Back in Black (song)

Last updated

"Back in Black"
Back in black by acdc US 7-inch single side-A.png
One of side-A labels of US 7-inch single
Single by AC/DC
from the album Back in Black
B-side "What Do You Do for Money Honey"
ReleasedDecember 1980 (US) [1]
RecordedApril – May 1980
Studio Compass Point (Nassau)
Genre Hard rock [2] [3]
Length4:15
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Robert John "Mutt" Lange
AC/DC singles chronology
"Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"
(1980)		"Back in Black"
(1980)		"Let's Get It Up"
(1981)
Music video
"Back In Black" on YouTube

"Back in Black" is a song by Australian rock band AC/DC. It was released as the second US single from their seventh album of the same name in 1980 through Atlantic Records. Notable for its opening guitar riff, the song was written as a tribute to the band's former singer Bon Scott, who died suddenly in February 1980. In 1981, it reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2012, it reached number 65 in Australia and number 27 in the United Kingdom.

Contents

In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", which listed the "most Australian" songs of all time, "Back in Black" was ranked number 22. [4] The song is featured in the movies Iron Man , Megamind , The Muppets , The Smurfs , Spider-Man: Far from Home , Family Guy , Supernatural , and other films and TV shows.

Background

Known for its opening guitar riff, the song was AC/DC's tribute to their former singer Bon Scott. His replacement Brian Johnson recalled to Mojo magazine in 2009 that when the band asked him to write a lyric for this song, "they said, 'it can't be morbid – it has to be for Bon and it has to be a celebration.'" He added: "I thought, 'Well no pressure there, then' (laughs). I just wrote what came into my head, which at the time seemed like mumbo, jumbo. 'Nine lives. Cats eyes. Abusing every one of them and running wild.' The boys got it though. They saw Bon's life in that lyric." [5]

Critical reception

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
Opening guitar riff of "Back in Black"
The song's riff is one of the most recognised in hard rock history. [6]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Record World said the song has "everything that's made the band one of the hottest sellers around: powerhouse rhythm grind, guitar raunch & vocal mania." [7] In a retrospective piece on "Back in Black", Metal Hammer magazine hailed the song's riff as one of the greatest riffs ever and wrote, "There are rock songs that appeal to metal fans. And there are metal songs that appeal to rock fans. Then there is Back in Black – a rock and metal song that appeals to everybody, from dads to dudes, to little old ladies beating noisy kids over the heads with their sticks – and it all hangs on that monumental, no-nonsense, three-chord monster of a riff." [8] Will Byers from The Guardian said "AC/DC's judicious use of space" in the song helped make it a "classic metal anthem". [9]

The song was ranked No. 4 by VH1 on their list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs. [10] In 2009, it was named the second-greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. [2] The song was also ranked No. 187 on Rolling Stone 's list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. [11] The same magazine has also ranked the song No. 29 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time", and wrote of the song in an accompanying piece: "Angus and Malcolm Young's dual-guitar masterpiece is the platonic ideal of hard rock." [12] In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number three on their list of the 40 greatest AC/DC songs, [13] and in 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number four on their list of the 20 greatest AC/DC songs. [14]

In 2010, this song sat at No. 2 in Triple M Melbourne's Ultimate 500 Rock Countdown in Australia. The Top 5 were all AC/DC songs. [15]

Commercial performance

As a single, "Back in Black" peaked in the U.S. at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981 as well as at No. 51 on Billboard's Top Tracks chart, which debuted in March 1981. "Back in Black" received the RIAA's Master Ringtone Sales Award (Gold and Platinum) in 2006 and reached 2× Platinum status in 2007.[ citation needed ] It officially charted on the UK charts after 31 years in release; peaking in at no. 27 [16] because of the band's music becoming available on iTunes. It also reached no. 1 on the UK Rock Charts in the same week. [17]

Sampling

In 1984, the Beastie Boys sampled "Back in Black" [12] without permission for their song "Rock Hard". In 1999, when they wished to include it on an upcoming CD compilation release, they sought permission but AC/DC refused. Mike D of the Beastie Boys quoted Malcolm Young's reason for refusing as: "'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.'" [18]

Five sampled "Back in Black" for their song "Lay All Your Lovin' on Me" on their 2001 album Kingsize .

