Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
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"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" | ||||
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Length | 2:49 | |||
Label | Sire | |||
Songwriter(s) | Joey Ramone | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Bongiovi, Tommy Ramone | |||
Ramones singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" on YouTube |
"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, released in 1977 through Sire Records. Written by front man and lead vocalist Joey Ramone it appears on the band's third studio album Rocket to Russia (1977). The song is well known for its early 1960s influence of surf rock and bubblegum pop that influenced Joey; it has since remained one of the band's most popular songs.[5]
The song first appeared in May 1977 as a single in the UK where it charted at number 22 in the
Background
The "Sheena" referred to in the title is in fact the comic book character
The song is notable for being one of the first to explicitly refer to "punk rock" in its title and lyrics in terms of a subculture.
Reception
The song was ranked at number 5 among the top "Tracks of the Year" for 1977 by
Record World said that the single "recalls California surf instrumentals, and it could be [the Ramones'] first hit.."[11]
Charts
Chart (1977) | Peak position |
---|---|
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] | 20 |
UK Singles ( The Official Charts Company )
|
22 |
US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 81 |
Cover versions
- We're a Happy Family tribute album.[14]
- Paul Jones covered it as a single, arranged as a ballad with strings.
- Hüsker Dü covered the song on The Living End, a live collection taken from the band's final tour.
- German Im Auftrag des Herrn.
- Gossip Girl.
- Love Camp 7 covered the song on the Ramones Maniacs tribute album.
- Swedish Pop-punk duo Shebang has a cover version available on their album The Whole Shebang.
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover the song on the album Heroes, a recording for the War Child charity organization.
- New Model Army covered the song during their 2001 tour, shortly after Joey Ramone's death.
- Shonen Knife, the all-female band from Osaka (Japan), covered the song on their 2012 Ramones tribute album Osaka Ramones, with bassist Ritsuko Taneda on vocals.
- Manic Hispanic covered the song as Creeper Is A Low Rider on their 2003 album Mijo Goes to Jr. College.
- Charli XCX covered the song live during the VICE party at New York's Pier 59 Studios in 2016.
- The Vindictives and The Queers each covered the song as part of their covers of the entire Leave Home and Rocket to Russia albums, respectively, for Selfless Records.
References
- ^ a b "The UK version of Sheena Is A Punk Rocker". Ramones on Vinyl. May 24, 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Bradley, Michael (March 15, 2016). "The 10 best punk rock singles, by The Undertones' Michael Bradley". TeamRock. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- ^ Carafelli, Carl (October 17, 2017). "The Ramones: Power Pop Hall of Fame". Boppin’ (Like the Hip Folks Do). Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ Ramones – Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, retrieved 2021-12-03
- ^ "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Ramones, 'Sheena Is a Punk Rocker'". Rolling Stone. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- ^ "500 Songs That Shaped Rock". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 25, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 2, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- ^ "The Complete Studio Recordings". Swedishcharts. 1977. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 689.
- ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.