Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Rebel Yell (song)

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Format
  
Vinyl (7" and 12")

Length
  
4:47

Genre
  
Hard rock

Label
  
Chrysalis

Released
  
24 October 1983 (1983-10-24)

Recorded
  
1983 at Studio A, Electric Lady Studios in New York City

"Rebel Yell" a hit song by English rock singer-songwriter Billy Idol, featured on the album of the same name (1983). When first released as the lead single, it charted outside the UK Top 40, but a re-issue in 1985 reached No. 6. In the US, it peaked at No. 46. The song was named the 79th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

Contents

Writing

At a televised performance of VH1 Storytellers, Idol said that he had attended an event where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones were taking swigs from a bottle of "Rebel Yell" bourbon whiskey. He was not familiar with the brand, but he liked the name and decided to write a "Rebel Yell" song.

The song was co-written by guitarist Steve Stevens. The instrumental introduction, which sounds like a combination of electric guitar and electronic keyboard, is performed by Stevens on guitar alone, who intended it to sound this way. Stevens states that he was inspired by acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke's style.

Formats and track listings

  • UK 7" vinyl single
    1. "Rebel Yell"
    2. "Crank Call"
  • UK 12" vinyl single
    1. "Rebel Yell"
    2. "Crank Call"
    3. "White Wedding"
  • (1985 re-issue) UK 7" vinyl single
    1. "Rebel Yell"
    2. "(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows♱"

    ♱Recorded live at Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California, March 1984.

  • (1985 re-issue) UK 12" vinyl single
    1. "Rebel Yell (Extended Version)"
    2. "(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows♱"
    3. "Blue Highway♱"

    ♱Recorded live at Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California, March 1984.

    Charts

    Notes:

  • 1 – Original release in 1984
  • 2 – Re-release in 1985

    • Acoustic Version

    In 1994 Idol released the single "Speed", a song from the box office hit movie of the same name, with a live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" accompanying the lead song on the UK CD single release. This version not only showcases Idol's strong live voice, but Stevens frenetic and intricate guitar playing, thus demonstrating his inspiration and admiration of the aforementioned guitarist Leo Kottke.

  • On the children's show Sesame Street, the song was also spoofed as "Rebel L", sung by Billy Idle, a parody Muppet of Billy Idol, performed by Kevin Clash. The rebellious letter L, voiced by Christopher Cerf, makes a loud "luh-luh-luh" and protests outside of Billy Idle's house at night, until he is arrested by a policewoman, voiced by Ivy Austin.
  • The song was included in the video games Guitar Hero World Tour, WWE 2K16 and as a downloadable track for the Rock Band series.
  • The song appears in the documentary Warren Miller's Impact.
  • The song appears in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain as an in-game cassette tape.
  • Part of the song was used in a mid-2000s Blockbuster Video Australian radio commercial. The line "more, more, more" appeared in the ad, with the voiceover boasting about Blockbuster having more copies of new release movies than the competition.

    • Scooter cover

    In 1996, the song was covered by German dance band Scooter. It was released in May 1996 as the third single of their second album, Our Happy Hardcore.

    Track listings

    CD-maxi – Germany
    1. "Rebel Yell" (Radio Edit) (3:40)
    2. "Rebel Yell" (Extended Mix) (4:44)
    3. "Euphoria" (3:57)
    12"-maxi – Germany
    1. "Rebel Yell" (Extended Mix) (4:44)
    2. "Stuttgart (4:52)
    3. "Euphoria" (3:57)
    CD-single – France
    1. "Rebel Yell" (Radio Edit) (3:40)
    2. "Euphoria" (3:57)
    12-maxi – France
    1. "Rebel Yell" (Extended Mix) (4:44)
    2. "Rebel Yell" (Radio Edit) (3:40)
    3. "Euphoria" (3:57)
    CD-maxi – Australia
    1. "Rebel Yell" (Radio Edit) (3:40)
    2. "Let Me Be Your Valentine" (Edit) (3:47)
    3. "Rebel Yell" (Extended mix) (4:44)
    4. "Euphoria" (3:57)
    5. "Let Me Be Your Valentine" (The Complete Work) (5:42)
    6. "Eternity" (5:19)
    7. "Silence of T.1210 MKII" (1:31)

    References

    Rebel Yell (song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA