“In the midnight hour she cried more, more, more…” It’s considered one of the best songs of the 80s (and now), but did you know that Billy Idol’s ‘Rebel Yell’ was inspired by The Rolling Stones? The legendary musician joined Jonesy & Amanda to chat about his upcoming Australian tour, as well as the inspiration behind the title track of his 1983 album, Rebel Yell. Back in the early 80s, Idol was invited to a member of The Rolling Stones’ birthday party at Ronnie Wood’s brownstone house. It was here that the title ‘Rebel Yell’ came into fruition. “At one point there was Mick Jagger, Ron Wood and Keith Richards all drinking a bottle of this [drink], and I couldn’t see what it was,” he explained. “I was following the bottle going to their mouths and trying to look at the label. “I could see an American civil war confederate officer on a horse charging away like a cavalier with a feather in his hair, and I could see the stuff was called ‘Rebel Yell'”. Idol proceeded to ask Jagger, Wood and Richards whether the drink was “made up”, and whether they’d potentially use ‘Rebel Yell’ as a song title. “They were kind of looking at each other and said: ‘No, I don’t think we would'”. It was at that moment that Idol realised he had just scored the jackpot in the form of a song (and album) title. “In a lot of ways, The Rolling Stones super influenced me to write that song, and it’s one of my best songs”. Watch the interview above!
Want more? Listen to this best bit from Jonesy & Amanda!
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Last night a little dancer came dancin' to my door
Last night a little angel came pumpin' on my floor
She said, "Come on baby I got a license for love
And if it expires pray help from above" because In the midnight hour she cried, "More, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried, "More, more, more", oh
In the midnight hour babe more, more, more
With a rebel yell more, more, more
More, more, more She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg
But when I'm tired and lonely she sees me to bed
What set you free and brought you to me babe?
What set you free? I need you here by me
Because In the midnight hour she cried, "More, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried, "More, more, more", oh
In the midnight hour babe more, more, more
With a rebel yell more, more, more He lives in his own Heaven
Collects it to go from the 7-11
Well he's out all night to collect a fare
Just as long, just as long it don't mess up his hair Whoa, oh I walked the world with you, babe (babe)
A thousand miles with you (with you)
I dried your tears of pain (pain), babe (babe)
A million times for you (for you) I'd sell my soul (soul) for you babe (babe)
For money to burn (burn) with you (with you)
I'd give you all, and have none, babe (babe)
Justa, justa, justa, justa, to have you here by me (here by me)
Because In the midnight hour she cried, "More, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried, "More, more, more", oh
In the midnight hour babe more, more, more
With a rebel yell, she cried, "More, more, more"
More, more, more Ooh yeah little baby
She want more
More, more, more, more, more Ooh yeah little angel
She want more
More, more, more, more, more
Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by jayellen10 Rebel Yell Lyrics as written by Steve Stevens Billy Idol Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Log in now to tell us what you think this song means. Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise! This article needs additional citations for verification.(July 2007) "Rebel Yell" is a song by English rock musician Billy Idol. The title track of his 1983 album of the same name, it was first released as the album's lead single on 24 October 1983. It charted outside the UK Top 40, but a re-issue of the single in 1985 reached No. 6. In the US, it peaked at No. 46. The song was named the 79th best hard rock song of all time by VH1 based on a public voting in 2009,[1] although the song did not show up in a revised list from 2013.[2]
At a televised performance of VH1 Storytellers, Idol said that he had attended an event where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones were taking swigs from a bottle of "Rebel Yell" bourbon whiskey. He was not familiar with the brand, but he liked the name and decided to write the song.[3] The song was co-written by guitarist Steve Stevens. The instrumental introduction, which sounds like a combination of electric guitar and electronic keyboard, is performed by Stevens on guitar alone, who intended it to sound this way. Stevens states that he was inspired by acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke's style.[4] In 1984, music magazine Cash Box wrote that the song "combines the tough swagger and high-powered drive of 'White Wedding' with the decadent dance focus of 'Dancing With Myself.'"[5]
♱Recorded live at Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California, March 1984.
♱Recorded live at Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California, March 1984.
Notes:
In 1994 Idol released the single "Speed", a song from the box office hit movie of the same name, with a live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" accompanying the lead song on the UK CD single release.
Idol performed the track with Miley Cyrus at the 2016 iHeart Festival.
In 1996, the song was covered by German dance band Scooter. It was released in May 1996 as the third single of their second album, Our Happy Hardcore. Track listingsCD-maxi – Germany[12]
Charts
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