Stiff Competition

Last updated
"Stiff Competition"
Stiff Competition label.jpeg
Label to UK single release as B-side of "California Man"
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Heaven Tonight
A-side "California Man" (UK)
Released1978
Recorded1977
Genre Rock, power pop
Length3:40
Label Epic 6427
Songwriter(s) Rick Nielsen
Producer(s) Tom Werman

"Stiff Competition" is a song written by Rick Nielsen that first appeared on Cheap Trick's 1978 album Heaven Tonight . It is famous for the sexual double entendres in the lyrics, and subsequently appeared on live and compilation albums. In the UK, "Stiff Competition" was the B-side to Cheap Trick's second single from Heaven Tonight, "California Man."

Contents

Music and lyrics

Some of the lyrics to "Stiff Competition" express standard love song sentiments such as looking hard in the loved one's eyes. [1] [2] However, many of the lyrics are double and even triple entendres involving genitalia. [2] [3] Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider describes the song as "phallocentric," citing lyrics such as "The bigger they are — the harder they fall." [4] Writer Rick Nielsen described it as an "erotic fantasy" stating:

"I see it as male and female genitals marching like whole armies and whole corps of these going around and talking with each other. So the male says to the female 'I look hard in your eyes' and all that stuff, it was love at first sight' - I mean maybe these appendages, or lack of appendages, depending on what your gender is, maybe they have these sort of feelings, maybe there is a little brain under yonder! So I try to put myself in that position..." [2]

On another occasion, Nielsen stated that the song could have been called "The War Song of the Marching Penises," and noted that people come up with even more meanings after analyzing the song. [1]

Musically, the guitar riff is based on that of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again." [3] [4] In turn, the riff from "Stiff Competition" was the basis for that on The Beastie Boys' single "She's on It." [2] Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider also sees a resemblance between the harmonies on "Stiff Competition" and those on The Beatles' "I Feel Fine." [4]

Producer Tom Werman claimed that he did little with the song in preparing the recording. [2]

Reception

Critic Bryan Wawzenek describes "Stiff Competition" as finding the band "in rip-roaring form," praising the "growling" vocal and guitar from Robin Zander and Nielsen, respectively, as well as the "driving pace." [5] Village Voice critic Susin Shapiro describes Zander's vocal performance on the song as "great." [6] Ira Robbins and Michael Sandlin of Trouser Press describe "Stiff Competition" as "leering" saying that the song "paraphrases arena rock." [7] Reviewing its appearance on the multi-artist compilation album Metal Age: The Roots of Metal, Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine describes it as a "melodic" form of heavy metal. [8]

Other appearances

"Stiff Competition" was left off the original release of the 1979 live album Cheap Trick at Budokan , but it did appear on the 1994 follow up Budokan II . [2] [9] On this version, author Mike Hayes praised Zander's "venomous" vocal, Nielsen's "gargantuan" guitar riff, and drummer Bun E. Carlos' "big beat prowess." [2] .

Nielsen performed the song with the Foo Fighters on the Late Show with David Letterman .

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Elo Kiddies

"ELO Kiddies" is a song originally released by Cheap Trick on the 1977 album Cheap Trick. It was written by Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick's lead guitarist and primary songwriter. It was released as a single twice, in 1977 as an A-side backed by "Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace", and in 1979 as the B-side of the live "Ain't That a Shame" from Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Clock Strikes Ten

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"Hello There" is a song written by Rick Nielsen and first released on Cheap Trick's 1977 album, In Color. The song was also often used as the first song of Cheap Trick concerts, and as a result was the first song on the band's seminal live album Cheap Trick at Budokan.

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Need Your Love is a song written by Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson that was originally performed by American rock band Cheap Trick. The song appeared on Cheap Trick's 1979 album Dream Police. A live version was included on the 1978 album Cheap Trick at Budokan, which initially appeared only in Japan but eventually was in the United States in early 1979. Because Cheap Trick was immensely popular in Japan, the band's Japanese label demanded that At Budokan include three new songs. The three songs were "Ain't That a Shame", "Goodnight Now", and "Need Your Love."

Auf Wiedersehen (song)

"Auf Wiedersehen" is a song co-written by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson and first released on the band's 1978 album Heaven Tonight. It was also released as a single as the B-side of "Surrender". Since its original release, it has also been released by Cheap Trick on several live and compilation albums, including Budokan II; Sex, America, Cheap Trick; The Essential Cheap Trick, and the 30th Anniversary Edition of Cheap Trick at Budokan, which also includes a DVD with a video performance of the song. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as one of the peaks of Heaven Tonight and as one of Cheap Trick's "stone-cold classics." It has often been used by the band to close their concerts. Since its original release, it has been covered by Anthrax, Cell, John Easdale, and Steel Pole Bath Tub.

"High Roller" is a song written by Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, and Tom Petersson that was first released on Cheap Trick's 1978 album Heaven Tonight. It later appeared on a number of Cheap Trick live and compilation albums, and was covered by Scrawl on their 1991 album Bloodsucker.

Way of the World (Cheap Trick song)

"Way of the World" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 1979 as a single from their fourth studio album Dream Police. The song was written by Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander and produced by Tom Werman. In February 1980 it was released as a 7" vinyl single in the UK only, backed by "Oh, Candy," from the first Cheap Trick album, and peaked at #73. It attempted to capitalize on the success of the mid-1979 single "I Want You to Want Me" and the live album Cheap Trick at Budokan which both entered the top 30.

Southern Girls

"Southern Girls" is a song written by Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson that was first released by Cheap Trick on their 1977 album In Color, produced by Tom Werman. It was also released as a single. It has been covered by a number of artists, including Bangs, Everclear and Gilby Clarke.

Long Time Coming (Cheap Trick song)

"Long Time Coming" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released in 2017 as the only single from their eighteenth studio album We're All Alright!. It was written by Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson and Julian Raymond, and produced by Raymond and Cheap Trick. Released as a promotional single in the United States, "Long Time Coming" reached No. 36 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the Mediabase Classic Rock Airplay chart.

References

  1. 1 2 Dedrick, J. (August 28, 1994). "Rock Band Serves Pop with a Twist". Star-News . p. 19. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hayes, M. & Sharp, K. (1998). Reputation Is a Fragile Thing. Poptastic. pp. 55, 178. ISBN   978-0-9662081-0-8.
  3. 1 2 Swanson, D. (May 23, 2014). "35 Years Ago: Cheap Trick's 'Heaven Tonight Album Released". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  4. 1 2 3 Schneider, M. (August 10, 1978). "Heaven Tonight". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  5. ↑ Wawzenek, B. (September 4, 2010). "Saturday Night Special: Cheap Trick, Heaven Tonight". gibson.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  6. ↑ Shapiro, S. (June 26, 1978). "Cheap Trick's Slick Schtick". The Village Voice . p. 60. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
  7. ↑ Robbins, I. & Sandlin, M. "Cheap Trick". Trouser Press . Retrieved 2014-02-17.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Erlewine, S.T. "Metal Age: The Roots of Metal". Allmusic . Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  9. ↑ Erlewine, S.T. "Budokan II". Allmusic . Retrieved 2014-02-17.

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

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