Scream (Billy Idol song)

Last updated
"Scream"
Billy Idol - Scream.jpg
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Devil's Playground
B-side "Bleeding Me Insane"
Released2005
Genre Hard rock
Label Sanctuary
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Keith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Don't You (Forget About Me)"
(2001)		"Scream"
(2005)		"John Wayne"
(2008)
Music video
"Scream" on YouTube

"Scream" is a song by English rock musician Billy Idol, released in 2005 as the only single from his sixth studio album Devil's Playground . [1] [2] His first hit song in over a decade, the last being 1994's "Speed", it reached No. 54 on German charts, and No. 26 on US Mainstream Rock charts. The song was also number one on rollingstone.com's most played list. [3]

Contents

Composition and lyrics

Scream" is a hard rock song written by Billy Idol and Brian Tichy. [4] An uptempo number and companion piece to "Rebel Yell", the songs are structurally and lyrically similar. The former is about Idol orgasming, and a woman making him scream, while the latter is the other way around. He was more looking at continuing on than chart success when writing the song. Being a reintroduction for Idol, its message is him having no intentions to stop. [5]

Critical reception

Billboard noted the song and "Rat Race" weren't quite successful in "aping Nirvana's soft verse/howling chorus." [1] antiMusic critic David E. Demarest states that "Scream" isn't his favorite song on the album, but is expected as the lead single, adding "it should be an easy pill to swallow for Idol fans, hard rocking and driven as it is, with plenty of Billy’s unique scream and twice that amount of attitude." [6] Classic Rock History ranked the song #10 on their "Top 10 Billy Idol Songs" list, and write he delivers "a magnetic performance that bridges his punk roots with modern rock aesthetics." [7]

Appearances

The song was used in an episode of Viva La Bam , in which Idol also guest starred, where he and Bam Margera sing it as they go down the highway.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Billy Idol and Brian Tichy.

No.TitleLength
1."Scream" (Radio Edit)3:54
2."Scream" (Album Version)4:43
3."Bleeding Me Insane"4:35
4."Scream" (Call Out Hook)0:12

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2005)Peak
position
Germany [8] 54
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [9] 26

References

  1. 1 2 Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2005-04-02. pp. 29–. ISSN   0006-2510. While less successful aping Nirvana's soft verse/howling chorus on "Rat Race" and "Scream," Idol sounds on par with the pop punk riding the charts on "World Comin' Down."
  2. ↑ SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. June 2005. p.  16–. ISSN   0886-3032. Scream Billy Idol Devil's Playground.
  3. ↑ "Columbia Daily Spectator". Columbia University . March 25, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2005.
  4. ↑ Echazabal, Gabe (May 6, 2018). "Review: 34 years after their first encounter, Billy Idol and an obsessed fanboy meet again at Clearwater's Capitol Theatre". Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  5. ↑ Ivie, Devon (April 15, 2024). "Billy Idol Wanted More, More, More Anthems". Vulture. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ David E. Demarest. "Billy Idol - Devil's Playground". antiMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ Roberts, Janey (January 9, 2025). "Top 10 Billy Idol Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Billy Idol - Scream". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Billy Idol Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
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