Ballroom Blitz

Album: Blockbusters (1973)
Charted: 2 5
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who wrote many of the biggest glam rock hits. They also wrote Sweet's "Blockbuster," Suzi Quatro's "Devil Gate Drive" and Tony Basil's "Mickey."
  • This song tells a rather opaque story of band performing when mayhem breaks out in the audience, resulting in a "ballroom blitz." In 1973, Sweet performed at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, Scotland, where they were driven offstage by a barrage of bottles. It's likely that when the songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman heard about this donnybrook, they used it as the basis for the song, although Chapman put a wet blanket on that story when he told Goldmine: "We were trying to write songs that had no meaning, and 'Ballroom Blitz' was one of them. I suggested the title and we sat down and wrote a song about a guy having a horrifyingly bad dream that his latest record hadn't made it – he was in this ballroom, in a discotheque, and maybe he was on drugs because he started hallucinating. They were pretty funny words to that song, although I've forgotten the real version because I did this horrifyingly dirty version of that song."

    We can only speculate as to what the girl in the corner was doing in the original lyric.
  • In America, this was the second hit for Sweet, following "Little Willy." They had more success and notoriety in their native UK, where their outlandish lyrics caused some controversy. In America they were more of a curiosity, delivering fun, relatively mindless entertainment.
  • The band members do a roll call at the beginning of this song, which is a great way to introduce themselves to listeners. Lead singer Brian Connolly asks: Are you ready Steve? (bass player Steve Priest), Andy? (guitarist Andy Scott), Mick? (drummer Mick Tucker).
  • In 2000, this was used in La Vie Ne Me Fait Pas Peur, a French movie about a group of girls who don't speak English - the only words they know are "Ballroom Blitz."
  • Quentin Tarantino was considering using this song in the ear scene in Reservoir Dogs but went with the Stealers Wheel's "Stuck In The Middle With You" instead. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Johanna - London, England
  • The 1992 movie Wayne's World famously revived "Bohemian Rhapsody" in America, but it also brought "Ballroom Blitz" back to life. In the film, Wayne's love interest, Cassandra (Tia Carrere), performs the song with her band Crucial Taunt. As Wayne says, they wail.

Comments: 47

  • Swampy from OzPoppa Joe just smiles politely, with the money he takes he might be very rich one day.. always puts a smile on my face.. Sweet rock!

