Sometimes subtlety is the order of the day (see the last post). And sometimes you just need some mindless, straight-down-the-line rock and roll.
I don’t think Iggy Pop would take any offence to the “mindless” label. In fact, I think he’d take it as a badge of honour. And I’m definitely not applying it in any derogatory sense here. This is definitely not music as a cerebral experience, but one that goes for gut and feel over everything.
The song started life in 1958 as a single by Australian rock ‘n’ roller Johnny O’Keefe, and was the first Australian rock recording to reach the national charts. I’m not aware that it was a hit anywhere else.
The Iggy Pop version appeared as the opening track on his 1986, David Bowie-produced-and-cowritten album Blah-Blah-Blah (which also included a number of co-writes with ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones), and was a huge international hit. Instead of the rock-and-roll swing, the Pop version piledrives through with a pounding, monolithic “4 to the floor” beat (over-emphasised with the big 80s production) which, for me, at least, is part of it’s charm. It’s a steamroller that just pushes on and on, flattening everything in it’s way.
The song works with a very straightforward, text book blues chords sequence. There’s nothing tricky here (unless you have an aversion to barre chords – sorry about that!). The chord sequence repeats all the way through, so there’s no real thinking to do here. Clear you mind, head down, and enjoy!
Uke Tunes 