Shakira version

"Back in Black"
Song by Shakira
Released2004
Recorded2003
Genre Hard rock
Length5:23
Label Epic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Live video
"Back in Black" on YouTube

Shakira performed a cover of "Back in Black" during her 2002-2003 Tour of the Mongoose, with the live performances of the song produced by Shakira and Tim Mitchell. [19] A recording of the tour date on 22 April 2003 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, was released as a live album titled Live & off the Record in 2004. [20]

Covers and other versions

Brian Johnson performing "Back in Black" alongside Muse (guitarist Matt Bellamy pictured) at the 2017 Reading Festival MuseReading270817-54.jpg
Brian Johnson performing "Back in Black" alongside Muse (guitarist Matt Bellamy pictured) at the 2017 Reading Festival

Two live versions of the song later appeared on both versions of the album Live , as well as the Australian tour edition of Stiff Upper Lip . It has been covered by a number of artists, including Living Colour and Shakira. [12] In 2007, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue recorded live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. [21] In 2017, Muse performed the song at the Reading Festival with Brian Johnson on vocals; this was Johnson's first performance in almost two years, as he was previously ordered to halt live performances in order to prevent further hearing damage. [22]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1981)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [23] 37
US Billboard Mainstream Rock [23] 51
US Cash Box Top 100 [24] 39
Chart (2012)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [25] 65
France (SNEP) [1] 58
Scotland (OCC) [26] 28
South Korea (Gaon Karaoke International Chart) [27] 65
UK Rock & Metal (Official Charts Company) [17] 1
UK Singles (OCC) [16] 27
US Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [28] 20
US Hard Rock Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [29] 1
US Hot 100 Recurrents ( Billboard ) [30] 14
Chart (2015)Peak
position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [31] 100
Chart (2019)Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40) [32] 29
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [33] 191

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [34] Platinum90,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [35] Platinum500,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [36] 2× Platinum100,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON) [37] Diamond+Platinum+Gold390,000‡
Portugal (AFP) [38] 2× Platinum80,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [39] 2× Platinum120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [40] 2× Platinum1,200,000‡
Ringtone
Canada (Music Canada) [41] 2× Platinum80,000*
United States (RIAA) [42] 3× Platinum3,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AC/DC</span> Australian rock band

AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in 1973. They were founded by brothers Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar and Angus Young on lead guitar. Their current lineup comprises Angus, bassist Cliff Williams, drummer Phil Rudd, lead vocalist Brian Johnson, and rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, nephew of Angus and Malcolm. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and heavy metal, but the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formative influence on the new wave of British heavy metal bands, such as Def Leppard and Saxon. AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

<i>Back in Black</i> 1980 studio album by AC/DC

Back in Black is the seventh studio album by Australian rock band AC/DC, released by Albert Productions and Atlantic Records on 25 July 1980. It was the band's first album to feature Brian Johnson as lead singer, following the death of Bon Scott, their previous vocalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoke on the Water</span> 1973 single by Deep Purple

"Smoke on the Water" is a song by English rock band Deep Purple, released on their 1972 studio album Machine Head. The song's lyrics are based on true events, chronicling the 1971 fire at Montreux Casino in Montreux, Switzerland. It is considered the band's signature song and its guitar riff is considered one of the most iconic in all of rock music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk This Way</span> 1975 single by Aerosmith

"Walk This Way" is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the album Toys in the Attic (1975). It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit singles for the band in the 1970s. In addition to being one of the songs that helped break Aerosmith into the mainstream in the 1970s, it also helped revitalize their career in the 1980s when it was covered by hip hop group Run-D.M.C. on their 1986 album Raising Hell. This cover was a touchstone for the new musical subgenre of rap rock, or the melding of rock and hip hop. It became an international hit, reaching number 4 on the Billboard charts and becoming the first hip hop single to reach the top five on the charts, and won both groups a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Single in 1987 Soul Train Music Awards. Both versions are in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Hole Sun</span> 1994 single by Soundgarden

