I Love Rock 'n' Roll

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"I Love Rock 'n Roll" is a rock song written in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of The Arrows, who recorded the first released version. The song was later made famous by the hit version recorded by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1982.

Contents 1 Arrows version 2 Joan Jett version 2.1 Chart performance 3 Britney Spears version 3.1 Track listing 3.2 Music video 3.3 Chart performance 3.3.1 Certifications 4 Other cover versions 5 Notes 6 External links

[edit] Arrows version

"I Love Rock 'n Roll"
Single by The Arrows
B-side	"Broken Down Heart" (R. Ferris)
Released	1975
Format	7" single
Recorded	1975
Genre	Rock
Length	2:48
Label	RAK Records
Writer(s)	Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker
Producer	Mickie Most
The Arrows singles chronology
"Hard Hearted" (1975) "I Love Rock 'n Roll" (1975) "Once Upon a Time" (1976)

The song was originally recorded and released by the Arrows in 1975 on RAK Records, with lead vocals by Alan Merrill and produced by Mickie Most. In an interview with Songfacts, Merrill said he wrote it as "a knee-jerk response to The Rolling Stones' It's Only Rock 'n' Roll.'" ^[1] This version was first released as a B-side, but was soon re-recorded and flipped to A-side status on a subsequent pressing of the record. Although not a chart hit in its original version as a result of non-existent promotion by the band's label, the song has come to worldwide prominence due to very successful cover versions that have been recorded.

[edit] Joan Jett version

"I Love Rock 'n Roll"
Single by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
from the album I Love Rock 'n Roll
Released	January 20, 1982
Format	7" single, 12" single
Recorded	1982
Genre	Rock, Hard rock, Punk Rock
Length	2:52
Label	Boardwalk Records
Writer(s)	Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker
Producer	Richie Cordell, Kenny Laguna
Certification	Platinum
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts singles chronology
"Little Drummer Boy" (1981) "I Love Rock 'n Roll" (1982) "Crimson and Clover" (1982)

Joan Jett saw the Arrows perform "I Love Rock 'n Roll" on their weekly television series The Arrows Show when she was touring England with The Runaways in 1976. She first recorded the song in 1979 with two of the Sex Pistols: Steve Jones and Paul Cook. This first version was not released until 1993 in Flashback. In 1982, Jett re-recorded the song, this time with her band, The Blackhearts, and this recording became a U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one single for seven weeks,^[2] effectively launching Jett's solo career. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing two million records shipped. This success propelled Jett's I Love Rock 'n Roll album to number two on the Billboard 200.

[edit] Chart performance

Chart (1982)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Top Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	31
UK Singles Chart	4
Dutch Singles Chart	1[3]

"I Love Rock 'n Roll"'s gritty, black-and-white music video received heavy play from the then-young MTV network. In it, Jett and the Blackhearts travel to a small, dingy bar and proceed to excite the drunken crowd by performing the song and yelling out its famous chorus. A snippet of Jett's 1981 hit, "Bad Reputation," is featured at the beginning of the video. Jett followed "I Love Rock 'n Roll" up with another cover — her version of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Crimson and Clover" was a top-ten U.S. hit. The video was originally in color, but it was converted to black and white due to the way Joan Jett felt her red leather jacket looked in color.

In 1983, "Weird Al" Yankovic released a parody of Jett's version, titled "I Love Rocky Road", which appeared on his self-titled debut album. Besides the song using Jett's version for the music, a music video was also released modeled after Jett's video.

Jett's version has received many accolades, including:

• Ranking #85 on Q magazine March 2005 list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks
• Ranking #484 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"
• Ranking #56 in Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time.^[4]

Also, cover versions of Jett's version have appeared in two music video games: Guitar Hero and Karaoke Revolution Party. The original version made an appearance in Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits.

In 1993 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts made another music video for the song as part of the Wayne's World 2 soundtrack. In the video appear several scenes from the movie with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey mixed with Joan and her band playing in a concert.

