted to use a metaphor to explain how hot the woman was. She’s a woman that a man would have trouble having in his life. Men can use this term to describe how explosive the women they love are. Ricky Martin talks about how she is hard to get, but he wants to be with her anyway. Men can relate to this track if they have tried to get the women they love and they are hard to get.

The track was a big hit for Ricky Martin. It was hugely popular when it was released. The song had a resurgence when William Hung sang it on American Idol. This song will get you on the dance floor with the hypnotic beat. It has an energetic Latin and dance beat. The percussion is very powerful. The trumpets are out of this world. The tropical beat will make you feel like you’re on an island. The guitar has a disco beat. They were bringing everything to this song. There is a little bit of everything mixed in the song.

The beat will have you in a trance while you listen to Ricky Martin sing. Speaking of Ricky Martin, his vocals are inviting. He sounds pleasant while he sings over the instrumentation. He sounds like he’s enjoying himself while he’s singing. You can hear him smiling while he’s singing the lyrics. If you don’t to sing along with him, you will change your mind once he sings the chorus. The chorus will suck you into the song. It’s the best part of the song.

# 6 – How Can We Be Lovers – Michael Bolton

The heartbreaking song is from his Soul Provider album. The song has an r&b and pop sound. The questionable song is about a couple who are into each other, but they can’t be friends. They have physical chemistry with each other, but they don’t get along. He wonders how they can be lovers if they can’t be friends. People write songs about friends falling in love quite a bit. There aren’t too many tracks about lovers who try to be friends, but they have trouble doing it. The lyrics will hit you differently if you are in a relationship with someone and have trouble getting along with each other.

This song will make you feel emotional if you are involved in a volatile relationship. Desmond Child, Michael Bolton and Diane Warren knew what they were doing when they wrote this song. They created a remarkable song about lovers not being able to be friends. They worked well together on this song. They created magic with this track. The instrumentation is flawless. The guitar riffs give the song a rock edge so it sounds edgier than his pop/rock ballads.

The melody is similar to Belinda Carlisle’s “I Get Weak” and Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.” The similarities are subtle, but you can notice them. Diane Warren wrote both songs so we aren’t surprised that they sound similar. Michael Bolton is known for his “blue-eyed” soul music so he got a chance to do something different with this jam. Michael Bolton’s vocals are superior on this song. You would think his husky voice wouldn’t be able to handle belting on a song with a loud beat. He proved everyone wrong because he was up for the challenge.

# 5 – Livin’ la Vida Loca by Ricky Martin

The next song on our Top 10 Desmond Child Songs list is “Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin. The song appears on the album of the same name. It has a Latin and pop beat. The irresistible song is about a woman who makes him forget about his troubles. She is a seductive woman and every man wants her. Men like to sing about hot and sexy women all of the time. Ricky Martin managed to make the song sound sexy without exploiting women. Desmond Child credited Frank Sinatra as the inspiration to this song. Desmond Child wanted to create a swing era for this song. It may seem like an odd combination to have Latin and swing music together, but it worked out well. This is one of Ricky Martin’s signature songs.

This song was everywhere when it exploded on the scene. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing this track. The song is very radio-friendly. This song was a big hit for Ricky Martin. This song paved the way for the “Latin/Pop Explosion.” This song opened doors for Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Shakira and Enrique Iglesias. Desmond Child and Draco Rosa blended Latin, swing and rock music wonderfully. This song has everything going for it. The music is incredible. It will have you dancing until you drop. It will make you shake your bon bon (in case you didn’t catch the reference, it’s a Ricky Martin song that Desmond Child wrote for him). Desmond Child and Draco Rosa knew exactly what to do to command your attention with this track. They created an awesome chorus that will stay in your head. Ricky Martin sings this song in his lower register. He sounds different, but in a good way.

# 4 – Living on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

The inspirational song is from the Slippery When Wet album. The song has a rock beat. The moving song is about faith. The track is a motivational anthem about not giving up hope. You can make it if you use prayer to get through your problems. This song tells the story about a couple who are trying to make it on their own despite the hardships that they have to face. This song is just as important today as it was when it was recorded. There are so many things going on in the world today that people need a song like this to feel better. If you are ready to give up, you should listen to this track. It may help you feel better about the things going on in your life.

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wrote this classic hit with Desmond Child. Desmond Child was asked to write a song for the band by the label. The producers wanted Bon Jovi to have a commercial hit like the band Kiss. Desmond Child went through the situation of the characters in the song. The song was about Desmond Child and his then-girlfriend Maria Vidal. Jon Bon Jovi didn’t want to release this track because he didn’t think it would work for them. Jon Bon Jovi couldn’t have been more wrong.