"Black Hole Sun" is a song by American rock band Soundgarden. Written by frontman Chris Cornell, the song was released in 1994 by A&M Records as the third single from the band's fourth studio album, Superunknown (1994). Considered to be the band's signature song, it topped the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of seven weeks at number one. Despite peaking at number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, "Black Hole Sun" finished as the number-one track of 1994 for that listing. Worldwide, the single reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, and Ireland, while in Iceland, it reached number one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Shook Me All Night Long</span> 1980 single by AC/DC

"You Shook Me All Night Long" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, from the album Back in Black. The song also reappeared on their later album Who Made Who. It is AC/DC's first single with Brian Johnson as the lead singer, replacing Bon Scott who died of alcohol poisoning in February 1980. It reached number 35 on the USA's Hot 100 pop singles chart in 1980. The single was re-released internationally in 1986, following the release of the album Who Made Who. The re-released single in 1986 contains the B-side(s): B1. "She's Got Balls" ; B2. "You Shook Me All Night Long".

<i>Powerage</i> 1978 studio album by AC/DC

Powerage is the fifth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in 1978. This was the band's first album to feature Cliff Williams on bass guitar, and it was also the first AC/DC album not to have a title track and the first worldwide not to be released with a different album cover. Powerage was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise City</span> 1989 single by Guns N Roses

"Paradise City" is a song by the American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on their debut album, Appetite for Destruction (1987). Released as a single in January 1989, it is the only song on the album to feature a synthesizer. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100—becoming the band's third single to reach the Top 10—and number six on the UK Singles Chart. It also topped the Irish Singles Chart, their first of three singles to do so.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paranoid (Black Sabbath song)</span> Song by Black Sabbath

"Paranoid" is a song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1970 off the band's second studio album, Paranoid (1970). It is the first single from the album, while the B-side is the song "The Wizard". The song is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time. It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welcome to the Jungle</span> 1987 single by Guns N Roses

"Welcome to the Jungle" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured as the opening track on their debut album, Appetite for Destruction (1987). It was released as the album's second single initially in the UK in September 1987 then again in October 1988 this time including the US, where it reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Train</span> 1980 single by Ozzy Osbourne

"Crazy Train" is the debut solo single by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and was released in 1980 from his debut album as a solo artist, Blizzard of Ozz (1980). The song was written by Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, and Bob Daisley. The lyrics deal with the subject of the Cold War and the fear of annihilation that existed during this period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master of Puppets (song)</span> 1986 single by Metallica

"Master of Puppets" is a thrash metal song by American metal band Metallica, released on July 2, 1986, as the only single from the album of the same name. It was also issued as a promo single in the US by Elektra Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Nation Army</span> 2003 single by the White Stripes

"Seven Nation Army" is a song by American rock duo the White Stripes. It is the opening track on their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). V2 Records released the song to American alternative radio on February 17, 2003, as the lead single from the album. Worldwide, the single was issued through XL Recordings. Written and produced by Jack White, the song consists of distorted vocals, a simple drumbeat, and a bass line created by playing a guitar through a pitch shift effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highway to Hell (song)</span> 1979 single by AC/DC

"Highway to Hell" is a song by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the opening track of their 1979 album Highway to Hell, initially released as a single on 27 July 1979, the same day the album was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pour Some Sugar on Me</span> 1987 single by Def Leppard

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" is a song by the English rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. It reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 23 July 1988, behind "Hold On to the Nights" by Richard Marx. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is considered the band's signature song, and was ranked #2 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s" in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderstruck (song)</span> 1990 single by AC/DC

"Thunderstruck" is the lead single from the 1990 album The Razors Edge by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, No. 1 in Finland, and No. 5 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. In 2010, "Thunderstruck" topped Triple M Melbourne's Ultimate 500 Rock Countdown in Australia. The top five were all AC/DC songs. The song is used in movies such as Deadpool 2, Planes: Fire & Rescue, Varsity Blues, The Longest Yard, Katie and Orbie, Battleship, and Daddy's Home, among others, as well as TV shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round and Round (Ratt song)</span> 1984 single by Ratt

"Round and Round" is a song by American heavy metal band Ratt from their 1984 album Out of the Cellar. It was released as a single in 1984 on Atlantic Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (song)</span> 1976 single by AC/DC

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" is a hard rock song by the Australian band AC/DC. Written by group members Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott, it was recorded for the title track of their album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, released in September 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Feelgood (Mötley Crüe song)</span> 1989 single by Mötley Crüe

"Dr. Feelgood" is a song by American heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. It was released as the lead single from their fifth studio album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enter Sandman</span> 1991 single by Metallica

"Enter Sandman" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It is the opening track and lead single from their self-titled fifth album, released in 1991. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. Vocalist and guitarist Hetfield wrote the lyrics, which deal with the concept of a child's nightmares.