During the 2009 NFL season, the Baltimore Ravens plays this version over the P.A. whenever they score a touchdown at home.

Preceded by "Centerfold" by The J. Geils Band	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Joan Jett version) March 20, 1982 - May 1, 1982	Succeeded by "Chariots of Fire" by Vangelis
Preceded by "What About Me" by Moving Pictures	Australian Kent Music Report number-one single May 3, 1982 - May 31, 1982	Succeeded by "Mickey" by Toni Basil

[edit] Britney Spears version

"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
Single by Britney Spears
from the album Britney
B-side	"She'll Never Be Me"
Released	June 1, 2002
Format	CD
Recorded	March 2001
Genre	Pop Rock
Length	3:07
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Alan Merrill, Jake Hooker
Producer	Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins
Certification	Gold (ARIA)[5]
Britney Spears singles chronology
"I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" (2002) "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (2002) "Anticipating" (2002)

"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is the fourth European single released internationally by pop singer Britney Spears from the album Britney during the second quarter of 2002, except in the USA. The song was used in her 2002 movie Crossroads. Spears's character, Lucy, performs it in a karaoke bar. Spears said of the song, "They asked me to sing karaoke in the movie Crossroads and I've actually sung I Love Rock 'n' Roll in a lot of clubs that I've been to."^[6]

Spears has publicly admitted the original song to be one of her favorites. Spears listened to The Arrows' original Mickie Most-produced version just before she recorded the song, according to her Jive A&R man Steve Lunt. When promoting the single's release she infamously attributed the hit version of the song to Pat Benatar instead of Jett, although she claims this was a remark made in sarcasm rather than a mistake.

[edit] Track listing

European Promo CD

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" - 3:06

European CD Single

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" - 3:06
2. "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) - 3:18

European Maxi-CD

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05
3. "Overprotected" (Riprock 'N Alex G Remix) - 3:25
4. "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" (Metro Remix) - 5:24

United Kingdom Maxi-CD

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05
3. "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) - 3:06
4. "Overprotected" (Enhanced music video) - 3:06

Germany CD Single (Released: July 22, 2002)

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05

Japan Maxi-CD (Released: June 19, 2002)

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05
3. "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) - 3:06
4. "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" (Metro Remix) - 5:24
5. "I'm A Slave 4 U" (Thunderpuss Radio Mix) - 3:18
6. "I'm A Slave 4 U" (Miguel Migs Petalpusher Vocal Remix) - 3:50
7. "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" (Spanish Fly Dub Mix) - 6:01

Australia CD Single

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05
3. "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) - 3:06

Australia Cassette

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05
3. "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) - 3:06

Jordanian CD Single

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:05
3. "She'll Never Be Me" - 3:02

The Singles Collection Box Single

1. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (Album version) - 3:07
2. "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman" (Metro Remix - Radio Edit) - 3:29

[edit] Music video

Directed by Chris Applebaum, the music video for "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" features Spears in a tight-fitting leather getup. Straightforward, it features Spears jamming in a large red room, complete with her own band, a stack of speakers, and flashing lights. She crawls along on the floor, and plays air guitar before smashing the speakers with a real guitar. Spears also dances on a rotating motorcycle and gets covered with confetti.

"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" failed to make the top ten in most countries. However, the track was not a total flop as it made at least top forty placement in most regions. The song was moderately successful in the UK, where it peaked at number thirteen (which, at the time, was her lowest peak for a single released there, until "Break the Ice" only managed to reach number fifteen in 2008). The single sold a total of 51,000 copies.^[7]. The single also got Gold certification in Australia despite missing the top ten.

