My Sunday Song #54 is by the one and only Heart. The song is “Barracuda” off their 1977 album ‘Little Queen’. The song was their second highest charting song at the time and it was their second Top 20 hit peaking at #11. “Magic Man” was their only song higher charting at #9.
Why do I like this song? Easy, that guitar riff that opens the song and is played throughout is enough!! It was one of their heavier rock songs and showed they could kick some serious ass. The aggressiveness of the music and the lyrics made them a powerhouse and I think made people take note of how great they can be. This was the song that made me a Heart fan.
From what I can find on the song, it is mostly about Ann Wilson’s disdain for their former label Mushroom Records. Apparently Mushroom Records had placed ads in magazines/papers that hinted that Ann & Nancy were lesbian lovers having an incestuous relationship. Needless to say, this angered her greatly and from great anger comes great music. (thanks to Songfacts.com). You can see the add that was placed by clicking on HEART AD. That would have pissed me off as well. The band left the label shortly thereafter and the rest is history.
Give it a listen and I hope you enjoy!! Happy Sunday!
“Barracuda”
I had to turn my heart away
Smiled like the sun, kisses for everyone
And tales, it never failsYou lying so low in the weeds
I bet you gonna ambush me
You’d have me down, down, down on my knees
Now wouldn’t you, Barracuda? Oh
Back over time we were all trying for free
You met the porpoise and me
No right, no wrong you’re selling a song, a name
Whisper game
If the real thing don’t do the trick
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn to the wick
Oooo, Barracuda, oh yeah
“Sell me, sell you” the porpoise said
Dive down deep to save my head
You, I think you got the blues too
All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made for the western pools, silly, silly fools
If the real thing don’t do the trick, no
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick
Oooo, Barra-Barracuda
Yeah
Ohhhhhh yea
One of my favorites among many songs from Heart.
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Thanks for the reminder – on my Spotify list now 🙂
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You are welcome. Enjoy!
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Absolutely, the opening riff speaks for itself!
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Once the drums launch this song just goes into a whole other level, But for sure Geoff that is indeed quite the opening riff…
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Actually this track and Kick It Out are both two great Ass Kicker tracks from Little Queen!
Nice post….
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Thanks! Kick it out is great too, but that guitar in Barracuda does it for me.
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Brilliant! I associate it with the Charlies Angels film.
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Oh so much better than that!!
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Better than Drew Barrymore?! Strong words my friend.
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I don’t know if better than Drew, just the movies.
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Great tune!
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One of many for them. It was hard deciding which one to write about. Thanks for stopping by.
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