References

  1. 1 2 "AC/DC – Back in Black" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 Winistorfer, Andrew (5 January 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs list only slightly less annoying than their hip-hop list". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Ertegün, Ahmet (2001). 'What'd I Say?': The Atlantic Story: 50 Years of Music. Welcome Rain Publisher. p. 546. ISBN   978-1-56649-048-1. Back in Black includes one of their best known songs, 'You Shook Me All Night Long' (#35 Pop), and hard rock classics 'Hells Bells', 'Back in Black' (#37 Pop) and 'Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution'.
  4. ↑ "Here Are the Songs That Made Triple M's 'Ozzest 100'". Music Feeds . 27 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Back in Black by AC/DC". Songfacts. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Williams, Adam (14 April 2003). "AC/DC: Back in Black [re-mastered edition]". PopMatters . Archived from the original on 31 May 2011.
  7. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 13 December 1980. p. 1. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Why AC/DC's Back in Black is one of the best riffs of all time". Metal Hammer . 3 October 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Byers, Will (1 October 2008). "School of rock: What makes a classic metal anthem?". The Guardian . Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "40 Greatest Metal Songs (40–31)". VH1. 1–4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2006.
  11. ↑ "Back in Black". Rolling Stone . 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 28 May 2007.
  12. 1 2 3 "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 4 April 2010.
  13. ↑ Hann, Michael (30 July 2020). "AC/DC – their 40 greatest songs, ranked!". The Guardian . Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Law, Sam (3 February 2021). "The 20 greatest AC/DC songs – ranked". Kerrang! . Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  15. ↑ "Triple M's Ultimate Rock 500". Triple M. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  17. 1 2 "2012 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles Archive – 1st December 2012". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "AC/DC nix Beastie Boys sample" (LexisNexis Academic Search). NME . 11 November 1999. Retrieved 15 February 2007.
  19. ↑ Blabbermouth (18 November 2002). "SHAKIRA Covers AEROSMITH, AC/DC". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  20. ↑ Blabbermouth (12 March 2004). "SHAKIRA's Cover Of AC/DC's 'Back In Black' To Surface On Upcoming DVD/CD". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  21. ↑ "Jazz Fest Live – live recordings from New Orleans Jazz Fest". Jazz Fest Live. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011.
  22. ↑ Barsanti, Sam (29 August 2017). "AC/DC's Brian Johnson recently performed live for the first time in nearly 2 years". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  23. 1 2 "Back in Black – Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 7, 1981". Cash Box . Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
  25. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 3rd December 2012" (PDF). ARIA. 4 January 2013. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2014– via Pandora Archive.
  26. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  27. ↑ "GAON 노래방 CHART – 2013년 4월 3주차" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014.
  28. ↑ "AC/DC Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Hard Rock Digital Songs: January 12, 2013". Billboard . Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  30. ↑ "Hot 100 Recurrents: December 8, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "AC/DC – Back in Black". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  32. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  33. ↑ "AC DC Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  34. ↑ "Danish single certifications – AC/DC – Back in Black". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  35. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (AC/DC; 'Back in Black')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  36. ↑ "Italian single certifications – AC/DC – Back in Black" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  37. ↑ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Retrieved 3 June 2022.Type AC/DC in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Back in Black in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  38. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – AC/DC – Back in Black" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  39. ↑ "AC/DC - Back in Black". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  40. ↑ "British single certifications – AC/DC – Back in Black". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  41. ↑ "Canadian ringtone certifications – AC/DC – Back in Black". Music Canada.
  42. ↑ "American ringtone certifications – AC/DC – Back in Black". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.