I Wanna Rock by Twisted Sister

Album: Stay Hungry (1984)

Charted: 68

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Songfacts®:

The title explains the whole meaning of this song: Dee Snider wants to rock. The song tapped into the psyche of kids who felt besieged by pressure from parents and teachers to conform to societal norms and behave themselves.
Dee Snider joined Twisted Sister three years after the band formed, but he quickly took over the songwriting. He studied the craft, learning how metal masterpieces were made and applying that to the songs he wrote. In our interview with Snider, he explained his thought process behind this one. "'I Wanna Rock' was designed when I realized that Iron Maiden was having tremendous success with their sort of galloping metal rhythms, and then there was the anthemic thing that I like to do, which bands like AC/DC do, and one of my biggest influences, especially in that area, Slade," he said. "I thought that if I could combine the drive of a Maiden song with the anthemic quality of an AC/DC song, I'd have a f--king huge hit. And I was right."
This song was used at the end of The Spongebob Squarepants Movie. The "I Wanna Rock!" part was replaced with "I'm a Goofy Goober!," which was a club both Spongebob and Patrick belonged to. The background chants of "ROCK!" were left in tact. The Spongebob version was called "Goofy Goober Rock."
Twisted Sister is sometimes considered a one-hit wonder with We're Not Gonna Take It, but even though this song stalled at #68, it had a huge cultural impact and enjoyed lots of airplay for years to come. VH1 put it at #20 on their list of the 40 Greatest Metal Song of All Time. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bert - Pueblo, NM, for all above
The music video features Mark Metcalf, who starred in the first Twisted Sister video, "We're Not Gonna Take It." Once again, he is seen yelling at a kid in an extended scene before the song starts, with the kid giving the same retort - "I wanna rock!" (which Dee Snider came up with) - to Metcalf's question, "What do you want to do with your life."

Metcalf played Neidermeyer in the movie Animal House, and he reprised his role here, basically recreating a famous scene where he yells at a hapless student named Flounder. The actor who played Flounder, Stephen Furst, also played his character, showing up at the end of the video to blast Neidermeyer with seltzer.
Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French recorded a new version of this song in 2008 titled "I Want Barack" in honor of the US presidential candidate Barack Obama. The song is credited to "Jay Jay French and Friends," and features Paulie Z. from the band Z02 on lead vocals. French said of Obama: "He has excited so many people. He has given sincere hope to people who have been out of the arena for years."
The pianist William Joseph composed a classical version of this song for the 2018 Mitsubishi commercial "Keys," promoting their Eclipse Cross. The spot garnered over 5 million views on YouTube.
This was used in a 2020 commercial for Facebook groups that aired during the Super Bowl in 2020. In the spot, various "rock" groups on the platform are featured, including rock climbers, stone skippers, rocking chair enthusiasts and model rocket launchers. At the end of the spot, Sylvester Stallone (who played Rocky) and Chris Rock appear.

Comments: 4

Hair Bands Enthusiast from Greater Sudbury, Ontario, CanadaFun Fact: pretty sure I counted right but Rock is said 78 times and the reason I always think of that when this song comes on is because a radio DJ once said wow that's being able to say the word rock and I thought I had remember him saying in the 100s in a short 3 minutes and a bit song but in the lyrics above I just counted 78 I think but it's still impressive considering the song is fairly short. Lol

But still great tune almost impossible not to sing along, We're not gonna take it in my opinion is a bit better but their 2 biggest hits by far and probably really only 2 that most casual fans would know because the rest of their stuff wasn't as commercial but good band and really loved the work and creativity they put into their videos back then for being in the 80s. 2 awesome videos, 2 awesome songs just too bad they didn't have 15-20 hits like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, the crue, Poison, G&R.......you get the idea I'm sure lol

Miss that good ol simple rock, they weren't dressed the best that is one thing I don't miss from the 80s lol but those bands could write great songs, sing amazing, great guitarists, every song pretty much had a solo, tons of harmonizing choruses and just a whole ton of catchy very easy to sing along to Rock Anthems like if anybody can go through Livin' in a prayer by Bon Jovi without at some point singing along they're either extremely hammered so passing out, just hate rock or are is the worse of moods and just are stuck in their whole little world not even paying attention because when that songs plays in arenas of hockey games, fans go nuts and also when Bon Jovi plays it live ( I've been to about a dozen of their shows (YES 12 or so times......YA I'M a BIT OBSESSED) and you get goose bumps from how loud those fans sing along and the fact that Jon's voice has been on at first a slow decline since the mid 90s then from 2008 or so to 2018 fast decline and since Covid well he can't sing PERIOD kareoke ppl are better than him and covet bands smoke them and anyways saw 2 shows without Richie and nothing against Phil X but it isn't the same. But it doesn't matter for that song you can barely hear the band lol. And for the millenials who thought Bon Jovi was a new band in 2000 when it's my life played 50 times a day on rock radio Tommy and Gina are from Livin on a prayer it's because thank god 2000 killed grunge and brought back some good rock but BJ hung in there ok in the 90s with Always, Keep the Faith album ajd These Days This ain't a love song and Something for the Pain and many other awesome songs Bed of Roses ballads ya but at least they stuck around but now it's sad his voice is as bad as Axl and Vince Neil and even Chad from Nickelback is struggling that rasp when it's not natural for you is killer.

Anyways rock on guys
Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcWhat do you want to do with your life I wanna rock. A very good unforgettable classic metal song and video.
Jorge from Bronx, NyI'am wondering if JJ French has changed his mind about Obama,lmao,This song is missing the part of the teacher/father the kid,What you wanna do with your life,,,,,lol
Paul from San Benito, Txi love the rebellious spirit of the song cuz although society want everybody to be NORMAL people should be themselves and if thats rebelling well arrest me people

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