Juke Box Hero
Encyclopedia
"Juke Box Hero" is a song by Foreigner
and was the third single released from their 1981 album 4
. It first entered the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in July 1981. It subsequently went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100
singles charts after released in February 1982.
The song focuses on a boy unable to purchase a ticket to a sold-out rock concert. Listening from outside, he hears "one guitar" and has an epiphany, leading him to buy his own guitar from a second-hand store and begin to play without any lessons. He realizes that with the guitar he can become famous, and does.
The song then goes on to describe the struggle he has to stay on top of the music charts, which makes him a "Juke Box
Hero." He eventually encounters another fan outside the stage door at one of his concerts, who reminds him of himself and how it all began. Mick Jones
told Songfacts that the song was inspired by an actual fan who stood waiting outside an arena for about five hours in the rain. Jones, impressed by his dedication, decided to take him in and give him a glimpse of what happens backstage at a show.
This song was also re-recorded live at a 2005 Las Vegas
concert where it includes portions of the Led Zeppelin
song "Whole Lotta Love
" (from Led Zeppelin II
), and released on Foreigner's Live in' 05 album.
appeared on their 2006 compilation Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years
.. Outside of this, the song appears as background music in at least three sport documentaries or videos: once in 2004 about American
professional snowboard
er and skateboard
er Shaun White
, to differentiate Aaron Feinberg
's part in MindGame's rollerblading video "Brain Fear Gone"., and lastly in the late Shane McConkey
's "Claim" video.
As well, the song has been employed commercially. Mistakenly titled "Jukebox Hero", it appeared in a commercial for the product launch in late 2007 of the Samsung Juke cellphone. It is a downloadable track for the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
and the music video game
series Rock Band. A mash-up
based on the song is featured in DJ Hero
, composed and performed by DJ Z-Trip
.
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
and was the third single released from their 1981 album 4
4 (Foreigner album)
-Foreigner:*Lou Gramm – Lead vocal, percussion*Mick Jones – guitar, keyboards, background vocal*Rick Wills – bass, background vocal*Dennis Elliott – drums, vocals, background vocal-Additional personnel:...
. It first entered the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in July 1981. It subsequently went to #26 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...
singles charts after released in February 1982.
The song focuses on a boy unable to purchase a ticket to a sold-out rock concert. Listening from outside, he hears "one guitar" and has an epiphany, leading him to buy his own guitar from a second-hand store and begin to play without any lessons. He realizes that with the guitar he can become famous, and does.
The song then goes on to describe the struggle he has to stay on top of the music charts, which makes him a "Juke Box
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
Hero." He eventually encounters another fan outside the stage door at one of his concerts, who reminds him of himself and how it all began. Mick Jones
Mick Jones (Foreigner)
Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:...
told Songfacts that the song was inspired by an actual fan who stood waiting outside an arena for about five hours in the rain. Jones, impressed by his dedication, decided to take him in and give him a glimpse of what happens backstage at a show.
This song was also re-recorded live at a 2005 Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
concert where it includes portions of the Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
song "Whole Lotta Love
Whole Lotta Love
"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it...
" (from Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin II
The finished tracks reflect the raw, evolving sound of the band and their ability as live performers. The album has been noted for featuring a further development of the lyrical themes established by Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin's debut album, creating a work which would become more widely...
), and released on Foreigner's Live in
In popular culture
A cover version by Soul AsylumSoul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
appeared on their 2006 compilation Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years
Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years
Closer to the Stars: Best of the Twin/Tone Years is Soul Asylum's second compilation greatest hits album. This album contains all of their greatest hits during the time they were under the Twin/Tone label . The album also contains two previously unreleased cover tracks, "Move Over" and "Jukebox...
.. Outside of this, the song appears as background music in at least three sport documentaries or videos: once in 2004 about American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional snowboard
Snowboard
Snowboards are boards, usually with a width the length of one's foot, with the ability to glide on snow. Snowboards are differentiated from monoskis by the stance of the user...
er and skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
er Shaun White
Shaun White
Shaun Roger White is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.-Early life:Shaun White is an Irish American...
, to differentiate Aaron Feinberg
Aaron Feinberg
Aaron Benjamin Feinberg is an American inline skater, born in Gainesville, Florida. Feinberg resides in Portland, Oregon and has been skating since he was 12 years old.-Skating career:...
's part in MindGame's rollerblading video "Brain Fear Gone"., and lastly in the late Shane McConkey
Shane McConkey
Shane McConkey was a professional skier. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was based in Squaw Valley, California. He won numerous awards and competitions. McConkey started as a competitive ski racer, but moved on to be featured in a long line of extreme skiing movies...
's "Claim" video.
As well, the song has been employed commercially. Mistakenly titled "Jukebox Hero", it appeared in a commercial for the product launch in late 2007 of the Samsung Juke cellphone. It is a downloadable track for the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
and the music video game
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
series Rock Band. A mash-up
Mashup (music)
A mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
based on the song is featured in DJ Hero
DJ Hero
DJ Hero is a music video game, developed by FreeStyleGames and published by Activision as a rhythm game spin-off of the Guitar Hero franchise. It was released on October 27, 2009 in North America and on October 29, 2009 in Europe...
, composed and performed by DJ Z-Trip
DJ Z-Trip
Zach Sciacca, better known as Z-Trip, is an American DJ and producer. He is best known as a pioneer of the mashup movement.A Phoenix, Arizona native, who now resides in Los Angeles, California, he was known early in his career for performing with the Bombshelter DJs . He became widely known when...
.