Friday, June 4, 2010

Rocking For The Weekend: Def Leppard

I was inspired to post this song by a blogger who shall remain nameless. Said blogger had a bit of fun at my expense for being an unabashed, unironic fan of Def Leppard. I have no choice but to retort by posting "Pour Some Sugar On Me". It is not only a definitive Friday song, but also the best stripping song ever recorded (take that, Motley Crue!) and proof that lyrics mean absolutely nothing. This song is completely unintelligible (a Def Leppard trademark). I defy any group of distinguished linguists, cultural anthropologists, or even ecclesiastical scholars to divine any meaning whatsoever in the song. It's just ear candy, and it does not suffer in the least for it.

I've always thought that Def Leppard was unfairly ghettoized by the term "hair metal". Their songwriting, chops and vocal harmonies always put them well ahead of contemporaries like the aformentioned Crue, Poison, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Warrant and the like. I see Def Leppard more as the descendants of glam rock bands like Mott The Hoople, T. Rex and especially Queen. If you listen to their music with 2010 ears, you might be surprised at the level of pop songcraft present.

Rumor has it (I refuse to consider anything broadcast by VH-1 more reliable than rumor) that the album Hysteria was completed but that the record company wanted one more song. Uberproducer Mutt Lange heard lead singer Joe Elliott noodling on an acoustic guitar and his ears pricked up. Elliott said that it was just a little unfinished riff he was playing with, and Lange insisted that the band flesh it out. Shortly afterward, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" was added to the album just before it shipped. Hysteria was initially a disappointing failure, leaving the band nearly bankrupt. Then "Pour Some Sugar On Me" was released as a single, and it ignited sales of the album, which went on to dominate the summer and fall of 1988 in a way that rock records simply can't do anymore.

But enough babbling. Enjoy the song and enjoy the weekend :)


8 metawords:

cfoxes33 said...

Totally love Def Leppard!

Girl Interrupted said...

Well ... just show me that pesky blogger, cos I want to shake her by the hand and bake that gal some S'mores!!

Happy Weekend, words ;)

180360 said...

Hysteria was the first album I bought, so I'll forever have a soft spot for Def Leppard. Ear candy is just as important as eye candy!

Anonymous said...

I like this song. A lot. But on my iron-clad[ish] Hair Band Principle, I'm going to insist on publicly dismissing it as sugary drivel, and will also deny ever having seen this giant hairball of a band in concert.

Or that I enjoyed it.

Immensely.

Soda and Candy said...

The only thing I know about Def Leppard is that apparently the drummer only has one arm.

Tammy said...

Loved that song as a kid...don't hold that against me.

But more importantly, Words, tragedy has struck! I searched and searched- wandered every mega mart, grocery and specialty food store in my town and NO MARSHMALLOW FLUFF!! What is this world coming to when one cannot buy sugar whipped into goo form at your local food selling establishment?!?

I am crushed. Deflated. Fluff-less.

Red said...

I loved this entire album. Def Leopard is rad. No question about it.

words...words...words... said...

cfoxes: Excellent display of good taste.

Girl: I have a feeling you are acquainted with her already.

180/360: NICE. My first ever was "Ghost In The Machine" by the Police.

Anonymous Pussy: That's between you and your God.

S&C: That's like knowing only one thing about George Washington and having it be that he had wooden teeth. For shame!

Tammy: As a kid?? Way to make me feel old!

red: I knew I liked you. You remain the only person that can say "rad" to me.