We're Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister song)
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| “We're Not Gonna Take It” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Twisted Sister from the album Stay Hungry |
||
| A-side | "We're Not Gonna Take It" | |
| B-side | "You Can't Stop Rock & Roll" | |
| Released | April 27, 1984 | |
| Format | 7" Single | |
| Recorded | 1984 | |
| Genre | Hard rock, Heavy metal, Glam metal, Rock and roll | |
| Length | 3:38 | |
| Label | Atlantic Records | |
| Writer(s) | Dee Snider | |
| Producer | Tom Werman | |
"We're Not Gonna Take It" is a 1984 hit song by the American Glam metal/Heavy metal band Twisted Sister from their album Stay Hungry. The song was first released as a single (With B-Side song "You Can't Stop Rock & Roll") on April 27, 1984. The Stay Hungry album was released two weeks later, on May 10, 1984. The single reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, making it Twisted Sister's only Top 40 single, and the song was ranked #47 on VH1's 100 Greatest 80's Songs.
The song was written by vocalist Dee Snider. As influences for the song, he cites the glam rock band Slade, the punk band Sex Pistols, and the Christmas carol, "O Come, All Ye Faithful".
"We're Not Gonna Take It" is also the title of the last song on The Who's Tommy album, but there is no connection between the two.
The song is notable for its popular music video directed by Marty Callner, with its emphasis on slapstick comedy, where a crazy psycho gets the worst of the band's mischief. Controversy arose when the depiction of family in the video caused a public outcry long before the "explicit lyrics" warning was placed on records, cassettes, and CDs. This led to the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center. Mark Metcalf, the actor portraying the father in the video, had previously played Neidermayer, the ROTC student commander in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). In a reference to his role in the film, Metcalf says "A Twisted Sister pin? On your uniform?!" in the video. Snider himself can also be heard cursing and swearing the question "A pledge pin? On your uniform?" at the end of the song. The actor (Dax Callner) portraying the teenager went on to become a somewhat well-known Industrial Rock artist in Texas. Two of his songs became part of the dance videogame In the Groove.
In 1999, the US rock band Lit parodied the opening scene in their video for "Zip Lock". The crazy father was played by Dee Snider.
[edit] Covers
The song has been covered by Bif Naked for the Ready to Rumble soundtrack, by Joan Jett for a 2001 tribute album Twisted Forever - A Tribute To The Legendary Twisted Sister, and by Thee Ultra Bimboos. In 2002, a cover by the German Pop Punk band Donots became a minor hit in Germany, reaching 33 in the Singles Chart. In 2007 Australian Pop duo The Veronicas covered the song and released it as a free download to fans. The Chilean band Los Mox covered this song, translating it to Spanish, pick my nose in their album "Con Cover". The title of the song in Spanish is "No lo aceptaremos". The German Comedy Metal Band J.B.O. also did a German version of it, called "Wir wollen's nicht mehr nehmen" as part of their "Drogen?"-Medley on their 1997 "Laut!" album. Ska-punk band Less Than Jake have also covered the song. Another ska/punk band, Reel Big Fish, used the melody to the song as part of their song "Everybody's Drunk" but altered the lyrics to: "We're all gonna get drunk! We're all gonna get drunk! Oh wait we're already drunk!". Canadian ska band Whole Lotta Milka also covered the song on their Got Milka album under the title "Twisted".
This song was covered in some live concerts too, like a Children of Bodom's concert in London at 2006.
In 2007, a version of the song in Spanish ("No lo Aceptaremos") by Mexican glam rock band Moderatto was released for the Mexican Consejo de la Comunicación (organization likely to the Advertising Council) anti-corruption advertising campaign.
As recently as January of 2008, the song was covered by The Veronicas for a birth control pill commercial, called Yaz.
The Huntingtons covered this song in their album All the Stuff (And More)-Vol 1.
[edit] References in popular culture
- After the 9/11 attacks, some radio stations in the United States played the song to demonstrate American outrage.
- During the 2003 California recall election, it was used as the anthem for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful bid for governor. It has also been used as the bumper music for the Stephanie Miller Show. It is one of the main songs in the 1986 movie Iron Eagle. Further, the song was used by professional wrestling tag team Ring Crew Express as their theme in the 2004 Ring of Honor promotion. It remains popular at sporting events, political rallies, and protests and has even been used in television commercials.
- In 2000, comedian Dave Chappelle, in his special Killin' Them Softly, referenced the song, saying "nobody wants to get their ass beat to a soundtrack", while talking about police brutality.
- When Djurgårdens IF in Allsvenskan 2004 began to play their home games at Råsunda Stadium, some AIK fans used the tune for "We're Not Gonna Take It", but instead they sang their own lyrics: Stick från vår arena (Leave our arena).
- In 2007 the song was used for one Bee Movie commercial.
- In November 2006, "We're Not Gonna Take It" has been used by a Swedish company, "Trygg Hansa" in a television advertisement. Twisted Sister has for many years had a strong fanbase in Sweden.
- The song was featured in PS2 game Activision Anthology.
- "Weird Al" Yankovic included the song in the "Hooked on Polkas" medley from Dare to Be Stupid.
- During the 1993 baseball season, the resurgent New York Yankees played the song after every win before the traditional playing of Frank Sinatra's New York, New York.
- In the recent past, the Baltimore Orioles played this song on occasion including footage of The Bird pretending to box.
- At the end of Max Keeble's Big Move this song is played by the marching band.
- This song was played in a Sprite commercial when baseball fans in a stadium were given a different drink after ordering Sprite.
- This song is also used in the spots of the Greek libertarian party Liberal Alliance.
- It also provided the tune for Rafael Correa's official campaign song in his victorious run for president of Ecuador in 2006. [1] (which erroneously calls it "We're Not Going to Take It")
- The song was used in the first Manwhore Show by Mark Twain Productions.
- The song was featured in an episode of the karaoke game show The Singing Bee.
- The intro to the full length version uses the words "Is that a pin, on your uniform" quoting the 1978 movie Animal House
- This song was featured during a piece on the fall of the Berlin wall on a 2007 episode of History Rocks ("The 80s"), by The History Channel
- While in WCW . Actor David Arquette Use a new version of this song which is sung by Bif Naked
