Listen beyond the hits and discover weird, wonderful alternate versions of your favorite songs.
YOUVE HEARD THIS:
In 1981 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released the rock anthem I Love Rock n Roll. The single shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, ended up being the #3 song for 1982, and the video became a fixture on MTV. In addition to the US, I Love Rock n Roll topped the charts in Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, and Sweden.
Speaking of the video, heres a pop quiz for you Soundmasters-in-Training: Close your eyes, think hard. Was the video black and white or in color?
The correct answer is Yes.
Originally released in color, Joan ultimately decided her red jumpsuit was too well red. The video was re-mastered in black and white and became the official version as seen here:
Dont believe us? First, shame on you! Have we ever lied to you? Okay, well maybe just that once, but we had been drinking and it was pretty late. Let us make it up to you. Heres the original color version:
NOW HEAR THIS:
Wait, did we say original? The song was written back in 1975 by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooker of the group Arrows. The group had their own show on UK television and Joan caught their act in 1979 while touring with The Runaways.
Heres the original original that inspired Joan Jett:
BUT WAIT, THERES MORE!
In 1993, Joan shot a new video for the song that appeared on the Waynes World 2 soundtrack:
AND MORE
In 2002, Britney Spears recorded a version of I Love Rock n Roll for the soundtrack for her film Crossroads. Released as a single in the UK, it managed to barely crack the Top 10 in a few European countries. Sure, Britney looks great, but we dont believe for a second that she really loves Rock n Roll.
If the palpable, almost-Cinéma vérité stylings of a hot blond skanking around in front of the camera looks vaguely familiar its because the director, Chris Applebaum, also directed the (in)famous Carls Jr. commercial featuring Paris Hilton. No, actually, we DONT want fries with that unless they come with a side order of Penicillin.
SORRY ABOUT THAT:
By way of apology, allow us to put the needle back on the record. When a song becomes as popular as I Love Rock n Roll, there are Gold Albums, accolades, awards, and if youre lucky a parody by Weird Al Yankovic.
We have no problem at all believing that Joan Jett and Weird Al Yankovic really do love Rock n Roll.