Juke Box Hero
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| "Juke Box Hero" | ||||
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| Single by Foreigner | ||||
| from the album 4 | ||||
| B-side | "I'm Gonna Win" | |||
| Released | July 25, 1981 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Genre | Hard Rock | |||
| Length | 4:05 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Writer(s) | Lou Gramm, Mick Jones | |||
| Producer | Robert John "Mutt" Lange | |||
| Foreigner singles chronology | ||||
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"Juke Box Hero" is a popular song by Foreigner and was the third single released from their 1981 album 4. It first entered the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in July 1981. It subsequently went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in February 1982.[1]
The song focuses on a boy unable to purchase a ticket to a sold-out rock concert. Listening from outside, he hears "one guitar" and has an epiphany, leading him to buy his own guitar from a second-hand store and begin to play without any lessons. He realizes that with the guitar he can become famous, and does. The song then goes on to describe the struggle he has to stay on top of the music charts, which makes him a "Juke Box Hero." He eventually encounters another fan outside the stage door at one of his concerts, who reminds him of himself and how it all began. Mick Jones told Songfacts that the song was inspired by an actual fan who stood waiting outside an arena for about five hours in the rain. Jones, impressed by his dedication, decided to take him in and give him a glimpse of what happens backstage at a show. [2]
This song was also re-recorded live at a 2005 Las Vegas concert where it includes portions of the Led Zeppelin song "Whole Lotta Love" (from Led Zeppelin II), and released on Foreigner's Live in '05 album.
[edit] In popular culture
- The opening lines of the song are featured in the 2001 movie Wet Hot American Summer, where the campers wake up Coop, their counselor, by singing the song loudly while surrounding his bed.
- The song was used in the 2004 documentary The White Album starring skateboarding and snowboarding phenom, Shaun White.
- A cover version by Soul Asylum appeared on their 2006 compilation Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years.
- The song was also used (and mistitled "Jukebox Hero") in a commercial for the Samsung Juke cellphone soon after the phone was launched in late 2007.
- A master version of this song is a downloadable track for the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
- A cover of the song is available as a downloadable track for the music video game series Rock Band.
- The song was used for Aaron Feinberg's part in MindGames' rollerblading video Brain Fear Gone.
- The term "Juke Box Hero" was spoken by Grace Kelly to Bing Crosby in the 1956 film "High Society".
- The song was used in Shane McConkey's "Claim" video
- The song was used for Verizon Wireless commercial to promote the flip phone[which?]
- The song is featured in the video game DJ Hero, in a mashup with the game's eponymous original track, composed and performed by DJ Z-Trip.
[edit] References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications)
- ^ ""Juke Box Hero"". Songfacts.com. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=17491. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
