"Surrender"is a single byCheap Trickreleased in June 1978 from the albumHeaven Tonight.It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter theBillboardHot 100chart, peaking at number 62. Its success in Japan, as well as the success of its preceding singles "Clock Strikes Ten"and"I Want You to Want Me",paved the way for Cheap Trick's concerts atNippon Budokanin Tokyo in April 1978 which were recorded forCheap Trick at Budokan,the group's most popular album.[4][5]
| "Surrender" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyCheap Trick | ||||
| from the albumHeaven Tonight | ||||
| B-side | "Auf Wiedersehen" | |||
| Released | June 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:12 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Rick Nielsen[3] | |||
| Producer(s) | Tom Werman | |||
| Cheap Tricksingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Content
edit"Surrender" is a late 1970s teen anthem, describing the relations between thebaby boomernarrator and hisG.I. Generationparents. His mother frequently warns him about the girls he will meet, as he will never know whatdiseaseshe will catch from them, as exemplified by a rumor about "a soldier's [penis] falling off" as a result of "some Indonesian junk that's going around". The mother's expertise on such matters is endorsed by the father, who states that she served with theWACsin thePhilippines,a claim which amazes the narrator, who had been under the impression the WACs only recruited "old maids" (and "Mommy isn't one of those" ). The narrator then describes how his parents are weirder and hipper than many teens would believe. For example, the narrator describes how he discovers his "mom and dad are rolling on the couch" and listening to hisKissrecords late at night ( "rolling numbers, rock-and-rolling, got my Kiss records out" ) This mention was a thank you by Cheap Trick who got a career boost by opening concerts for Kiss during the 1977Love Gun Tour.[6]
Reception
editCash Boxsaid it has "energetic drumming and excellent rhythm guitar work" and that "the singing is intriguing and melodic."[7]Record Worldpredicted that it "could easily make it to the top of the pop charts with its catchy teenage refrain."[8]
In the 2007 bookShake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide,a section on Cheap Trick featured reviews on the top 20 stand-out tracks from the band. One track included was "Surrender", where the author John M. Borack wrote "A no-brainer selection, to be sure, but since I believe that it's clinically impossible to get tired of this rock and roll funhouse, it belongs here. A stone classic for the ages."[9]
Rolling Stonedeemed it "the ultimate Seventies teen anthem" and ranked it number 471 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"in 2010, number 465 in 2004, and number 365 in 2021.[10][11]Classic Rockcritic Malcolm Dome rated it as Cheap Trick's 2nd best song, saying that "the band found their mark and rhythm, mixing creative musicianship with a teen-friendly melody, all done with an effective eccentricity."[12]Classic Rock Historycritic Michael Quinn also rated it Cheap Trick's second-best song.[13]
Personnel
edit- Robin Zander– lead vocals and rhythm guitar
- Rick Nielsen– lead guitar and backing vocals
- Tom Petersson– bass and backing vocals
- Bun E. Carlos– drums
- Jai Winding – synthesizer
Charts
edit| Chart (1978–1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (KMR)[14] | 32 |
| Belgium (VRT Top 30Flanders)[15] | 5 |
| Canada (RPM) | 79 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] | 12 |
| UK The Singles Chart (Record Business)[17] | 119 |
| USBillboardHot 100[18] | 62 |
| USCash BoxTop 100 | 83 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[19] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^Runtagh, Jordan (April 8, 2014)."Catchy, Loud and Proud: 20 Essential Power Pop Tracks That Will Be Stuck In Your Head Forever".VH1.Archivedfrom the original on April 6, 2023.RetrievedJuly 11,2019.
- ^Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (July 17, 2000). "A Flock of Haircuts: New Wave".Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s.St. Martin's Griffin.p. 153.ISBN978-0-312-19821-3.
- ^"secondhandsongs.com".secondhandsongs.com.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
- ^BUDOKAN! (30th Anniversary DVD+3CDs) insert booklet(Media notes).
- ^McLane, D. (June 14, 1979). "Cheap Trick Finds Heaven".Rolling Stone.p. 49.
- ^"Surrender".AllMusic.Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 29,2007.
- ^"CashBox Singles Reviews"(PDF).Cash Box.June 24, 1978. p. 20.Retrieved2022-01-01.
- ^"Hits of the Week"(PDF).Record World.June 24, 1978. p. 1.Retrieved2023-02-13.
- ^Borack, John M. (2007).Shake Some Action – The Ultimate Guide To Power Pop.Shake Some Action – PowerPop. p. 41.ISBN978-0-97977-140-8.
- ^"500 Greatest Songs of All Time".Rolling Stone.April 7, 2011.RetrievedOctober 22,2018.
- ^"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".Rolling Stone.2021-09-15.Retrieved2022-06-21.
- ^Dome, Malcolm (June 28, 2016)."The top 10 best Cheap Trick songs".Classic Rock.Louder Sound.Retrieved2022-06-19.
- ^Quinn, Michael (16 June 2022)."Top 10 Cheap Trick Songs".Classic Rock History.Retrieved2023-02-07.
- ^"Australian Chart Book".Austchartbook.com.au.Archived fromthe originalon March 5, 2016.RetrievedOctober 13,2016.
- ^"Radio2 top 30: 8 oktober 2016 | Radio2".Top30-2.radio2.be.Archived fromthe originalon April 9, 2012.RetrievedOctober 13,2016.
- ^"Nederlandse Top 40 – Cheap Trick "(in Dutch).Dutch Top 40.
- ^"The Singles Chart - Ones to Watch".Record Business.Vol. 2, no. 20. July 30, 1979. p. 19.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(2013).Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012.Record Research. p. 158.
- ^"British single certifications – Cheap Trick – Surrender".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedOctober 6,2023.