| "Rock and Roll Is Dead" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Lenny Kravitz | ||||
| from the album Circus | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | August 28, 1995 | |||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Lenny Kravitz | |||
| Producer(s) | Lenny Kravitz | |||
| Lenny Kravitz singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Rock and Roll Is Dead" is the first single released from the 1995 Lenny Kravitz album Circus . The song reached the top 20 in Canada, Finland, New Zealand, and Spain, but it underperformed in the United States, peaking at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Kravitz told on the meaning of "Rock and Roll Is Dead":
That song was completely misunderstood. A lot of people don't take [the song] that one layer deeper--they hear the title and chorus and take it at face value. They think I'm being serious when actually I'm a very big clown. But you have to know me to see that. I'm constantly cracking up and cracking everybody else around me up. People see my photos and think I labor over my image and I'm this cool, brooding artist. But I'm just having fun with it.[ citation needed ]
Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Borrowing half of the riff from Led Zeppelin's Heartbreaker is not exactly the way to back up the statement he's making here. By going retro again, Kravitz reanimates rock totally. DJ Hans Van Rijn at Danish radio station The Voice/Copenhagen said, "As rock is still very big in Scandinavia, it will be a big radio hit. It's typical of him, the way it's structured. Although playable in all day slots, in the evening it will do best on EHR stations which pretend to cater to youth." [1] Kravitz was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for this song in 1996. [2]
The song reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. It was a top-10 hit in Finland, New Zealand and Spain, reaching numbers 10, eight, and five, respectively. In Canada, the song reached number 16. Elsewhere, the song reached the top 40 in Australia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
The music video for "Rock and Roll Is Dead" was storyboarded by Andrew Trovaioli and directed by Ruven Afanador.[ citation needed ] The video shows Kravitz performing the song with his band, as well as Kravitz with visual artistic related backgrounds.
US and Canadian CD single; US cassette single [3] [4]
UK CD and 10-inch single [5] [6]
| UK cassette single and European CD single [7] [8]
Japanese mini-CD single [9]
|
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) [10] | 26 |
| Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [11] | 16 |
| Canada Rock/Alternative ( RPM ) [12] | 3 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [13] | 31 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [14] | 10 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [15] | 18 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) [16] | 40 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [17] | 8 |
| Scotland (OCC) [18] | 23 |
| Spain (AFYVE) [19] | 5 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [20] | 24 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [21] | 22 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 [22] | 75 |
| US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [23] | 10 |
| US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [24] | 4 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | August 28, 1995 |
| Virgin | [25] |
| Japan | September 6, 1995 | Mini-CD | [26] | |
| United States | September 12, 1995 | Contemporary hit radio | [27] |
"Fake Plastic Trees" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released on their second album, The Bends (1995). It was the third single from The Bends in the UK, and the first in the US. It reached the top 50 on the UK Singles Chart, the New Zealand Singles Chart, the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and the Canadian Rock/Alternative chart.
"Lucky Man" is a song by English rock band the Verve. It was written by singer Richard Ashcroft. The song was released as the third single from the band's third studio album, Urban Hymns (1997). It was released on 24 November 1997, charting at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the band's second top-20 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in the United States, climbing to number 16. In Canada, "Lucky Man" peaked at number 25 on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. It also reached the top 40 in Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand.
"American Woman" is a song by Canadian rock band the Guess Who, released January 1970, from the album of the same name. It was later released in March 1970 as a single backed with "No Sugar Tonight", and it reached number one for three weeks commencing May 9 on both the United States' Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine singles chart. Billboard magazine placed the single at number three on the Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 list, and it was listed as number five for 1970 on the RPM Year-End Chart. On May 22, 1970, the single was certified as gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also reached the top ten in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, and the top twenty in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
"Santa Monica" is a song by American rock band Everclear, from their 1995 album Sparkle and Fade. The song was written by the band's lead singer, Art Alexakis. Though it was not commercially released as a single in the United States, American radio stations played "Santa Monica" enough for it to reach number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and top the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for three weeks in 1996. It became a top-40 hit in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; it is the band's highest-charting single in Australia.
"Fly Away" is a song by American singer Lenny Kravitz. It was released as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, 5 (1998). Released on November 9, 1998, "Fly Away" peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Fly Away" topped the charts in Iceland and the United Kingdom and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Performance in 1999.