More artists should listen to the songwriters because they can recognize magic. This track became a big hit for the band. As soon as you hear the opening synthesizer note, you know what this song is. This song was recorded decades ago, but it’s the type of track that never gets old. The song sounds as if it were recorded recently. You will fall in love with the guitar riffs instantly. Rock fans will definitely be pleased by the instrumentation. If you aren’t a rock fan, this song will make you become a fan.

Jon Bon Jovi’s voice sounds superb on this track. You would never know he didn’t want to release it. He sounds as if he’s enjoying himself on the track. He sings the song in time with the beat changes. He definitely gets an “A” from us on his vocals.

# 3 – You Give Love a Bad Name – Bon Jovi

The cautionary song is from the Slippery When Wet album. The track has a rock beat. The heartbreaking song is about a love gone wrong. He was fooled by her looks and decides to have a relationship with her. He fell for her angelic smile even though she put him through torture. He blames himself for falling for her act. It’s a warning not to judge a book by its cover. This song gives you an indicator of what will happen when you let your eyes make the decisions for you. The theme is relevant for people who let their eyes do the thinking instead of their hearts and heads. People sing songs about heartbreak all of the time, but they don’t cover it quite like Bon Jovi did in this song.

Here is some trivia about the song. Desmond Child originally wrote this song for Bonnie Tyler. The song had a different theme when he wrote it for her. He rewrote the song with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were a songwriting match made in heaven because they came up with an excellent song together. This song was successful too so it had to make an appearance on our list. This track helped make the album a big hit for the band.

This is arguably one of the best rock songs written. The hard guitar riffs are insane. It makes you want to play air guitar. The guitars are definitely the stand out instruments on the hit song. You hear the guitar solo for a bit before Jon Bon Jovi starts singing. You will be engrossed until the end of the song. Jon Bon Jovi sounds angry on this track so it makes you wonder if the song is personal to him. He nails the song because he sings it with so much anger in his voice.

# 2 – Inside Your Heaven – Carrie Underwood

The motivational song is from the Some Hearts album. The track has a country and pop beat. The heartfelt song is a tribute to love. The song could be about her love for God or about the love she feels for a man in her life. It’s up to you to interpret the meaning of the song. If you read our Carrie Underwood Songs Ranked article, you know this song made an appearance before. This is the song that introduced the world to Carrie Underwood. Desmond Child produced this song for Carrie Underwood. The song was a hit so we wanted to include it on our list. This track debuted at number one on the Hot 100 charts. This track was so popular that it ended the reign of Mariah Carey’s hit “We Belong Together.” Carrie Underwood was one of the first country artists to debut at number one on the charts.

Since she was on a reality show, this song might not have been taken seriously. She had to rely on her talent to pull off the song. Desmond Child produced this track for her and brought out the best in her. He made sure her vocals were flawless and they were. Desmond Child also produced Bo Bice’s version of the song. They both sold the same amount of copies. Lets get back to Carrie Underwood. She has a magnificent voice.

As we mentioned in our Carrie Underwood Songs article, she deserved to win American Idol. There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how beautiful her voice is. She sings the song in an excellent pitch. The music is perfect for her tone. She performs runs flawlessly. She will take you to church with her voice. She turns the song into a power ballad after the bridge. She doesn’t disappoint in any way on this track. She has the type of voice you could listen to all day and not get tired of hearing it.

# 1 – Before Your Love – Kelly Clarkson

The number one song on our Top 10 Desmond Child Songs list is “Before Your Love” by Kelly Clarkson from her album Thankful. The song has a pop sound. The tender song is about a woman who didn’t know about love until she found it with the man she’s with now. She gets the chance to experience what love is like with her man. This song would make an excellent wedding song. If you have found the right one, this song will hit close to your heart. Desmond Child knew what he was doing when he wrote this love song. He managed not to make the song too cheesy. It could have been a corny love song, but he made it sound romantic.

Here is a fun fact about the track. Singer and songwriter Cathy Dennis co-wrote this song with Desmond Child. This song was one of the tracks Kelly Clarkson recorded for American Idol. This song was written for the winner of the show. The song has an inviting beat and would be a perfect song to dance to at a wedding. You can picture a couple dancing cheek to cheek to this track. Kelly Clarkson’s vocals are beautiful. She sings the song with a lot of passion in her voice.

She sounds like she’s been in the music business for years. You could easily forget this was one of the first songs she recorded. She hits every note effortlessly. Her runs are amazing. Everything about her voice works. Kelly Clarkson has changed her musical path since she recorded this song, but it never hurts to go down memory lane to hear the song she recorded when she was a newcomer.

Feature Photo: Peter Matthews from New York City, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Desmond Child Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022

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