1001 Songs Challenge #622: Rock You Like a Hurricane (1984)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane (1984)

We’re leaving the US and heading over to Hanover in Germany. Scorpions were formed way back in 1965 and went from hard rockers to heavy metal heroes as part of their enduring legacy. There have been many lineup changes but when we join the group in 1984 it is their most enduring and famous lineup. The group have released their ninth album, Love at First Sting, and from that record 1001 Songs have gone with the lead single – Rock You Like a Hurricane. 

Rock You Like a Hurricane combines two loves for the group: music and sex. The opening first suggests the band are waking from a heavy night of rocking their audience but they are buzzing and ready for another show straight away. The second verse changes tact with the group now focusing on sating their lust, the music isn’t enough. They are hoping to find a good woman, give her a night of heavy rock music and afterwards with a bit of luck maybe something more. 

Scorpions are probably best known for their masterpiece Wind of Change, released in 1990, which would qualify as more softer rock and rightly so given its powerful message about the world when the Berlin Wall came down and West and East Germany was unified. Rock You Like a Hurricane is full on, high octane rock, bursting with energy and driven by frenetic guitar work. Its meaning is simple enough but the song sets out to achieve one thing: to rock its audience and it does that very well.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Doors – The End (1967)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (1978)

The Police – Message in a Bottle (1979)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

Don Henley – The Boys of Summer (1984)