I Want Out (Helloween song)

"I Want Out"
Single by Helloween
from the album Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
Released	31 October 1988
Genre	Power metal, heavy metal
Length	4:39
Label	Noise Records
Songwriter(s)	Kai Hansen
Helloween singles chronology
"Dr. Stein" (1988) "I Want Out" (1988) "Kids of the Century" (1991)

"I Want Out" is a song by German power metal band Helloween from the album Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II , that was released as a single in 1988. ^[1]

It was written by Kai Hansen, who said in an interview that it was a hint of him really wanting "out" of the band. Musically, the song is characterised by a recognisable introduction and Michael Kiske's trademark high-pitched singing in the chorus. It is also punk-influenced (especially the rebellious lyrics) in contrast to other Helloween songs, or Hansen's post-Helloween work.

The promo video was shown on MTV and was directed by Storm Thorgerson.

It is one of Helloween's most recognizable songs, and is often performed live by Helloween and both Hansen's and Kiske's current bands Gamma Ray and Unisonic. The song was covered by HammerFall, Sonata Arctica, Avalanch and Skylark.

Track listing

All songs written by Kai Hansen, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Want Out"		4:39
2.	"Save Us"		5:12
3.	"Don't Run for Cover"	Michael Kiske	4:45

Credits

• Michael Kiske - lead vocals
• Kai Hansen - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
• Michael Weikath - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
• Markus Grosskopf - bass guitar
• Ingo Schwichtenberg - drums

Charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [2]	27
UK Singles (OCC) [3]	69

Cover versions

HammerFall

"I Want Out"
Single by HammerFall
from the album Legacy of Kings
Released	31 August 1999
Recorded	Studio Fredman, Göteborg, Sweden, April–June, 1998 Hansen Studios, Hamburg, Germany October 1998
Genre	Power metal, Heavy metal
Length	17:56
Label	Nuclear Blast
Songwriter(s)	Kai Hansen
Producer(s)	Track1&3: Kai Hansen, Dirk Schlächter Track2:Joacim Cans, Fredrik Nordström, Oscar Dronjak
HammerFall singles chronology
"Heeding the Call" (1998) "I Want Out" (1999) "Renegade" (2000)

"I Want Out" was released as a cover-single by Swedish power metal band HammerFall on 31 August 1999. It is the second single released from their album Legacy of Kings . ^[4]

It is notable for Kai Hansen's appearance on guitar, lead vocals (along with Hammerfall's vocalist Joacim Cans) and keyboards.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Want Out"	Kai Hansen	4:37
2.	"At the End of the Rainbow"	Joacim Cans, Martin Albrecht	4:09
3.	"Man on the Silver Mountain"	Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio	3:25
4.	"Glory to the Brave" (video clip)		5:45
Total length:			17:56

Personnel

• Joacim Cans - lead and backing vocals
• Oscar Dronjak - guitar and backing vocals
• Stefan Elmgren - lead guitar
• Magnus Rosén - bass guitar
• Patrik Räfling - drums

Additional personnel

• Track 1: Vocals, guitar and keyboards by Kai Hansen, backing vocals by Udo Dirkschneider.
• Track 2: Lead guitar by William J. Tsamis.
• Track 3: Drums by AC, backing vocals by Kai Hansen.

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [5]	75

Release information

Limited edition red 7" vinyl single with "I Want Out" on side A and "At the End of the Rainbow" on side B. ^[6]

Others

• In 2000, Sonata Arctica released a cover version of this song on two of their EPs, Successor and Takatalvi . It was also released on the Helloween tribute album The Keepers of Jericho - Part I .
• Skylark also covered the song, in the same tribute album, with female vocals.
• Eddy Antonini from the Italian power metal band Skylark also performs a cover of this song along with several guest musicians on his solo album When Water Became Ice.
• Gamma Ray, Kai Hansen's current band, also performs the song.
• In 2006, the Australian band Lord performed this song live at the Metro Theater in Sydney.
• The Spanish power metal band Avalanch performed a live cover on their Días De Gloria album.
• The Australian power metal band Winterstorm performed this song on their "teaser" demo ...begun and continue to play it at various live shows.
• The Swedish progressive metal band Seventh Wonder performed the song in 2010, during their final concert with Johnny Sandin as drummer. As a surprise to him, they asked him to leave the drum set in the middle of the song and perform vocals in the final section.
• The band Driving Mrs. Satan released a folk singer-style cover of the song in 2013.
• In 2012, Kiske's and Hansen's band, Unisonic, included a live performance of the song at the Loud Park Festival on their Ignition EP.
• The Russian power metal band Epidemia at least once performed the song at a concert
• The Swedish power metal band ShadowQuest covered this song on their second album Gallows of Eden, released in 2020.

References

1. "I Want Out (Single)". Encyclopaedia Metallum . Retrieved 19 July 2019.
2. "Helloween – I Want Out". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
4. "I Want Out". Nuclear Blast . Retrieved 19 July 2019.
5. "HammerFall – I Want Out". Singles Top 100.
6. "HammerFall – I Want Out". Discogs . 30 August 1999. Retrieved 19 July 2019.