Cleveland Rocks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Cleveland Rocks” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by Ian Hunter | ||
| Album | 'You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic' | |
| Released | 1979 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| “Cleveland Rocks” | ||
|---|---|---|
Pure Frosting album art
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| Cover by Presidents of the United States of America | ||
| Album | 'Pure Frosting' | |
| Released | 1997 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
"Cleveland Rocks" is a rock song written by Ian Hunter and appearing on his 1979 album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic. A later recording by Presidents of the United States of America is well known as the theme song of the television program The Drew Carey Show. The song is seen as a de facto anthem in Cleveland, Ohio, and sometimes is used as a victory song for the city's sports teams.
The song was inspired in part by the songwriter's desire to counteract the poor reputation of a city for which he had some affection. Hunter states on his web site, "the inspiration for 'Cleveland Rocks' goes back to the old days when people used to make fun of Cleveland. Cleveland was 'uncool' and LA and NYC were 'cool'. I didn't see it that way. Lotta heart in Cleveland."[1]
The song was first released under the title "England Rocks" on a 1977 non-LP single, predating the release of the "Cleveland" version by two years. Hunter has maintained, however, that Cleveland was the original subject of the song, stating on his web site, "I originally wrote 'Cleveland Rocks' for Cleveland. I changed it later to 'England Rocks' because I thought it should be a single somewhere and Columbia wouldn't release it as a single in the U.S. (too regional). 'Cleveland Rocks' is Cleveland's song and that the truth."[2]
The song was covered in 1997 by The Presidents of the United States of America to be used as the opening theme for The Drew Carey Show. It accompanied a lavish opening sequence in which the cast lip-syncs the song while performing elaborate choreography. At the beginning of the recording, Drew Carey can be heard saying "Hey!" and then laughing, and at the end shouting "Ohio!". This version appears on the album Cleveland Rocks! Music From The Drew Carey Show as well as on the band's compilation Pure Frosting.
"Cleveland Rocks" also appears as part of a medley on Hunter's 1998 album Welcome to the Club. The "England Rocks" version appears on the compilation albums Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople and The Very Best of Ian Hunter, as well on the CD re-issue of Hunter's 1977 album Overnight Angels.