    The The used the 'greeting' at the start of their "Armagedon days are here again' on their Mind Bomb album, great album all the way through..
  • Punkoid from FakoffThe best cover is from the damned with lemmy from Motörhead on bass. Their live version is Great Big Tits. There is a live version where captain sensible says as an intro this is for lady di, the fu##ing sluts. The concert was 3 Ewoks before the 1981 wedding where she married dumbo.
  • Glenn from Austin, TexasOn the song Ballroom Blitz, there is an occasional guitar playing, who was that?
  • Stew Trebor from Oconomowoc, WiWhen I worked at SIR in LA, I was showing a bunch of guys from out of town (I thought they were British), our rental guitar selection, and I said to them, "So are you guys in a band? One of them said, "Yeah, we're the Sweet." We rented to everyone who came through town, so I wasn't too surprised. However, I do remember telling them how much I liked Desolation Boulevard.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI always enjoy uniquely themed and/or arranged songs and this one scores a direct hit.
  • Sioraf from Macroon, IrelandAppeared in the Regular Show episode TGI Tuesday's.
  • Budoshi from Sandnessjøen, NorwayNuclear Assault has also covered this one, on the album "Out of Order"
  • Ole from Copenhagen, DenmarkHete Pete in Nowra Australia - This is not quite true - The bass player Steve Pries lives in USA and have his own version of Sweet
    Andy Scott has the European version (which right now has a great line up and in my opinion the best post "real" Sweet)
    I saw A.S. Sween in Denmark back in September 2010 and it was great - this was first time I saw then after I saw 'real" Sweet in Copenhagen back in 1976
    As many mention, Sweet was a very underrated band and only bad luck, bad management etc did that they did not end up with the really big guys
    By the way, where do you think Queen got their inspirations for their unique vocal arrangments ...
  • Andy from San Diego, CaGramma lent me $8 after church to get Desolation
    Boulevarde. Big Mistake! I played it until the
    grooves were white! Best Album ever. Just listen to the recording of Micks drums on Set Me Free, No You Don't and Into the Night. It will give you chills.
  • Mark from Grand Rapids, MiThe first concert I ever attended... Before they took the stage a short movie (would have been "R" rated) was projected onto two screens above the stage. Counting down from 10, each number transformed into various body parts and poses of women. (For example, you can guess what an "8" turned sideways turned in to.) The opening song was an extended version of "Ballroom Blitz". In keeping with the theme of the movie, the vocalist changed the lyrics to "she could kill you with a wink of her ****" (female body part). SWEET! Quite an impression was left on a teenage boy...
  • Michael from Staten Island, NyWhen I was in the seventh grade, this was the eight grader's theme song for a Lego Robotics afterschool club I was in.
  • John from Brisbane, United StatesThis perfectly helps throw off all concerns and have a good time without a care.I usually hear Ballroom Blitz on Saturday mornings,on my radio.All is just right after a stressful week.
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandThis was only the second single in UK chart history to enter at number two and NOT make number one. The first was The Beatles' song Let It Be.
  • Frank from Philadelphia, PaThe main guitar hook is exactly the same as the hook in the soul hit Let's Stomp by Bobby Comstock.
  • Baddfingerz from Tucson, AzHeadbangers must check out Krokus' early-80s cover of this tune from the album 'The Blitz'
  • Michael from Adelaide, AzerbaijanThe Sweet were/are the greatest rock band of the 70's. I grew up adoring them and I have personally traveled from Australia to Ruislip cemetery in England to pay personal homeage to Brian Connolly's memorial in 2000. This band may be now physically gone but they WILL never be forgotten. If you have any doubts get hold of the album "Desolation Boulevard".
  • Bill from Las Vegas, Nv"When you appear there's nothing left of you!"
  • Mark from Grafton, United StatesVery unique, underrated band. Most of the vocals were done by the late Brian Conally, who was up to Freddie Mercury's standards back in the day. The drummer, the late Mick Tucker, also deserves more recognition.
  • Billy from A Place, Althey put a cover of krokus's cover of this on guitar hero 80's.
  • Daniel from Derby, EnglandActually, there's a dvd documentary about Sweet out somewhere, and at the end of it, it shows you what they're all doing, apart from the two that are dead, Andy Scott tours with a Sweet Tribute band... and the other surviving member is in a completely different band.
  • Lee from Brigg, Englandand the man at the back said everyone one attack and it turned into a ballroom blitz classsic classic so is waynes world !
  • Vallerius from Moscow, EuropeAs a matter of fact playing in a good rock band is the best earthy adventure of them. And The Sweet were the most unbelievable adventure in rock music of the 70s and beyond. And here I have to admit one thing: I have discovered something really precious from all those songs they were recording and/or performing, i.e. Lettres D'Amour De France. Fantastic melody line and even more fantastic harmony sequence. The harmonizing at the end piece makes me lose my mind in admiration. Very impressive!

