I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone

Album: Call the Doctor (1996)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Joey Ramone, born Jeffrey Ross Hyman, was the lead singer and a founding member of the iconic punk rock band, the Ramones. His charismatic voice and stage presence were a big part of the band's success.

    Ramone's charisma and awkward cool resonated deeply with three young women in Olympia, Washington: Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein, and Laura MacFarlane. They titled this Sleater-Kinney song after the iconic vocalist.

    "On 'Joey Ramone' we allowed ourselves to dream about what could happen if a band like us could be something people looked up to," Tucker told Uncut magazine. "It's so important to have those creative aspirations. We chose Joey because he was just the coolest. He was different looking, he was awkward and we related to that, he seemed kind and gentle. It seemed very fitting."
  • "I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone" is a track on Sleater-Kinney's second album, Call the Doctor. Recorded in a whirlwind four days with producer John Goodmanson (Bikini Kill, Nada Surf), the album crackles with raw energy. Distorted guitars, pummeling drums, and Tucker's soaring vocals create a sonic assault that captures the Ramones' youthful ambition.
  • Call The Doctor received positive reviews, with critics praising the band's tight musicianship and Tucker's powerful vocals. The album's impact only grew with time, landing at #49 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the '90s in 2010.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.