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Screamin’ Scott

Screamin’ Scott

Screamin’ Scott

In 1980 Bob Seger Knocked Down A Wall

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Author Screamin' Scott
Frey provided backing vocals on two tracks from Seger's 1980 studio album: "Fire Lake" and "Against the Wind."

You can say 1980 was the year of Bob Seger even with the music scene becoming more Funk and disco. Metal music played faster with meaner lyrics. Rap Began to appear on the US charts more often and Increased in popularity with the use of synthesizers.

Bob Seger Scores A #1 Album

Released on Feb. 25, 1980, Against the Wind knocked Pink Floyd‘s The Wall out of the top spot on Billboard‘s Top 200 Albums charts on May 3rd, 1980. The album stayed #1 for a total of 6 weeks. “Fire Lake” was a hit single, climbing to No.#5.

Besides Pink Floyd, other artists were close behind for that number-one spot. Including musicians like Billy Joel’s “Glass Houses” Album. The Rolling Stones’s “Emotional Rescue” album and Bruce Springsteen’s “The River.” album

Bob’s talent and his band just kept getting better and better with 1976’s Night Moves. Then, welcome to Mainstream, when he scored even higher on the charts with 1978’s Stranger in Town but wasn’t done yet.

His 11th studio LP, Against the Wind. He was aiming for a commercial album. He wanted to make a No. 1 album, and I wanted one.”

Against the Wind was an album that had a road appeal that it’d be irresistible for radio program directors.

Bob Seger & Jason Aldean performing Against The Wind (Live)

Bob Seger Even Teamed Up With Long Time Friend Glenn Frey

“Against the Wind” was the second single from the album. It was recorded with the Silver Bullet Band and features backing vocals from long-time friend and member of the Eagles Glenn Frey. Yes, they had a nice history together.

Glenn Frey added background vocals to Seger’s Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man way back in 1969,

Bob Seger, who wrote “Heartache Tonight,” salutes The Eagles and the late Glenn Frey at the Kennedy Center

All The Hard Work Paid Off With Awards And Accolades

The single “Fire Lake” and the title track “Against The Wind.” All did well. “You’ll Accompany Me” hit No. 14, while the song “The Horizontal Bop” & Her Strut” got Bob into some hot water from some who thought the song objectified women, although Seger made it clear he had the opposite intention.

What A Victory For The Man And Legend

Seger did it: a No. 1 album and three hit singles. In 1981 year, he won a pair of Grammys: Against the Wind and walked away with the awards for Best Recording Package and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal.

HALL of Fame Inductions 2004

Bob Seger accepts award Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum inductions 2004

Bob was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. Kid Rock gave the induction speech, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm proclaimed that date Bob Seger Day in his honor.

Rock And Roll And The All-Time Greatest Na Na's

Rock And Roll’s roots emerged as a distinct music style throughout the United States in the early to mid-1950s. A unique mixture of early blues, gospel, and country took the country by storm.

It wasn’t until 1954 that the term Rock And Roll was coined as a phrase.

The Use Of Na Na’s In Songs Dates Back

Often in songs, the lyrics will be “Na Na Na,” “Doo Doo Doo,” etc., in a particular section or part. Many songs use a repete method or even studdering that has worked to make a song a hit record.

The first song I remember as a kid listening to records was a 45 I found at a garage sale in a box of old records. It might have been my introduction to Rock And Roll Na Na’s in music

1958 Dicky Do & The Dont’s –  Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu

Dicky Doo And The Dont’s Na Na Na Na Nu Nu

“Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu” is a song released in 1958 by Dicky Doo and the Don’ts. A bunch of nonsense syllables of the title are repeated three times. “Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu” reached No. 40 on the charts in 1958. It’s kind of a silly novelty song you might hear on The Dr. Demento show

How I Came Around To Putting A List Of Na Na’ Songs Together

The idea came to me out of the blue in the studio. I was listening to a band out of Boston to one of their hit commercial songs from the band’s last studio album.

Just then, I heard something and had an idea: I would sit and count how many Na Na’s are in this band’s rock and roll song. I was shocked at how many were used, and I had never known how many all these years later.

Here Is My List Of Rock And Roll Na Na’s In Music

If I miss any of your favorites, please email me at screamin@wcsx.com

  • The J. Geils Band - Centerfold

    “Centerfold” is a song by the J. Geils Band, released in 1981 as the lead single from their tenth album, Freeze Frame. The most successful single of the group’s career, it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1982 and held that spot for six consecutive weeks. The Na Na’s clock in at 221!  

    That’s a lot of Na Na’s, but not the most in Rock And Roll. Someone else holds the Na Na title.

  • The Beatles - Hey Jude

    “Hey Jude” by the Beatles was released in August 1968. It was written by Paul McCartney. The single was the Beatles’ first release on their Apple record label. The song, over 7 minutes long, topped the charts at #1. After the fourth verse, the music shifts to a “Na-na-na na” section lasting over four minutes. One estimation is over 220 Na Na’s in the song.

  • Journey - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

    “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin‘” is a song by Journey released in 1979 from the album Evolution. Lyrically, the song is about a woman who is cheating on her boyfriend, the narrator, but at the end of the song, the woman’s lover is cheating on her. Distraught, the woman goes to the narrator, hoping he will take her back, but he rebuffs her and tells her, “Now it’s your time, girl, to cry.  And you guessed it! A bunch of NA Na’s in this one. Clocking in at 154 Na Na’s July 15th  Journey on tour with Def Leppard and Steve Miller at Pine Knob with WCSX  

  • Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam

    “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” reached number one in the United States for two weeks, on December 6 and 13, 1969; it was Billboard‘s final multi-week number 1 hit of the 1960s. The song was written and recorded by studio musicians Gary DeCarlo (aka Garrett Scott), Dale Frashuer.  The strange thing about the band was Reno decided that “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” should be an A-side. Leka thought the song was “an embarrassing record… Not that Gary sang it badly. But compared to his four songs, it was an insult.” To avoid a argument with DeCarlo’s planned solo career, Mercury issued the single on its Fontana subsidiary under the name “Steam”. Leka said the name was conceived after he saw steam rising from a manhole cover in the street outside the recording studio. Counted 152 Na Na’s in the standard radio version. Some longer versions have more Na Na’s.  

  • My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na

    My Chemical Romance is a rock band renowned for their hits,” “Teenagers,” “Helena,” “Famous Last Words,” “The Ghost Of You,” and “I Don’t Love You.” They worked with artists like Brian May, Green Day, and The Used — amassing billions of global streams and receiving multi-platinum certifications. “There are exactly 261 Na’s uttered in this absolute classic. That’s 1.27 Na’s a second.” maybe there’s more na’s in the background that it counts that’s not in the official lyrics

  • blink-182 - All The Small Things

    Blink-182 is an American rock band formed in Poway, California, in 1992. Their current and best-known line-up consists of bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. Song Seems to have a lot of Na Na’s  final total 125

  • Bryan Adams - Cuts Like A Knife

    Bryan Guy Adams is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and photographer. He is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide, placing him on the list of best-selling music artists. Brayan Adams ruled the radio in 1983 with his album, Cuts Like a Knife. The title track is the song we are focused on when it comes to Na Na’s. The title track comes in with a total of  70 Na Na’s ( not bad for a Canadian)

Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, "Chit!." Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.

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