    Vallerius from Moscow
  • Vallerius from Moscow, EuropeAs a matter of fact the Sweet are the icon to very many Russian rock musicians, who really care about traditional rock sound. Not only had the guys that unique sound and style of their own, they also were great song-writers, something which I personally adore in other folks qualities.
    This band is a marvel, and the best way to find out this really so, is to get to hear their rendition of someone else's titles, like, for instance, the Ballroom Blitz. The way they performed it became the standard for present day glam rock template.
    I worship this band, to this day!
  • David from Youngstown, OhI love this song. When I mention Sweet to most people, they have no idea about the band. I then mention Ballroom Blitz, Little Willy, Love Is Like Oxygen and Fox On The Run and they go, "Oh, I love those songs." Very underrated glam-rock band with some extremely memorable songs.
    The extended album cut of Love Is Like Oxygen is my personal favorite, but Ballroom Blitz is a close second.
    To be honest, I'm not so sure what either song is about, but they rock!
  • AnonymousSweet is one of the greatest rock bands ever. Andy scott and Steven priest are both still alive. There vocals are amazing and you can tell where queen got there vocals from. Some of there greatest songs were The Six Teens, Lost Angels, California Nights, Solid Gold Brass, Teenage Rampage. The list is endless of great vocals and excellent players. Mike Crater - Rock Critic From Pottstown Pa.
  • Mel from South Australia, Australiathe sweet had 'fox on the run', great song, even if i thought it was called 'hot summer night'

    it was used in a wendys (ice cream store for the non australians) to advertise a type of new shake (called the 'blitz')...the lyrics had cheesy replacements like 'and they gave her a wendys blitz...
  • Voodoocat from Zimbabwe, United StatesThis song is very cool. I like the lightning bit.
  • Cookie from Sf, CaNina Hagen does a great cover in that NH way.
  • Andreas from Kotka, FinlandThere are numbers of ROCK bands but nothing like the SWEET. Brian´s barbi doll lookalike and their maniac music....we all are on our knees and just listen....
    Andreas Uhlbrandt
  • Andreas from Kotka, Finlandsorry Pete, Steve is still alive and kicking, just check out his latest CD out, check out it!
    Brian Connolly was the best singer ever....and WE all consider the SWEET as one of the best ROCK band in this chaotic world.
    Andreas Uhlbrandt from FINLAND
  • Mike from Winnipeg, CanadaI actually played air guitar for Sweet on this track.
  • Stacey from Nowra, Australiathis song makes no sense but who cares cos as soon as i hesr it i feel like dancing this song is twice as old as me so that i like it is really odd
  • Jackie from Toronto, CanadaI think the Misfits covered this song once.
  • Jeff from Staten Island, Ny"So what exactly goes on during a ballroom blitz?"

    I think of it a sort of pre-mosh pit anthem
  • Derek from Brampton, CanadaTheir best song, other hits were Little Willy and Love is Like Oxygen.
  • Stefanie from Los Angels, CaOMG i love cassandras pipes in waynes world "she wales"
  • Julie from Omaha, NeNicky Chinn & Mike Chapman wrote Little Willy for
    Sweet also.
  • Adam from Poplar Bluff, MoThis song is played during the vampire slayings in "Bordello of Blood".
  • Jonathan from Nahant, MaContrary to popular belief, Sweet actually have quite a few songs (Go Amazon their greatest hits) - and a few of them are argeuablly better than Ballroom Blitz.
  • Frederick from Curwensville, PaGreat song. However I hate the fact that so many classic tunes are used in tv ads but i guess the artists gotta eat
  • Joe from Adelaide, AustraliaName me a song that has this much kick in it by any of todays manufactured pop stars. Ball Room blitzes
  • Rob from Castaic, CaIt was in a 2004 super bowl commercial... Like most of those commercials, i dont remember what they were trying to sell
  • Jon from Roeland Park, KsAfter being a college rock fan 1981-1986 or so and hating all the songs from my childhood, I rediscovered this back then and it's glam-oriffic.
  • Luke from Manchester, EnglandCovered by Tia Carrera in Wayne's World 1
  • Dylan from St. Charles, MoI heard this song today for the first time and I think it is awesome. One of the best songs I have heard in forever.
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiastand corrected ,interviewd Andy Scott this morning, Bass player Steve Priest is still alive ,living in the U.S.
  • Pete from Nowra, AustraliaThe Sweet currently touring Australia, only 1 original memeber left Andy Scott.. the others have gone to the rock n roll heaven.
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