Rise to It
{{Infobox song
| name = Rise to It
| cover = Rise_to_It_cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kiss
| album = Hot in the Shade
| released = April 1, 1990 (US)
| recorded = The Fortress,
Hollywood, CA: 1989
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Glam metal
| length = 4:08
| label = Mercury 875-098-7 (US)
| writer = Paul Stanley, Bob Halligan Jr.
| producer = Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley
| prev_title = Forever
| prev_year = 1990
| next_title = God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II
| next_year = 1991
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|8YGhPZ26Cgw|"Rise to It"}}}}
}}
"Rise to It" is a song by American rock band Kiss, released in 1989 as the third and final single from their 15th studio album Hot in the Shade. It only charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/hot-in-the-shade-r11070/charts-awards/billboard-single Kiss > Hot in the Shade > Charts & Awards > Billboard singles]. Allmusic. Retrieved December 3, 2011. It is the final single by the band on which Eric Carr plays drums. He was diagnosed with terminal heart cancer following the supporting tour.
Composition and lyrics
"Rise to It" is a glam metal song written by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley, and Bob Halligan Jr.{{Cite web |last=Popoff |first=Martin |date=July 12, 2024 |title=Top 20 Kiss songs of the Eric Carr era |url=https://www.goldminemag.com/music-history/top-20-kiss-songs-of-the-eric-carr-era |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Goldmine}} Starting with an acoustic intro, which has been compared to Cinderella's "Bad Seamstress Blues",[https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/34769/KISS-Hot-In-The-Shade/ KISS - Hot In The Shade (album review)]. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved December 3, 2011. the lyrics explore the life of an unknown musician who claims that he will "rise to it".[http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Rise-To-It-lyrics-Kiss/2C6E9EC4548596B748256A8B000CE9F6 Kiss - Rise to It lyrics]. sing365.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
Release
The song was added to the setlist for the second show of the Hot in the Shade Tour and was performed until the end of the tour. The band dropped the song from the setlist of the Revenge Tour and never played it alive again.[http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/kiss-6bd69ec6.html?song=Rise+to+It KISS Song Statistics - Rise to It by KISS]. setlist.fm. Retrieved December 3, 2011. The lowest charting single off the album, it reached No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, the last Kiss song to do so, and No. 40 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.
Music video
The music video, directed by Mark Rezyka, features Stanley and Simmons in their iconic makeup personas for the first time since the Creatures of the Night tour in 1982. The video's intro and epilogue scenes take place at the band's dressing room in 1975. While putting their makeup on, Stanley and Simmons debate about performing without it. The epilogue has the band preparing for their show, where Stanley states no matter what changes, they will still be Kiss. The costumes used in these scenes are historically inaccurate; Simmons' costume is from Unmasked (1980), while Stanley's is from Love Gun (1977). In addition, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley are substituted with body doubles Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick (who was wearing Vinnie Vincent’s “Ankh Warrior” costume).{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YGhPZ26Cgw |title=Rise to It |date=5 June 2013 |publisher=Kiss via YouTube |accessdate=2017-08-22}}{{failed verification|date=May 2025}}{{better source needed|reason=Nonviable source|date=May 2025}}
Personnel
- Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Gene Simmons – bass, backing vocals
- Eric Carr – drums, backing vocals
- Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1990) !Peak |
| scope="row" |Australia (ARIA Charts){{cite web |date=September 10, 2021 |title=Week commencing 10 September 1990 |url=https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2021/09/week-commencing-10-september-1990.html |access-date=September 11, 2021 |website=Bubbling Down Under}}
| align="center" |144 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|81|artist=Kiss|rowheader=true|access-date=February 20, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|40|artist=Kiss|rowheader=true|access-date=February 20, 2024}} |