Summary
"Round and Round" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt from their 1984 album Out of the Cellar. It was released as a single in 1984 on Atlantic Records.
| "Round and Round" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork for US vinyl single, also used for German release with different titling layout | ||||
| Single by Ratt | ||||
| from the album Out of the Cellar | ||||
| B-side | "The Morning After" | |||
| Released | February 19, 1984 (US) [1] | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Genre | Glam metal | |||
| Length | 4:26 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Beau Hill | |||
| Ratt singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Round and Round" on YouTube | ||||
Musical style edit
The song's style has been widely described as glam metal.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Background edit
Ratt used to write songs in their Sunset Strip apartment by having both guitarists record riffs and melodies on cassettes, and then "bouncing" them back and forth, interspersing the riffs. Singer Stephen Pearcy said, "The lyrical content of 'Round And Round' is pretty much just stating our claim: 'Out on the streets, it's where we'll meet.' It's about the group, getting ready to do our thing. This is what we do."[10]
The original version of the song, which the band performed live frequently in 1983, did not have the "you put an arrow through my heart" bridge. The bridge was a suggestion of producer Beau Hill.[10]
Music video edit
In the song's music video, Milton Berle (uncle of Ratt manager Marshall Berle) plays both the staid head-of-household as well as the family matron (echoing his famous cross-dressing stunts of the 1950s). Both characters seem perturbed by the loud volume of Ratt's playing, and quickly leave the table.
Meanwhile, a seemingly shy yet attractive young woman (played by Lisa Dean, who would later turn up in the video for Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana"[11]) is drawn by the music to the attic. On the way upstairs to the attic, her dress and wig fall off, and she gives herself a makeover. The woman appears in the attic as a completely different person, and begins dancing to the song.
At the end of the video, the butler is dressed as a metalhead and excitedly dancing to the music in a separate room.
The song's video was placed on New York Times list of the 15 Essential Hair-Metal Videos.[12]
Reception edit
"Round and Round" is Ratt's biggest hit single, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984. The tune was ranked number 51 on VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s[13] and was named the 61st best hard rock song of all time also by VH1.[14] In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Round and Round" at number 20 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.[15]
In popular culture edit
"Round and Round" was used in season 1 of the series Supernatural and season 2 of the Netflix series Stranger Things.[16] It was used during season 1 of Cobra Kai. The song was also used in the end credits for Billy & Mandy Save Christmas and in the 2008 film The Wrestler. It was also featured in the rhythm video game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s as a cover, and as a master recording in Guitar Hero Smash Hits and Rock Band 2. It was also featured in GTA Vice City Stories in Radio Station V-Rock
In a 2020 TV commercial for GEICO, a young couple explains their new home has a Ratt problem—not a rat problem, as would be a much more likely complaint for homeowners. The band is seen singing "Round and Round" in various parts of the house.[17] The song charted again, reaching #18 on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales Chart on June 4, 2020.[citation needed]
Track listing edit
- "Round and Round" – 4:22
- "The Morning After" – 3:33
Personnel edit
RATT edit
- Stephen Pearcy – vocals
- Warren DeMartini – guitar
- Robbin Crosby – guitar
- Juan Croucier – bass guitar and backing vocals
- Bobby Blotzer – drums
Charts edit
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 12 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[20] | 4 |
Year-end charts edit
| Chart (1984) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[21] | 87 |
References edit
- ^ "Ratt singles".
- ^ "100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year". Rolling Stone. September 17, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Greatest Hair Metal Songs". Rolling Stone. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- ^ Corey, Irwin (January 13, 2020). "Ratt, Fozzy Added to Kiss Kruise X Lineup". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Sleazegrinder (December 4, 2015). "The 20 Best Hair Metal Anthems Of All Time Ever". loudersound. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "The Ultimate Hair Metal Party Playlist". Kerrang!. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Masley, Ed. "Best '80s pop-metal songs, from Def Leppard to Poison". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
- ^ Double Shot: Metal - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, AllMusic, retrieved August 9, 2021
- ^ "First Worsts: Remembering When Bon Jovi Gave 'Hair Metal' A Bad Name". The Village Voice. June 4, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
and such catchy (and, I must say, excellent) pop-metal songs as Ratt's "Round and Round"
- ^ a b Prato, Greg (June 6, 2023). "Stephen Pearcy of Ratt : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ "The Woman Above the Legs". Los Angeles Times. July 3, 1988.
- ^ Edwards, Gavin (May 5, 2020). "15 Essential Hair-Metal Videos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "VH1 the 80's". Retrieved February 7, 2009 – via rockonthenet.com.
- ^ Stosuy, Brandon (January 5, 2009). "100 Best Hard Rock Songs Ever (According to VH1)". Stereogum.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. March 13, 2023. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "‘Stranger Things 2’ music is both heavy, mellow" The Indianapolis Star
- ^ "Ratt GEICO Commercial". UltimateClassicRock.com.
- ^ "RPM - Library and Archives Canada - RPM - Bibliothèque et Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 17, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ratt Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "Ratt Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19.