He's a Whore
Encyclopedia
"He's a Whore" is a song written by Rick Nielsen
that was first released on Cheap Trick
's 1977 debut album Cheap Trick
. It has also appeared on a number of Cheap Trick compilation albums, including The Essential Cheap Trick
. It has also been covered by Big Black
and Neon
.
Allmusic critic Greg Prato described the song as one of the "more straightforward compositions, both lyrically and musically" on Cheap Trick's debut album and as one of the band's "most punk-based and energetic" songs. The song begins with Nielsen playing a descending, single note pattern on his guitar, while Tom Petersson
plays a similar pattern on bass. Author Mike Hayes describes the opening as "aggressive, amphetamine
-charged chord
s." Critic Robert Christgau
praised the song's hook
on the phrase "any time at all." Nielsen's lead guitar
licks
propel the song along.
The genesis of the song came from Nielsen coming up with the title and liking the idea and building the song around it. He liked the fact that the phrase "he's a whore" is not as obvious as if the title was "She's a Whore," and that a song about a gigolo
involves a sense of role reversal. The lyrics imply that the central character is an unattractive but wealthy woman. However, according to Nielsen, the song is not just about sex. Nielsen has stated that "Whoring means so many different things, it doesn’t just mean having sex, but someone who does anything for money." Nielsen further noted that the song encompasses radio stations and people who would do anything for money, and indeed the lyrics include the line "I'm a Whore, I'll do anything for money," and this is further emphasized when lead singer Robin Zander
sings "I'm a Whore" and Nielsen sings as a reply "He'll do anything for money."
Cheap Trick filmed a promotional video of the song, directed by Chuck Lashon, in which the band performed the song while mugging for the cameras. For some reason, "He's a Whore" never became a live staple for Cheap Trick, although they began to play the song in concert occasionally in the 1990s and 2000s.
Big Black
covered the "He's a Whore" on their 1986 double A-sided single along with an English cover version of Kraftwerk
's song Das Model
. The cover of the single was an homage
to the cover art of the Cheap Trick album. The song was also included as a bonus track on the CD version of Big Black's album Songs About Fucking
. Neon
covered the song on their 2005 EP
"Hit Me Again". Allmusic critic Johnny Loftus described the Neon cover, which was originally a demo, as being "crunchy-for-good-measure."
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
that was first released on Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
's 1977 debut album Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick (1977 album)
Cheap Trick is the first studio album released in 1977 by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It was their debut album for Epic Records, produced by Jack Douglas.- Overview :...
. It has also appeared on a number of Cheap Trick compilation albums, including The Essential Cheap Trick
The Essential Cheap Trick
The Essential Cheap Trick is the fourth compilation album by Cheap Trick, and part of Sony BMG's The Essential series. It contains at least one song from every album up to Special One , except the commercial failure The Doctor...
. It has also been covered by Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
and Neon
Neon (band)
Neon are a three-piece Australian rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Their "A Man" single made the top 50 of the Australian singles charts in November 2004 and has won critical acclaim in the British music media.-Biography:...
.
Allmusic critic Greg Prato described the song as one of the "more straightforward compositions, both lyrically and musically" on Cheap Trick's debut album and as one of the band's "most punk-based and energetic" songs. The song begins with Nielsen playing a descending, single note pattern on his guitar, while Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
plays a similar pattern on bass. Author Mike Hayes describes the opening as "aggressive, amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
-charged chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
s." Critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
praised the song's hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
on the phrase "any time at all." Nielsen's lead guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
licks
Lick (music)
In popular music genres such as rock or jazz music, a lick is "a stock pattern or phrase" consisting of a short series of notes that is used in solos and melodic lines...
propel the song along.
The genesis of the song came from Nielsen coming up with the title and liking the idea and building the song around it. He liked the fact that the phrase "he's a whore" is not as obvious as if the title was "She's a Whore," and that a song about a gigolo
Gigolo
Gigolo may refer to:* A male prostitute, escort, or dancer, who offers services to women* Gigolo , a 2006 single by Helena Paparizou* Gigolo , a 2003 single by Nick Cannon...
involves a sense of role reversal. The lyrics imply that the central character is an unattractive but wealthy woman. However, according to Nielsen, the song is not just about sex. Nielsen has stated that "Whoring means so many different things, it doesn’t just mean having sex, but someone who does anything for money." Nielsen further noted that the song encompasses radio stations and people who would do anything for money, and indeed the lyrics include the line "I'm a Whore, I'll do anything for money," and this is further emphasized when lead singer Robin Zander
Robin Zander
Robin Wayne Zander is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Early life:Zander was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, the fourth of five children; he has two older brothers, and older and younger sisters....
sings "I'm a Whore" and Nielsen sings as a reply "He'll do anything for money."
Cheap Trick filmed a promotional video of the song, directed by Chuck Lashon, in which the band performed the song while mugging for the cameras. For some reason, "He's a Whore" never became a live staple for Cheap Trick, although they began to play the song in concert occasionally in the 1990s and 2000s.
Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
covered the "He's a Whore" on their 1986 double A-sided single along with an English cover version of Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
's song Das Model
Das Model
"Das Model" is a song recorded by the electro-pop group Kraftwerk in 1978; written by musicians Ralf Hütter and Karl Bartos, with artist Emil Schult collaborating on the lyrics. It is featured on the album, Die Mensch-Maschine; English version title: The Man-Machine...
. The cover of the single was an homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to the cover art of the Cheap Trick album. The song was also included as a bonus track on the CD version of Big Black's album Songs About Fucking
Songs About Fucking
Songs About Fucking is the second and final album by the noise rock band Big Black. It placed 54th on Pitchfork Media's 'Top 100 Albums of the 1980s'. Included are covers of Kraftwerk's "The Model" and Cheap Trick's "He's a Whore".-Production:...
. Neon
Neon (band)
Neon are a three-piece Australian rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Their "A Man" single made the top 50 of the Australian singles charts in November 2004 and has won critical acclaim in the British music media.-Biography:...
covered the song on their 2005 EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
"Hit Me Again". Allmusic critic Johnny Loftus described the Neon cover, which was originally a demo, as being "crunchy-for-good-measure."