"Rock Me Tonite" | ||||
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Single by Billy Squier | ||||
from the album Signs of Life | ||||
Released | June, 1984 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 4:57 4:09 (7") |
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Label | Capitol | |||
Writer(s) | Billy Squier | |||
Producer(s) |
Jim Steinman Billy Squier |
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Billy Squier singles chronology | ||||
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"Rock Me Tonite" is a hit song written and recorded by American rock artist Billy Squier. It was released in June 1984 as the lead single from his platinum-plus album Signs of Life. The song is Squier's highest charting U.S. single, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting the Top 10 on the Cash Box singles chart. It also returned him to #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in August 1984.
Despite its major success, the single is sometimes associated with the end of Squier's career as a singles artist due to the music video, often described as one of the worst ever. It shows Squier putting on a pink tank top and performing effeminate dance moves around a bed with pastel-colored satin sheets. Many viewers assumed that Squier was either gay or on drugs. It was directed by Kenny Ortega, the third director to be considered for the job. He had offered to make it despite reservations from the record label and Squier's management so MTV could air it as a World Premiere Video on the date Squier and his label had originally promised them. Squier's concert ticket sales immediately suffered, and he later fired his managers. He has accused Ortega of deceiving him and altering his original concept, which Ortega denies.
Squier says the idea for the song came to him while he was on vacation in Greece with his girlfriend, while swimming off Santorini. "I've got a hit for the next record", he told her when he got out of the water. It begins with snapping fingers and footsteps, quickly joined by staccato chords from a synthesizer. Squier sings the first verse, during which the synthesizer adds a short bass figure.
On the second verse, the drums and guitar join, as well as a backing vocal. Squier sings with increasing intensity and volume into the chorus, announced by a drum roll. The synthesizers exit, to return during the next verse, accompanied by some lead guitar parts. At the next chorus, another synth part joins, bringing the song into the bridge.