[edit] Chart performance

This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (June 2009)

Chart (2002)[8]	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	13
Austrian Singles Chart	9
Belgian Singles Chart	21
Canadian Singles Chart	33
Dutch Singles Chart	18
European Singles Chart	21
Finnish Singles Chart	19
German Singles Chart	7
Irish Singles Chart	8
Italian Singles Chart[9]	17
Romanian Singles Chart[10]	55
Swedish Singles Chart	15
Swiss Singles Chart	15
UK Singles Chart	13

[edit] Certifications

Country	Certification	Sales
Australia[11]	Gold	35,000

[edit] Other cover versions

"I Love Rock 'n Roll" is an often-covered song, and has been notably recorded by such artists as:

• Joe Piscopo in a parody of Frank Sinatra as part of a swing medley of songs that included Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run," The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like," and Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water."
• Hayseed Dixie
• Five (sampled for "Everybody Get Up")
• Reverend Run sampled the song for his song "Mind on the Road" on his solo project Distortion.
• Ghoti Hook
• Dragon Ash (as "I Love Hip Hop")
• "Weird Al" Yankovic (parody, as "I Love Rocky Road")
• Griva (as "I law Myroslaw")
• The Dresden Dolls
• 1995 - Guildo Horn und Die Orthopädischen Strümpfe - Ich find Schlager toll (German Version)
• Former Premier of Victoria Joan Kirner covered Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n Roll", accompanied on guitar by her former health minister David White who actually did play the guitar, for a spoof segment on The Late Show.
• This song was not covered by AC/DC despite the claims of some P2P networks.
• DJ and noted music promoter Steve Oliver, presenter of 'The Pod', collects cover versions of the song. He blogs and bulletins on this subject on his myspace page.
• Los Berzas, in a parody called "Yo Amo El Jamón" (I Love Jamón.)
• Lee Da Hae Korean actress performed the song at the Korean Music Awards 2007.
• Sung by Vietnamese singers Siu Black and Phuong Vy as part of Vietnam's entry to Asian Idol in 2007.
• Miley Cyrus sang this song in 2005 for an audition tape for her TV show Hannah Montana. She is performing it on her 2009 Wonder World Tour.
• Allison Mack and Erica Durance sang this song in an episode of Smallville.
• Ruth Lorenzo covered this song in week 8 of the 5th series of the X Factor.
• Italian dance music producer, Alex Gaudino, produced a dance version of "I Love Rock 'n Roll" with Jason Rooney providing the vocals.
• Alvin and the Chipmunks also covered this song for one of their episodes.
• 3OH!3 used the same chorus and music as Joan's cover in their song "Dance With Me" on their debut album, but changed the lyrics in the verses.
• New Found Glory covered it as a "Punk Cover" .
• Song used as sample by Polish rappers Shellerini & Sloń feat. RR Brygada (in "Rock & Roll")

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• History of the song "I Love Rock 'n Roll"
• Bill Harry's Merseybeat article
• "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" original color video on YouTube
• "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" 1982 version in Youtube
• "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" 1992 version in Youtube
• Wayne's World in IMDb

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v • d • e Britney Spears singles ...Baby One More Time "...Baby One More Time" · "Sometimes" · "(You Drive Me) Crazy" · "Born to Make You Happy" · "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" Oops!... I Did It Again "Oops!... I Did It Again" · "Lucky" · "Stronger" · "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" Britney "I'm a Slave 4 U" · "Overprotected" · "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" · "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" · "Boys" In the Zone "Me Against the Music" · "Toxic" · "Everytime" · "Outrageous" Greatest Hits: My Prerogative "My Prerogative" · "Do Somethin'" Chaotic "Someday (I Will Understand)" Blackout "Gimme More" · "Piece of Me" · "Break the Ice" Circus "Womanizer" · "Circus" · "If U Seek Amy" · "Radar" The Singles Collection "3" Promotional releases "Anticipating" · "Chris Cox Megamix" · "And Then We Kiss" Notable songs "My Only Wish (This Year)" · "What's Going On" · "Breathe on Me" · "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" · "Kill the Lights" Discography