Blogocentric Formulations

I Love Rock 'n' Roll

** Image ID #2009874 Unavailable **

Song: "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
Original: Arrows
Cover: Joan Jett and The Blackhearts


I love popular songs that everyone assumes are originals and turn out to be covers. For years and years I assumed that Joan Jett's classic "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was an original hit... but it turns out that this song was pioneered by Arrows, a British band who had 30 hit singles on the UK charts in their brief four-year existence, but no real presence in the United States. It seems that politics and mismanagement might have had something to do with it, though... Arrows is also notable for being the only band to be the focus of two television series over two consecutive years, and to have not released any new material during that time.

Joan Jett originally heard this song while on tour with the Runaways, and knew a hit when she heard it.

Fun fact: I've always told people that if I ever do karaoke (which will never happen), this would be one of the songs that I sing. I love the beat, the energy, and the lyrics. It's a perfect karaoke song.