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Thunderstruck (song)
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"Thunderstruck" is the first song on the 1990 AC/DC album The Razors Edge.
The song peaked at number #5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. It was released as a single in Germany, Australia and Japan. Shown is the cover of the German release of the "Thunderstruck" single. The song is said to be inspired by lead guitarist Angus Young's hair-raising experience when a plane he was on was struck by lightning. However, Angus Young was later to say that it "started off from a little trick I had on guitar.
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Encyclopedia
"Thunderstruck" is the first song on the 1990 AC/DC album The Razors Edge.
The song peaked at number #5 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. It was released as a single in Germany, Australia and Japan. Shown is the cover of the German release of the "Thunderstruck" single. The song is said to be inspired by lead guitarist Angus Young's hair-raising experience when a plane he was on was struck by lightning. However, Angus Young was later to say that it "started off from a little trick I had on guitar. I played it to Mal and he said 'Oh, I've got a good rhythm idea that will sit well in the back.' We built the song up from that... It was really just a case of finding a good title. We came up with this thunder thing and it seemed to have a good ring to it. AC/DC=Power. That's the basic idea."
Contrary to popular belief, Young does not play Thunderstruck's main riff with one hand. Instead, he picks every note; one can hear the scraping sound that the plastic of his plectrum makes as it hits each note. Additionally in all AC/DC live videos, Angus can clearly be viewed picking every note. The one-handed tapping technique can only be seen in the "Thunderstruck" music video.
The video which accompanied the single was filmed at London's Brixton Academy on 17 August, 1990. The audience members were given free T-Shirts with the words 'AC/DC - I was Thunderstruck' on the front and the date on the back, and these T-shirts were worn by the entire audience throughout the filming of the video.
The music video of Thunderstruck on YouTube, as of March 2009, has over 18.6 million views.
Other Usage
- The beginning of this song is also often played on the Lars Larson show.
- Song is used for Blue Thunder(Monster Truck) during Monster Jams freestyle event.
- The song has also spawned a drinking game popular among college students called "Thunderdrunk." During this game participants alternate chugging an alcoholic beverage every time the word "Thunder" is said during the song. There are 33 times when you are able to hear "Thunder" during the 4:52 studio version of the song, with two 51 second breaks where one person is in charge of chugging. This occurs on the 16th "Thunder" to the 17th, as well as 20th to 21st. That fact makes this game very dangerous for playing in groups of four and sitting in the fourth position.
- The song is used in the 1999 movie Varsity Blues
- The song is used in the 2005 movie The Longest Yard starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, before the movie's climatic final game.
- The song is used for a commercial for the 2007 movie Hot Rod.
- During the campaign of 2004, then Leader of the Opposition, now Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper named "Thunderstruck" as his favorite song.
- Australian car manufacturer Holden has used Thunderstruck (as well as other AC/DC songs) in its commercials.
- British rock band The Darkness would sometimes perform the intro to this song at certain concerts during their tours.
- The song is played at a Port Adelaide Power home game when the cheer squad & dancers come on AAMI Stadium before the game.
- The song was also used as the theme song for Supersport's Ad camgaign for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
- This song was played in the episode "Down for the Count" in the short lived tv series Carpoolers.
- The song is used by the USAF demo team, the Thunderbirds, following the "sneak pass".
- The song is played when New York Mets relief pitcher J. J. Putz enters the game and after he records an out.
- Bagpiper Gordon Duncan covered Thunderstruck on his CD Thunderstruck.
- The Red Hot Chilli Pipers play this tune in the medley Smoke on the Water/Thunderstruck/Upside Down at Eden Court on their CD Bagrock for the Masses and in concert.
- The song is played during the introduction of Michigan State Spartans football games at Spartan Stadium. While the song is played, a video of Sparty is shown slicing through the visiting team's logo followed by a montage of great Spartan plays.
- The rock band Hinder have released a cover of the song as the final track, track 12 (Australian Version) off their latest album Take It To The Limit.
- Italian fidget house duo Crookers released a remix of the song entitled "AC/DC-Thunderstruck (Crookers Remix)".
- Swedish ice hockey team that today is known as Frölunda HC, but at the time were known as Västra Frölunda HC, used the song as their game intro in the 93/94 season.
- Australian rugby league team, the Melbourne Storm, use the song at home games as players run onto the field. A portion of the song can also occasionally be heard as the team nears the try line.
- This song is often played by the Untidy Green Lizards in their live concert as opening.
- At Reser Stadium at Oregon State University, before kickoff, the song is played.
- At Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida, before every kickoff, the song is played with snippits of videos of the team in the locker room, playing, or after some big games.
- The Tri-City Storm of the USHL play the song during player introductions. Also, when a goal is scored, the second chorus is used beginning with the echoed "You've been... you've been... Thunderstruck!"
- The song is played before the North Dakota State University Bison enter the field for the start of each home game.
- The song is played before each Oshawa Generals Hockey game in the OHL
- Thunderstruck is the theme song of the NBA's newest team, the Oklahoma City Thunder
- The song is played as the Arizona State University SUNDEVILS run onto the field at every home game.
- Dutch Football club SC Heerenveen take the field to this song at their home games.
- This song is played at the beginning of University of South Carolina Gamecocks football games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
- Scottish Football club Heart of Midlothian take to the pitch to this song at their home games at Tynecastle.
- Irish Football club Dundalk F.C. take the field to this song at their home games.
- The song is sometimes played before the opening kickoff at Cleveland Browns home games.
- Part of the song is played before Tampa Bay Lightning home games.
- The song is played before Chicago White Sox home games while the players are introducedI
- Is used in the Moorestown High school (NJ) as a entering song for their wrestling matches at home matches.
- The song is available in AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PS2. The songs can also be exported into Rock Band and Rock Band 2.
- The song is used as the Avonworth High School Antelopes run onto the field
External links
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