| "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" | |||||||||||
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| Single by Porcelain Black featuring Lil Wayne | |||||||||||
| Released | March 29, 2011[1][2] | ||||||||||
| Format | Digital download | ||||||||||
| Recorded | 2009 | ||||||||||
| Genre | Electro rock, dance pop | ||||||||||
| Length | 4:12 | ||||||||||
| Label | Universal Republic | ||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Alaina Beaton, Nadir "RedOne" Khayat, Dwayne Carter, Bilal Hajji, Luxe Noir | ||||||||||
| Producer | RedOne | ||||||||||
| Porcelain Black chronology | |||||||||||
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"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.
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After being introduced to Lil Wayne's manager, Derrick "EI" Lawrence, by producer RedOne, 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.[3] The song's single cover was revealed on March 21, 2011,[4] together with a snippet of the song.[4] 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":
"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."[5]
"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.[6] The RedOne-produced track employs a beat that is reminiscent of his work with Lady Gaga.[5] "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" daringly fuses roaring guitars with thunderous dance-pop.[7] 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."[6]
"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 Idolator 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.[8] Gerrick D. Kennedy of Los Angeles Times complimented the song's production by stating that it could have been used by Lady Gaga.[5] Ian Drew of Us Weekly called the single shocking and electric.[9] 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".[10] 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." [11]
"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.[12] The following week, the song went up two spots, peaking at number forty-four.[13] 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.[14][15]
A music video for "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" was shot and directed by Sanaa Hamri.[16] Porcelain Black discussed the idea behind the music video for "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" with AOL's Carlos Ramirez, stating it was from real life experiences.[17] After Black's mom had re-married, she was forced to move to Rochester, Michigan, which Black described as "a really rich area".[17] 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."[17] Reviewing her past, Black realized it would make for a good music video.[17] A behind the scenes look at shooting the music video was released on May 12, 2011.[18]
In an interview with AOL Music's Contessa Gayles, Porcelain Black discussed the concept of the video as revenge.[3] 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.[3]
The music video debuted on March 27, 2011.[19] 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).[20] As Black is being teased, a young version of Lil Wayne comes to the defense of Black, scaring away the group of blonde girls.[20] 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.[19] During Lil Wayne's verse, the two are seen raging in the school's gym.[19] Rapper Birdman makes a cameo appearance in this scene. The music video was shot at Citrus College in Glendora, California.[21]
As of August 30, 2011 the music video has been viewed over four-million times on video hosting website YouTube.[5]
Porcelain Black performed the song as the opening act for Lil Wayne on the I Am Music II tour.[6][22] Black made her first ever television appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman on Thursday, July 21, 2011.[23] 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.[23][24] While making her debut televised performance, Lil Wayne did not appear alongside Black.[23] 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!"[25] Becky Bain of Idolator compared Black's styling to that of Lady Gaga's.[26] Contessa Gayles of AOL described Black's choreography as "racy," later complimenting Black on her "two-toned, Cruella De Vil-inspired coiffure."[27]
"This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" appeared in the tenth episode of the third season of Beavis and Butthead. [28] Excepting the duo to comment on the disparity between the song's title and its genre, R.L. Shaffer of IGN noticed that no such comparison was made; instead, the classroom setting was criticize while the presence of Lil Wayne was appreciated. [29]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Is What Rock n Roll Looks Like (feat. Lil Wayne)" (Explicit) | 4:12 |
| Chart (2010–2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs | 44 [13] |
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | EVMA 2011[30] | Best Alternative Video | Nominated |