Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she entered the music business at the age of 13, regularly performing live. In 1961 she was signed to the fledgling Scepter Records (later Wand Records), recording under the name "Tammy Montgomery". After coming to the attention of James Brown she recorded one single apiece for Brown's own Try Me record label and, in 1964, Checker Records. The year after that, she was spotted by Berry Gordy Jr. while playing live, and signed to his Motown label. Attractive and talented, she became romantically linked with both James Brown and David Ruffin, lead singer of The Temptations.
Tammy Montgomery changed her name to "Tammi Terrell" at the time of her Motown signing, and was teamed with producers Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol. After releasing a pair of minor R&B chart hits, "I Can't Believe You Love Me" and "Come On and See Me," Terrell was chosen to replace Kim Weston as Marvin Gaye's duet partner. The duo recorded a number of successful hits which remain popular today: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You're All I Need to Get By", all written (and in the case of the latter two, produced by) Ashford & Simpson.
While on tour with Gaye in Virginia in mid-1967, Terrell fainted on stage, and was later diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor. While Terrell endured several operations and continued to record new material, her health steadily deteriorated. Fuqua and Bristol resorted to having Gaye overdub archived Terrell solo tracks to fill out the Gaye/Terrell duets albums. The final album attributed to Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Easy" (1969), actually features co-producer Valerie Simpson subbing for Terrell on all but two of the tracks.
Twelve of Tammi Terrell's solo Motown recordings, including "I Can't Believe You Love Me", "Come On and See Me," and a minor hit cover of The Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", were issued as Terrell's only solo album, "Irresistible," in January 1969. Terrell died of brain cancer at age 24 on March 16, 1970.
That's What Boys Are Made For
Tammi Terrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To hug & to kiss (that's what boys are made for)
To love & to miss (that's what boys are made for)
You gotta hug 'em (hug 'em) & you kiss 'em (kiss 'em)
You gotta love 'em (love 'em) & you miss 'em
Oh yeah, that's what boys are made for
(That's what boys are made for) To hold & to squeeze (that's what boys are made for)
To scold & to please (that's what boys are made for)
You gotta hold 'em (hold 'em) & you squeeze 'em (squeeze 'em)
You gotta scold 'em (scold 'em) & you please 'em
Oh yeah, that's what boys are made for
Bridge:
Wo some can be true (some can be true)
But then again, they can make you doubt 'em
But oh ask me, ask me, ask me & I'm gonna tell you
That you just can't do without 'em
(That's what boys are made for)
Mmmm you gotta walk & hold hands with 'em (that's what boys are made for)
& oh you gotta make all your plans with 'em (that's what boys are made for)
You gotta walk (walk) & hold hands with (hands)
You gotta make (make) all your plans with
Oh ooo ooo ooo, that's what boys are made for
(That's what boys are made for)
& oh you know you gotta hug & kiss 'em
& ooo baby you know you'll love them
& sometimes you're gonna miss 'em
& oh ooo ooo (that's what boys are made for)
That's what boys are made for
Mmmm mm mmm, that's what boys are made for
The lyrics of Tammi Terrell’s song “That’s What Boys Are Made For” are a reflection of the traditional gender roles and expectations placed on men and women in the 1960s. The song is essentially instructing girls on how to behave with boys - to hug and kiss them, love and miss them, hold and squeeze them, and make plans with them. The song reinforces the idea that boys are meant to be loved and adored, while girls are supposed to be the ones doing the adoring. The lyrics assume that all boys are the same and all they want is to be hugged, kissed, and loved.
While the lyrics may seem outdated by today's standards, it is important to keep in mind that this song was written in a time where traditional gender roles were much more prevalent. The song also highlights the idea that some boys may not be trustworthy, but at the end of the day, girls still can't do without them.
Overall, the song's message reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and expectations, but it is important to view it in the context of its time and to recognize the progress that has been made since then in breaking down these traditional gender roles and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
To hug & to kiss (that's what boys are made for)
Boys are made to be hugged and kissed.
To love & to miss (that's what boys are made for)
Boys are made to be loved and missed.
You gotta hug 'em (hug 'em) & you kiss 'em (kiss 'em)
It is necessary to hug and kiss boys.
You gotta love 'em (love 'em) & you miss 'em
It is necessary to love and miss boys.
To hold & to squeeze (that's what boys are made for)
Boys are made to be held and squeezed.
To scold & to please (that's what boys are made for)
Boys are made to be scolded and pleased.
You gotta hold 'em (hold 'em) & you squeeze 'em (squeeze 'em)
You must hold and squeeze boys.
You gotta scold 'em (scold 'em) & you please 'em
You must scold and please boys.
Wo some can be true (some can be true)
Some boys can be true.
But then again, they can make you doubt 'em
However, sometimes they can make you doubt them.
But oh ask me, ask me, ask me & I'm gonna tell you
But I can tell you.
That you just can't do without 'em
You can't do without boys.
Mmmm you gotta walk & hold hands with 'em (that's what boys are made for)
Boys are made to be walked and held hands with.
& oh you gotta make all your plans with 'em (that's what boys are made for)
Boys are made to be made plans with.
You gotta walk (walk) & hold hands with (hands)
You must walk and hold hands with boys.
You gotta make (make) all your plans with
You must make all your plans with boys.
& oh you know you gotta hug & kiss 'em
You know you must hug and kiss boys.
& ooo baby you know you'll love them
You will love boys.
& sometimes you're gonna miss 'em
Sometimes you will miss boys.
& oh ooo ooo (that's what boys are made for)
That's what boys are made for.
That's what boys are made for
Boys are made for all these things.
Mmmm mm mmm, that's what boys are made for
Yes, that's what boys are made for.
Contributed by London S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LPJack02
RIP and long live Tammi Terrell (April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970), aged 24
You will always be remembered as a legend.
@victoriaponce9423
tammi was so talented and beautiful
@soappreciative1157
Although legendary female soul singers are often pitted against each other by fans or sometimes in reality, it’s very interesting that Tammi Terrell was beloved by sooo many of the other soul divas of her time. Gladys and Brenda both have stated that Tammi was their“best friend” at Motown. Kim spoke highly about her talent and loyalty to her that continued even after Kim exited the company. I’m happy that she had a friendly relationship even with Diana. Aretha, Patti and Dionne adored her as did Bettye Lavette. It goes without saying she mesmerized the men of her time… still does all these years later for those fortunate enough to be familiar with her stunning work and rare videos. I believe few, if any, of us can really imagine what this greatness would have achieved with and apart from Marvin.
@maureskiarussell8341
@soapappreciative1157 I’m totally agreeing this! I love Tammi 💕❤️, and you couldn’t have said these facts about Her any better. 0:06
@genresago4736
Oh wow, I just came across this gem, Thanks for sharing!
@Jaynesoul
Love this lady! She will never be gone as long as you keep playing her music
@Zongooo
Girls too. Ones like Tammi.
@scherylannieprugh5572
Such a Lovely songbird Voice Life taken to soon such a missed talented singer
@ang691000
what a voice!!! i soo want all her recordings
@tommyd.743
My high school crush in the 60's .
A little piece of me disappeared in 1970.