This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like
Encyclopedia
"This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" is the debut single of American
pop-rock
singer-songwriter
, Porcelain Black
. This song serves as the first single off the singer's debut studio album. "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" is a rock jam, lyrically stating how the listener should be proud of who they are. The song charted at number forty-four on the US Billboard
Hot Dance Club Songs.
A music video for the song was shot and leaked on March 27, 2011. The music video pays homage to Porcelain Black's high school experiences, where she was constantly teased by "snobby rich kids", but never gave in to the pressure of her peers around her. The video serves as a type of revenge for Black against high school tormentors.
, Porcelain Black stated that she met Lil Wayne in New York
when he heard "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like", wanting to be a guest feature on the track. The song's single cover was revealed on March 21, 2011, together with a snippet of the song. While being interviewed by the Los Angeles Times
, Black discussed in depth about the genre mix in "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like":
"This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" is an in-your-face rock jam, which is set to remind listeners to be proud of who they are. The RedOne-produced track employs a beat that is reminiscent of his work with Lady Gaga
. "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" daringly fuses roaring guitars with thunderous dance-pop. Black screams in the chorus "Hey hey hey if you're ready to rage / Raise your hands up, this what rock and roll looks like / Yeah yeah yeah, wearing leather and lace / Raise your hands up, this what rock and roll looks like."
nicknamed Porcelain Black a "bipolar Barbie", after taking a poll asking if readers are into Porcelain Black, 74% of the votes in favor of Porcelain Black. Gerrick D. Kennedy of Los Angeles Times
complimented the song's production by stating that it could have been used by Lady Gaga
. Ian Drew of Us Weekly
called the single shocking and electric. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post
gave "This Is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like” a mixed review, commenting on Porcelain Black as a "girl-fronted version of Mötley Crüe
circa Dr. Feelgood
". Jon Wiederhorn of Inked
dubbed the song, "a euphoric digital feast of raspy melodic vocals, four-to-the-floor beats, and keyboards that buzz like electric guitars."
's Carlos Ramirez, stating it was from real life experiences. After Black's mom had re-married, she was forced to move to Rochester, Michigan
, which Black described as "a really rich area". Attending high school
, Black was surrounded by "snotty rich kids" who would tease her saying "You're a f---ing freak, what's your problem?", to which Black would reply "You're boring and fake, get away from me." Reviewing her past, Black realized it would make for a good music video.
In an interview with AOL Music's Contessa Gayles, Porcelain Black discussed the concept of the video as revenge. She stated:
The music video debuted on March 27, 2011. The music video begins with a young Porcelain Black being teased by a group of blonde girls, who resemble "The Plastics" in Mean Girls
(2004). As Black is being teased, a young version of Lil Wayne comes to the defense of Black, scaring away the group of blonde girls. The video then fast forwards nine years where Black, accompanied by her own entourage, walks past a group of snobby girls, giving them the middle-finger as she walks away leaving them in shock. As the video continues, Black gets revenge on her high school enemies by tearing up the school's library and cafeteria. During Lil Wayne's verse, the two are seen raging in the school's gym. Rapper Birdman makes a cameo appearance in this scene. The music video was shot at Citrus College
in Glendora, California
.
As of August 30, 2011 the music video has been viewed over four-million times on video hosting website YouTube
.
on the I Am Music II tour. Black made her first ever television appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman on Thursday, July 21, 2011. Black wore a leather, leotard-like bustiere number, complete with mesh, fringe and metallic studs as she whipped her black-and-blonde hair around as she pranced across the stage with her gothic dancers. While making her debut televised performance, Lil Wayne did not appear alongside Black. In an interview with AOL
's NoiseCreep, Black described her first televised appearance as "intense, amazing, surreal", revealing that prior to the performance she was very nervous stating "Oh my god! I'm about to give birth to a panic attack!"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop-rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, Porcelain Black
Porcelain Black
Alaina Marie Beaton , better known by her stage name Porcelain Black, is an American pop-rock singer-songwriter. She started her music career at 18 under the stage name Porcelain and the Tramps with Virgin Records. However, Black and Virgin could not agree on the music that she recorded and she...
. This song serves as the first single off the singer's debut studio album. "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" is a rock jam, lyrically stating how the listener should be proud of who they are. The song charted at number forty-four on the US 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...
Hot Dance Club Songs.
A music video for the song was shot and leaked on March 27, 2011. The music video pays homage to Porcelain Black's high school experiences, where she was constantly teased by "snobby rich kids", but never gave in to the pressure of her peers around her. The video serves as a type of revenge for Black against high school tormentors.
Background and composition
After being introduced to Lil Wayne's manager, Derrick "EI" Lawrence, by producer RedOneRedOne
Nadir Khayat , known by the stage name RedOne, is a Moroccan producer and songwriter. Renowned for co-producing hit singles such as "Just Dance", "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", "Alejandro" and "Judas", he is attributed by some as the key to Lady Gaga's success...
, Porcelain Black stated that she met Lil Wayne in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
when he heard "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like", wanting to be a guest feature on the track. The song's single cover was revealed on March 21, 2011, together with a snippet of the song. While being interviewed by the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Black discussed in depth about the genre mix in "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like":
"I’m a pretty good representation of rock and roll, as far as I’m concerned. I’m ... crazy. Some people might have their own opinions and say well this is kind of pop-y. I think we’re in a world now where music is evolving and it doesn’t have to be just one thing. It doesn't have to be just pop or just rock. You can mix it and have it still be legitimate rock 'n' roll. I like to say if Marilyn Manson and Britney Spears ... had a kid it would be me."
