Dirty Laundry
Encyclopedia
"Dirty Laundry" is a song by Don Henley
from his debut solo album I Can't Stand Still
, released in 1982. The song reached number one on the Billboard
Top Tracks chart in October 1982. Released as the second single from I Can't Stand Still, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100
in January 1983. The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
in 1983, representing shipments of one million records.
, but I wound up here", and thus is not a real journalist
. The song's theme is that TV news coverage focuses too much on negative and sensationalist news; in particular, deaths, disasters, and scandals, with little regard to the consequences or for what is important ("We all know that crap is king"). The song was inspired by the intrusive press coverage surrounding the deaths of John Belushi
and Natalie Wood
. Lines in the second verse, "Is the head dead yet?", were likely inspired by the shooting
of President Ronald Reagan
in 1981.
Among the musicians on the record were Timothy B. Schmit
and Joe Walsh
, two of Henley's Eagles bandmates. Walsh performs the first guitar solo, followed by Steve Lukather
of the band Toto
. Jeff Porcaro
(also of Toto) plays the drums on this track.
In the Eagles' Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne
concert DVD, Henley (speaking for the band) dedicated
this song "to Mr. Rupert Murdoch
"; in many live performances, this dedication remains but is sometimes changed "to Mr. Bill O'Reilly
". The song was also used in the 2004 documentary Outfoxed
as well as in the shorts for the 1995 movie To Die For. The song was performed on the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden
tour in 2008. During the song, a background video shows, among other things, clips from The O'Reilly Factor
, Glenn Beck
, and The Jerry Springer Show
.
Lisa Marie Presley
released a cover version
of the song in 2005. It was the first single released from her album Now What
, and reached #36 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. Presley also shot a music video
, which featured a cameo appearance
by George Michael
.
Robin Meade covered the song in her 2011 album Brand New Day.
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
from his debut solo album I Can't Stand Still
I Can't Stand Still
I Can't Stand Still is the first solo album by Don Henley, released in 1982 originally on Asylum Records then re-released in 1999 by Warner Bros. Records. The album went gold, reached #24 on the charts, and released three singles, including the huge hit "Dirty Laundry," which reached #3 on the...
, released in 1982. The song reached number one on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Tracks chart in October 1982. Released as the second single from I Can't Stand Still, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in January 1983. The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
in 1983, representing shipments of one million records.
History
The song is about the callousness (and callowness) of TV news reporting as well as the tabloidization of all news. Henley sings from the standpoint of a news anchorman who "could have been an actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, but I wound up here", and thus is not a real journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. The song's theme is that TV news coverage focuses too much on negative and sensationalist news; in particular, deaths, disasters, and scandals, with little regard to the consequences or for what is important ("We all know that crap is king"). The song was inspired by the intrusive press coverage surrounding the deaths of John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
and Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood, born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko was an American film and television actress. After first working in films as a child, Wood became a successful Hollywood star as a young adult, receiving three Academy Award nominations before she was 25 years old.Wood began acting in movies at the...
. Lines in the second verse, "Is the head dead yet?", were likely inspired by the shooting
Reagan assassination attempt
The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on Monday, March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr...
of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1981.
Among the musicians on the record were Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy Bruce Schmit is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his work as bass guitar player and singer for Poco and the Eagles. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist.-Early career:Raised in Sacramento, Schmit began playing in the folk music group...
and Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, two of Henley's Eagles bandmates. Walsh performs the first guitar solo, followed by Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
of the band Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
. Jeff Porcaro
Jeff Porcaro
Jeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
(also of Toto) plays the drums on this track.
In the Eagles' Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne
Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne
Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne is a double DVD by Eagles, released in 2005 .It was filmed in Melbourne, Australia at the Rod Laver Arena on the 14, 15 and 17 of November 2004, in the same name tour, featuring two new songs...
concert DVD, Henley (speaking for the band) dedicated
Hate speech
Hate speech is, outside the law, any communication that disparages a person or a group on the basis of some characteristic such as race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or other characteristic....
this song "to Mr. Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
"; in many live performances, this dedication remains but is sometimes changed "to Mr. Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
". The song was also used in the 2004 documentary Outfoxed
Outfoxed
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism is a 2004 documentary film by filmmaker Robert Greenwald that criticises the Fox News Channel, and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, claiming that the channel is used to promote and advocate right-wing views...
as well as in the shorts for the 1995 movie To Die For. The song was performed on the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden
Long Road Out of Eden
Long Road Out of Eden is the seventh studio album by American rock band Eagles, released in 2007 on Lost Highway Records. Nearly six years in production, Long Road Out of Eden is the first studio album from the Eagles since 1979's The Long Run, and along with the four original tracks on 1994 Hell...
tour in 2008. During the song, a background video shows, among other things, clips from The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck (TV program)
Glenn Beck is a United States cable news show hosted by Glenn Beck that aired weekdays on Fox News Channel. The program, originally on CNN Headline News , premiered on FNC on January 19, 2009 and aired weekdays at 5:00 PM EST...
, and The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
.
Chart
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report | 51 |
| Austrian Top 40 | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 7 |
| South African Singles Chart | 2 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | 59 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 47 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Tracks | 1 |
Cover versions
The song was live covered by The Eagles in 1999.Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisa Marie Presley is an American singer and songwriter, also known as the "Princess of Rock and Roll". She is the only child of Elvis Presley, and daughter of Priscilla Presley.-Early life:...
released a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the song in 2005. It was the first single released from her album Now What
Now What
Now What is the second album from American singer/songwriter Lisa Marie Presley. It was released on April 5, 2005 in the United States and Canada, and is available in both unedited and edited versions. Singles from the album are Dirty Laundry and Idiot. As of November 2, 2005, the album has...
, and reached #36 on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. Presley also shot a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, which featured a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
by George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
.
Robin Meade covered the song in her 2011 album Brand New Day.
See also
- List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)
- Narcotizing dysfunctionNarcotizing DysfunctionThe term narcotizing dysfunction was first identified in the article Mass Communication, Popular Taste and Organized Social Action, by Paul F. Lazarsfeld, and Robert K. Merton.The term refers to a social consequence of mass media...