What’s the meaning of Ballroom Blitz?
What’s the meaning of Ballroom Blitz? Wayne’s World was one of the great movies of the 90s. And one of the best parts was the gorgeous Tia Carrere and her…
What's the meaning of Ballroom Blitz?
Wayne's World was one of the great movies of the 90s. And one of the best parts was the gorgeous Tia Carrere and her singing "Ballroom Blitz". I know that I had heard "Ballroom Blitz" before, but I was young and this movie cemented the song into my memories. But what's the meaning of "Ballroom Blitz?"
Before we learn the origin of the song, let's learn about the band, The Sweet. According to americansongwriter.com, Sweet was a British glam rock band that became popular in the 70s. The core members of the band were lead singer Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.
The band originated in 68' but had their first hit song "Funny Funny" in 1971. They had several hits during the 70s that included the 1973 song “The Ballroom Blitz”, the 1973 track “Block Buster,” the 1974 song “Turn It Down,” and their last big hit "Love is like Oxygen", in 1978.
But what's the meaning? In January 1973, The Sweet played the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, Scotland. The band was driven off stage by the unruly crowd by what's called a "bottling". A "bottling" is simply an angry crowd throwing things (like beer bottles) at the band.
The event inspired the song to be written and created in September 1973. The song IS the event "And the man in the back said, “Everyone attack”
And it turned into a ballroom blitz". The song appears on the U.S. and Canadian versions of the band’s album, Desolation Boulevard.
The song has been covered a number of times. by the Les Humphries Singers in 1974 and The Damned in 1979. And of course, Wayne's World in 1992, feature Tia Carrere belting out a version of the song. There was also a music video with Mike Myers.
PS: 2nd favorite part is Wayne and Garth meeting Alice Cooper "We're not worthy!" "WE'RE NOT WORTHY!" But who is?
Here are some more great albums of the 70s!
40 Iconic ’70s Albums
Along with producing some of rock’s most memorable music, the 1970s featured inventive and unique album covers. From the trippy artwork of Roger Dean who designed covers for Yes, to bizarre covers by Storm Thorgerson whose designs graced covers of Pink Floyd albums thru-out the ’70s including perhaps the most recognizable Classic Rock cover art ever, “Dark Side of the Moon”. Album Covers were truly an art form in the '70s and are having a resurgence today with sales of vinyl albums reaching new highs.
Take a tour through 40 iconic album covers while you enjoy our “'70s A-Z Weekend” on 94.7 WCSX!
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Harvest (UK); Capitol (US)The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 1 March 1973 by Harvest Records.
Boston - First Album
Epic RecordsBoston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston. Produced by Tom Scholz and John Boylan, it was released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records.
The Eagles - Hotel California
AsylumHotel California is the fifth studio album by American rock band Eagles. Released on December 8, 1976, by Asylum Records.
The Who - Who's Next
Decca RecordsWho's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who that was released on August 14, 1971.
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Warner Bros.Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records.
The Cars - Candy-O
Elektra RecordsCandy-O is the second studio album by the American rock band the Cars. It was produced by Roy Thomas Baker and released in 1979 on Elektra Records.
Queen - Queen II
EMI Records (UK); Elektra Records (US)Queen II is the second studio album by the British rock band Queen. It was released on 8 March 1974 by EMI Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US.
Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue
Jet; United Artists; CBSOut of the Blue is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Electric Light Orchestra, released in October 1977.
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions
TamlaInnervisions is the sixteenth studio album by American singer, songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder, released on August 3, 1973.
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
A&M RecordsBreakfast in America is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Supertramp, released by A&M Records on 29 March 1979.
Bad Company - Bad Company
Swan Song RecordsBad Company is the debut studio album by the English hard rock supergroup Bad Company. The album was released on June 26, 1974.
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Rolling Stones RecordsSticky Fingers is the 9th British and 11th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 23 April 1971 on their new, and own, label Rolling Stones Records.
Yes - Fragile
Atlantic RecordsFragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Yes, released on 26 November 1971 by Atlantic Records.
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Swan Song RecordsPhysical Graffiti is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released as a double album on 24 February 1975 by the group's new record label, Swan Song Records.
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Columbia RecordsBorn to Run is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, released on August 25, 1975, by Columbia Records.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors
MCAStreet Survivors is the fifth studio album by the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on October 17, 1977.
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Harvest (UK); Columbia (US)Wish You Were Here is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 12 September 1975.
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
Cleveland International; EpicBat Out of Hell is the 1977 debut album by American rock singer Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman.
Molly Hatchet - Flirtin' With Disaster
Epic RecordsFlirtin' with Disaster is the second studio album by American rock band Molly Hatchet, released in 1979 by Epic Records.
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Abandoned Luncheonette
Atlantic RecordsAbandoned Luncheonette is the second studio album by the American pop rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates, released in 1973.
Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
Atlantic RecordsTales from Topographic Oceans is the sixth studio album by English progressive rock band Yes, released on 7 December 1973 by Atlantic Records.
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model
Radar RecordsThis Year's Model is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, originally released on 17 March 1978 in the United Kingdom through Radar Records.
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Virgin RecordsTubular Bells is the debut studio album by English musician Mike Oldfield, released on 11 March 1973 as the first album on Virgin Records.
10cc - Deceptive Bends
Mercury RecordsDeceptive Bends is the fifth studio album by rock band 10cc, released in 1977.
David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
RCA RecordsAladdin Sane is the sixth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released on 13 April 1973 through RCA Records.
Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
Warner Bros. RecordsBillion Dollar Babies is the sixth studio album by American rock band Alice Cooper, released on February 25, 1973 by Warner Bros. Records.
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
Island RecordsIn the Court of the Crimson King is the debut studio album by English rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 by Island Records.
Lou Reed - Rock 'n' Roll Animal
RCA RecordsRock 'n' Roll Animal is a live album by American musician Lou Reed, released in February 1974 by RCA Records.
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Westbound RecordsMaggot Brain is the third studio album by the American funk rock band Funkadelic, released by Westbound Records in July 1971.
Fleetwood Mac - Kiln House
Reprise RecordsKiln House is the fourth studio album by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on 18 September 1970 by Reprise Records.
The Allman Brothers Band - At Fillmore East
Capricorn RecordsAt Fillmore East is the first live album by American rock band the Allman Brothers Band, the album was released in July 6, 1971, in the United States by Capricorn Records.
The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St.
Rolling Stones RecordsExile on Main St. is the 10th British and 12th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on May 26, 1972 by Rolling Stones Records.
Roxy Music - Stranded
Island RecordsStranded is the third album by English rock band Roxy Music, released in 1973 by Island Records.
Captain Beyond - Sufficiently Breathless
Capricorn RecordsSufficiently Breathless, the second album by Captain Beyond, was released in 1973.
The Clash - London Calling
CBS Records (UK); Epic Records (US)London Calling is the third studio album by English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records.
Bob Seger - Live Bullet
Capitol Records‘Live’ Bullet is a live album by American rock band Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, released in April 1976.
Jethro Tull - Stand Up
Island Records (UK); Reprise Records (US)Stand Up is the second studio album by British rock band Jethro Tull, released in 1969.
Kiss - Alive!
Casablanca RecordsAlive! is the fourth album overall, and the first live album, by American hard rock band Kiss. It was released on September 10, 1975.
The Ramones - Ramones
Sire RecordsRamones is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Ramones, released on April 23, 1976, by Sire Records.
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get
ABC-DunhillThe Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Walsh. The album was released in 1973.