"This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" is an in-your-face rock jam, which is set to remind listeners to be proud of who they are. The RedOne-produced track employs a beat that is reminiscent of his work with Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
. "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" daringly fuses roaring guitars with thunderous dance-pop. Black screams in the chorus "Hey hey hey if you're ready to rage / Raise your hands up, this what rock and roll looks like / Yeah yeah yeah, wearing leather and lace / Raise your hands up, this what rock and roll looks like."
Critical reception
"This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" received generally mixed reviews by critics, most of whom were shocked with Black's outgoing persona and the pop contributions by producer RedOne. Becky Bain of IdolatorIdolator (website)
Idolator is a music blog. Created by the blog network Gawker Media in August 2006, Idolator was later sold to rival blog network Buzz Media, which also owns music blog Stereogum. From the 2007 departure of original head writer Brian Raftery until November 2009, the blog's head writer was Maura...
nicknamed Porcelain Black a "bipolar Barbie", after taking a poll asking if readers are into Porcelain Black, 74% of the votes in favor of Porcelain Black. Gerrick D. Kennedy of Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
complimented the song's production by stating that it could have been used by Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
. Ian Drew of Us Weekly
Us Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
called the single shocking and electric. Allison Stewart of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
gave "This Is What Rock ‘n’ Roll Looks Like” a mixed review, commenting on Porcelain Black as a "girl-fronted version of Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe
Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1981. The group was founded by bass guitarist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, who were later joined by lead guitarist Mick Mars and lead singer Vince Neil...
circa Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood (album)
*Disc one contains the original albumThe original Korean LP edition does not contain the first two tracks, "T.N.T. " and "Dr...
". Jon Wiederhorn of Inked
Inked (magazine)
Inked is a high-end glossy tattoo lifestyle magazine that debuted in late 2004 and was published quarterly for one year. In 2006, the magazine was purchased by Downtown Media Group but never published an issue. Donald Hellinger, president of Nylon Holding, Inc. publisher of Nylon magazine, acquired...
dubbed the song, "a euphoric digital feast of raspy melodic vocals, four-to-the-floor beats, and keyboards that buzz like electric guitars."
Chart performance
"This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs at number forty-six, on the week ending July 18, 2011. The following week, the song went up two spots, peaking at number forty-four. The following two weeks, "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" remained stationary at number forty-four on the weeks ending August 1, 2011 and August 8, 2011, respectively.Music video
Porcelain Black discussed the idea behind the music video for "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" with AOLAOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
's Carlos Ramirez, stating it was from real life experiences. After Black's mom had re-married, she was forced to move to Rochester, Michigan
Rochester, Michigan
Rochester is an affluent city in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census...
, which Black described as "a really rich area". Attending high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Black was surrounded by "snotty rich kids" who would tease her saying "You're a f---ing freak, what's your problem?", to which Black would reply "You're boring and fake, get away from me." Reviewing her past, Black realized it would make for a good music video.
In an interview with AOL Music's Contessa Gayles, Porcelain Black discussed the concept of the video as revenge. She stated:
It was about getting revenge. People were always hating on me, because I was different. I was like, "I'm going to sing, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that," they were like "OK, sure you are." And I was like "No, I'm serious. This is what I'm going to do." And everybody was like, "Yeah right." Even when I told everyone I was moving to LA to do music and had a going away party, only one person showed up, because no one believed that I was really going away. They were like, "You'll be back." So it was kind of just like my revenge, and just a statement, like throwing it back in their face.
The music video debuted on March 27, 2011. The music video begins with a young Porcelain Black being teased by a group of blonde girls, who resemble "The Plastics" in Mean Girls
Mean Girls
Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy-drama film directed by Mark Waters. The screenplay was written by Tina Fey and is based in part on the non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman, which describes how female high school social cliques operate and the effect they can have...
(2004). As Black is being teased, a young version of Lil Wayne comes to the defense of Black, scaring away the group of blonde girls. The video then fast forwards nine years where Black, accompanied by her own entourage, walks past a group of snobby girls, giving them the middle-finger as she walks away leaving them in shock. As the video continues, Black gets revenge on her high school enemies by tearing up the school's library and cafeteria. During Lil Wayne's verse, the two are seen raging in the school's gym. Rapper Birdman makes a cameo appearance in this scene. The music video was shot at Citrus College
Citrus College
Citrus College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendora, California; the Citrus Community College District which supports the school includes the communities of Glendora, Azusa, Charter Oak, Claremont, Monrovia, and Duarte. The school is the oldest public community...
in Glendora, California
Glendora, California
Glendora is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the population of Glendora was 50,073....
.
As of August 30, 2011 the music video has been viewed over four-million times on video hosting website YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
Live performances
Porcelain Black performed the song as the opening act for Lil WayneLil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
on the I Am Music II tour. Black made her first ever television appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman on Thursday, July 21, 2011. Black wore a leather, leotard-like bustiere number, complete with mesh, fringe and metallic studs as she whipped her black-and-blonde hair around as she pranced across the stage with her gothic dancers. While making her debut televised performance, Lil Wayne did not appear alongside Black. In an interview with AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
's NoiseCreep, Black described her first televised appearance as "intense, amazing, surreal", revealing that prior to the performance she was very nervous stating "Oh my god! I'm about to give birth to a panic attack!"
Track listing
Charts
| Chart (2010–2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs | 44 |
Awards
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | EVMA 2011 | Best Alternative Video | |