Released August 30, 1993 Recorded 1992 Length 4:15 | Format CD single Genre Hard rock Label Geffen | |
"Fever" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It is from the band's massively successful 1993 album Get a Grip. It was written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry and is the only Tyler/Perry song on Get a Grip written without the aid of "song doctors". The song is the fourth track on Get a Grip, and is a hard rocking song, running four minutes and 15 seconds. The song reached #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and is one of seven tracks from Get a Grip to make a chart appearance on any chart.
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Content
The song seems to be about having a good time, and how the band members, especially Steven Tyler, have abandoned drugs in favor of sex and other enjoyable things in life, with lyrics such as "the buzz that you be gettin' from the crack don't last, I'd rather be OD'in on the crack of her ass."
The song features heavy guitar interplay by Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, a fast-paced drum beat and bass rhythm by Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton, and loud and varied singing and harmonica playing by Tyler. The guitar solo is played by Whitford.
Chart positions (Aerosmith version)
"Fever" debuted at #25 on the U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks for the week of September 4, 1993
Garth Brooks version
Country music artist Garth Brooks covered the song in 1995, retitled as "The Fever".
Content
Brooks' country rock-generated version featured altered lyrics, describing a rodeo star addicted to his profession (e.g., "He's got a split finger wrap and his rope's pulled way too tight / He's got a lunatic smile 'cause he's really drawn deep tonight"). The cover was included on his album Fresh Horses. That album's second single, it peaked #23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart and #2 on the RPM Top Country Tracks charts in Canada. Brooks also included the song in his live shows and it appeared on his 1998 album Double Live.
Chart positions
"The Fever" debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 25, 1995.
Other versions
Garth Brooks' adaptation of the song was also recorded by American country music artist Chris LeDoux on his 1998 album One Road Man.