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released in February 1993 as the first single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). It was written by Kravitz and Craig Ross, and has been covered by numerous artists, such as Metallica, in a medley for "MTV Hits" at the 2003 MTV Music Video Awards, Tom Jones for the Jerky Boys OST, Robbie Williams on Jones' 1999 album Reload and Mel B in her solo section of the Spice Girls 2007 Reunion Tour. Serbian hard rock band Cactus Jack recorded a version on their live cover album DisCover in 2002. A remixed version is played as the opening theme song in Gran Turismo 3: A-spec. Adam Lambert covered the song in November 2012 in his swing through South Africa.
"Love Is Strong" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones, released as the opening track, and first single, from their 20th British and 22nd American studio album, Voodoo Lounge (1994). Issued as a single on 4 July 1994 by Virgin, the song preceded the release of Voodoo Lounge by a week. "Love Is Strong" peaked at No. 14 in the band's native United Kingdom and at No. 2 in Canada and Finland but stalled at No. 91 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Despite this, it peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. The song's accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song written, produced, and performed by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991, the song is a mid-tempo ballad musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000. The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over."
"Where Are We Runnin'?" is a song performed by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz. It was released on April 5, 2004, as the lead single from his seventh studio album, Baptism (2004). Kravitz wrote the song with his long-time collaborator Craig Ross and produced it himself. Following its release, the song reached number 69 in the United States, number 13 in Italy, and number four in Spain.
"Again" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, being the only new song from his first Greatest Hits album, released in 2000. Written, arranged and produced by himself, "Again" was initially set to be on his sixth studio album; however, Kravitz found out that the song didn't fit the tone of the album, releasing it instead as the lead single from the compilation on September 22, 2000, through Virgin Records. The mid-tempo rock ballad finds Kravitz wondering if he will ever see his former lover again and if they will reunite once more.
"Dig In" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz, the lead single from his sixth studio album, Lenny (2001). It was released in September 2001. It was used in promos by the National Basketball Association for the 2002 NBA Playoffs, as well as the ending theme for the film Returner.
"Maybe" is a single from American band N*E*R*D's second studio album, Fly or Die (2004). The song features Lenny Kravitz on guitar and Questlove on drums. It peaked at number 25 in the United Kingdom, number 31 in Ireland, and number 34 in the Netherlands. The song was featured in an iPod commercial that also promoted the song.
"Heaven Help" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in August 1993, as the third single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). The song made a brief appearance on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 92. In the United Kingdom, it became his second top-twenty hit from Are You Gonna Go My Way, peaking at number 20, and in Canada and New Zealand, the song reached the top 30. It was later included on Kravitz' compilation album Greatest Hits.
"Out of Tears" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones featured on their 1994 album, Voodoo Lounge. It was released as the album's third single. The song was moderately successful, reaching the top 40 in several countries, but was a successful follow-up to "Love Is Strong" in Canada, peaking at No. 3 on the RPM Top Singles chart for six consecutive weeks.
"She's a River" is the first single released from Scottish rock band Simple Minds' 11th studio album, Good News from the Next World. Written by band members Charlie Burchill and Jim Kerr, the song was inspired by Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha, a book about self-discovery. Released on 16 January 1995, "She's a River" reached number three in Canada and Italy, number seven in the Flanders region of Belgium, and number nine on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it peaked at number six on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
"Stillness of Heart" is a song written by Lenny Kravitz and Craig Ross. The song was included on Kravitz's 2001 album, Lenny, and was released as a single on January 14, 2002. "Stillness of Heart" charted at number 38 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts, number 22 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and number 16 on the Italian Singles Chart.
"Everyday" is a song by English musician Phil Collins, released as the second single of his fifth studio album, Both Sides (1993). The single achieved success mostly in North America in early 1994. In 2004, it was included as the seventh track on Collins' compilation album Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New.
"Is There Any Love in Your Heart" is a song by American singer Lenny Kravitz and released on November 22, 1993, as the fourth single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). Following its release, the song reached the top 50 in Australia and New Zealand and peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. The song was later included on the Japanese edition of Kravitz' 2000 compilation album, Greatest Hits. The music video was directed by Mark Romanek and features Canadian model Ève Salvail playing a vampire.
"California" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer Lenny Kravitz, released as the second single from his seventh studio album, Baptism (2004), on July 12, 2004. Kravitz plays all the instruments on the song and uses his own handclaps. The song reached number 28 in Italy and charted moderately in several other European countries. It was released in the United States as a radio single and maxi-single but did not appear on any Billboard charts.
"Believe" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released by Virgin Records on May 10, 1993 as the second single from his third album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). It is a rock ballad with string orchestration, and was co-written, arranged and produced by Kravitz, with Henry Hirsch also contributing to the orchestration and composition. Its lyrics concern one being able to achieve freedom and "eternal grace" if they believe in themselves and put their faith in God.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
