Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Encyclopedia
"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by the punk rock
group The Ramones. It first appeared on their third LP, Rocket to Russia
, in 1977, and was also included on later pressings of the group's second album, Leave Home. It was released as a single, reaching #81 in the US, and #22 in the UK singles charts, backed with "I Don't Care", which was also included on Rocket to Russia.
The song was written by Joey Ramone, and is one of the Ramones' more popular and enduring songs, showing the band's surf rock influences.
The song is ranked #457 on Rolling Stone
s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The song appears in the Stephen King
movie Pet Sematary
. In the film, a truck driver about to run over a child is distracted by singing along to the tune. The Ramones also wrote and performed the theme song "Pet Sematary".
The song is adapted by The Horrors
with their similarly titled song "Sheena is a Parasite
" and by The Cramps
with "Sheena's in a Goth Gang".
"Danny Says
" on the Ramones 1980 album, End of the Century
, includes the lyrics, "Listening to Sheena on the radio".
The song inspired a poem, also called "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", by Robert Archambeau (poet)
.
One of the Living Dead Dolls
is named Sheena, and is depicted in punk
clothing, a reference to the song.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group The Ramones. It first appeared on their third LP, Rocket to Russia
Rocket to Russia
Rocket to Russia is the third studio album by the American punk rock band The Ramones. It was released on November 4, 1977 through Sire Records. It was their last with original drummer Tommy Ramone. The album incorporates surf rock and other influences. It includes some of the Ramones' best-known...
, in 1977, and was also included on later pressings of the group's second album, Leave Home. It was released as a single, reaching #81 in the US, and #22 in the UK singles charts, backed with "I Don't Care", which was also included on Rocket to Russia.
The song was written by Joey Ramone, and is one of the Ramones' more popular and enduring songs, showing the band's surf rock influences.
The song is ranked #457 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
The song appears in the Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
movie Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary (film)
Pet Sematary is a 1989 horror film adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. Directed by Mary Lambert and written by King, the film features Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed, Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed, Blaze Berdahl as Ellie Creed, Miko Hughes as Gage Creed, and Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall...
. In the film, a truck driver about to run over a child is distracted by singing along to the tune. The Ramones also wrote and performed the theme song "Pet Sematary".
The song is adapted by The Horrors
The Horrors
The Horrors are an English band from Southend on Sea, formed in 2005. Their debut Strange House, was released in 2007 and reached number thirty-seven on the UK Albums Chart, their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and peaked at number 25 in the UK...
with their similarly titled song "Sheena is a Parasite
Sheena Is a Parasite
"Sheena is a Parasite" was the debut single by the UK band The Horrors, released in April, 2006. It did not chart as it contained both stickers and inserts, therefore breaking chart rules....
" and by The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
with "Sheena's in a Goth Gang".
"Danny Says
Danny Says
"Danny Says" is a ballad written by Joey Ramone. The song was originally released as the third track on the Ramones 1980 album, End of the Century. The 2002 Expanded Edition CD of the album includes a demo version of "Danny Says" among the bonus tracks...
" on the Ramones 1980 album, End of the Century
End of the Century
T. Donald Guarisco of Allmusic notes that the "entire album is pretty controversial in the world of Ramones fandom".Dee Dee recalled hearing a song from the album on the radio, perhaps "I'm Affected": "I couldn't believe how awful it sounded. It was horrible. I hated "Baby, I Love You"...
, includes the lyrics, "Listening to Sheena on the radio".
The song inspired a poem, also called "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", by Robert Archambeau (poet)
Robert Archambeau (poet)
Robert Archambeau is a poet and literary critic, whose works include the books Citation Suite, Home and Variations, and Laureates and Heretics, and the edited collections Word Play Place: Essays on the Poetry of John Matthias, The &NOW Awards: The Best Innovative Writing, and Letters of Blood:...
.
One of the Living Dead Dolls
Living Dead Dolls
Living Dead Dolls is a line of horror dolls designed in the United States by Ed Long and Damien Glonek and manufactured by Mezco Toyz since 2000.-Origins:...
is named Sheena, and is depicted in punk
Punk fashion
Punk fashion is the clothing, hairstyles, cosmetics, jewelry, and body modifications of the punk subculture. Punk fashion varies widely, ranging from Vivienne Westwood designs to styles modeled on bands like The Exploited. The distinct social dress of other subcultures and art movements, including...
clothing, a reference to the song.
Cover versions
- RancidRancid (band)Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
covered the song on the We're a Happy FamilyWe're a Happy FamilyWe're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones is a tribute album to the Ramones by various artists. It started when Johnny Ramone was confronted with the idea of a tribute album and was asked if he wanted to participate, to which he agreed, as long as he would have full control over the project...
tribute album. - Hüsker DüHüsker DüHüsker Dü was an American rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continual members were guitarist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer Grant Hart....
covered the song on The Living End, a live collection taken from the band's final tour. - German punk rockPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Die Toten HosenDie Toten HosenDie Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have enjoyed decades-long mass appeal in Germany.The band's name literally means "The Dead Pants" in English, although the phrase "tote Hose" is a German expression meaning "nothing going on" or "boring"...
has a live cover version available on their album Im Auftrag des Herrn. - The HuntingtonsThe HuntingtonsThe Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1993-1994 in the Maryland/Delaware area by Cliff Powell , Mike Holt and Mike Pierce . The band is heavily influenced by The Ramones.-1993-2005:The Huntingtons debut album Sweet Sixteen was released in 1996 by Flying Tart...
covered the song on their Rocket to RamoniaRocket to RamoniaRocket to Ramonia is an album by the Huntingtons released in 1996 in cooperation with the Lying Fart Recording Company, a division of Burnt Toast Vinyl. All tracks on the album are cover versions of Ramones songs...
album. - SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n punk rock band GobliniGobliniGoblini are a Serbian punk rock band from Šabac.- Formation, rise to prominence :...
recorded a cover version on their 1995 live album KST Live 31.08.'95KST Live 31.08.'95- Personnel :* Vlada Kokotović — bass* Zoran Jević "Fric" — drums* Alen Jovanović — guitar* Leo fon Punkerstain — guitar, vocals on track 18* Branko Golubović "Golub" — vocals* Z. Ivetić — producer, recorded by* Fića KST — recorded by...
. - Comedy band, The Shirehorses, included a brief cover of the song called "Sheena EastonSheena EastonSheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
Punk Rocker" on their album The Worst...Album in the World...Ever...EVER!. - Sonic YouthSonic YouthSonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
's Thurston Moore and Be Your Own PetBe your own PETBe Your Own Pet was a four-piece punk/garage rock group from Nashville, Tennessee, USA.-Members:* Jemina Pearl – vocals* Nathan Vasquez – bass, backing vocals* Jonas Stein – guitar, backing vocals* John Eatherly – drums...
's Jemina Pearl covered their version of the song for the CW show Gossip GirlGossip Girl (TV series)Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
. - Yeah Yeah YeahsYeah Yeah YeahsYeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
cover the song on the album HeroesHeroes (2009 album)War Child Presents Heroes is a 2009 charity album devoted to the War Child charity's aid efforts in war-stricken areas, such as Iraq, Uganda, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo...
, a recording for the War ChildWar Child (charity)War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...
charity organization. - Polish punk rock band DUMBS recorded a cover version on their 2008 album Rocket from Poland.
- The band Full Blown Cherry covered the song on the album Rockabilly Tribute to the Ramones.
- The band Shebang from Åmål (Sweden) covered the song on the album The Whole Shebang (2001) in a happier and more easily digestible style.
- New Model ArmyNew Model Army (band)New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
covered the song during their 2001 tour, shortly after Joey Ramone's death. - Devin TownsendDevin TownsendDevin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
released the song with different lyrics as Metal Heads are Punk Rockers on his parody punk album Cooked on PhonicsCooked on PhonicsPunky Brüster – Cooked on Phonics is the debut studio album by Canadian musician Devin Townsend. It is a metal/punk rock parody concept album written by Townsend...
. The song shares the same sound as the original but replaces some lyrics.