For My Sunday Song #184, we will discuss the rocking track “Kickstart My Heart” off their 1989 album ‘Dr. Feelgood’. The song was from the band’s 1989 album ‘Dr. Feelgood’ and was the the 2nd single from the album. And it did well. It was on constant rotation on MTV and reached #9 on the US Rock charts. It helped propel Motley Crue even higher in their rise to the top.
The story of the song is really well known, so nothin new I can bring to it other than rehash it. The song title of “Kickstart my Heart” is famously documented as a result of Nikki Sixx overdosing the paramedics having to use the paddles on him to jump start him back to life. Of course, Steven Adler from Guns ‘N Roses disputes some of the accuracies of that statement. He claims he assisted in bring him back and not so much the paramedics. Either way, still scary that he died and was brought back (on more than once occasion I believe).
Nikki had written the song, but didn’t feel it was good enough for the album until the band’s former manager read the lyrics, he told him to take it to the band. And thankfully he did as it turned in to one hell of a rock anthem.
The song kicks off with some cool notes on guitar by Mick imitating an engine revving up shifting gears and then another cool riff comes through electrifying the song and taking it to another level with breakneck speed. The driving riff, bass and drums makes you feel like you are speeding down the road ready to crash in to everything. There is a break and change in tempo before ripping it again. There is a voice box used on the guitar (like a lot of 80’s rock songs did) and the band crushes it from beginning to end.
And let us not forget Vince as he delivers and energetic and frantic performance. He helps give the song the urgency of the lyrics and the danger the song needs to succeed. The band was newly sober and firing on all cylinders and you could understand Vince which is always a plus.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. If it doesn’t get your blood pumping, then nothing will. Enjoy and have a Happy Sunday!
“Kickstart My Heart”
I get high on speed
Top fuel funny car’s
A drug for me
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart
Always got the cops
Coming after me
Custom built bike doing 103
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heartOoh, are you ready girls?
Ooh, are you ready now?
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Give it a start
Whoa, yeah, baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah, baby
Yeah
Skydive naked
From an aeroplane
Or a lady with a
Body from outer space
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart
Say I got trouble
Trouble in my eyes
I’m just looking for another good time
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart
Yeah, are you ready girls?
Yeah, are you ready now?
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Give it a start
Whoa, yeah, baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah, baby
Kickstart my heart
When we started this band
All we needed, needed was a laugh
Years gone by…
I’d say we’ve kicked some ass
When I’m enraged
Or hittin’ the stage
Adrenaline rushing
Through my veins
And I’d say we’re still kickin’ ass
I said, ooh, ah
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
And to think, we did all of this to rock
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Give it a start
Whoa, yeah, baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah, baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah, baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart
Give it a start
Okay, boys, let’s rock the house
That’s all
Kickstart my heart
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
One thing about Crüe songs are the lyrics for so many seem silly, contrived or derivative until you add the music. This song is a really good example. Something about Mick’s riffs and Nikki’s lyrics together have some serious magic.
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Yep, those two could work magic together.
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A band firing on all cylinders on this track.
I cranked my stereo speakers to Max when I played this song the first time.
And Tommy Lee, he really drives this song. From his metronome like start, to the Radar Love style drumming in the verses and everything else that comes after it.
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I still crank my speakers to this one. Good thought on the Radar Love like drumming, I think that is spot on.
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Pete is spot on with Radar Love drumming comment. Brilliant!
Another solid pick. This track solidified another strong single from a strong album. Even today I never get sick of this tune or the title track.
Another bonafide stellar pick this week John!
Great job.
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Thanks Deke. Glad your not sick of the title track as that one is coming up in a few weeks.
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You nailed it, Pete, with the Golden Earring like drumming! Now I will always hear I that way.
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Thanks Deke. I gotta admit if it wasn’t for the White Lion cover, I wouldn’t even know who Golden Earring was/is. Checked em many years later (late 90s and early 2000s) and loved em.
But as usual and fans of music we check out the source material. The Leester, he takes it up in tempo.
And I played in a band once upon a time that used to cover Radar Love and Kick Start My Heart.
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Another great pick! Hoo, Freddie’s gas!
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They have a bunch to pick from.
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I think this was my gateway Crüe tune (this and the album’s title track would have been the first 2 I was familiar with) – I hadn’t known about the actual meaning of the title at the time, he really did need his heart re-started!
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Apparently he needed it done a couple times. The title track might make this post soon.
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Blood pumping alright! Drinking my morning coffee, and this song playing, it’s perfect John! Like a top fuel funnycar, it’s a drug for me.
Or as Vince sings it, ta-fu-f-ca, duhfome.
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That almost sounded just like Vince…I could hear it in my head. This one will get you going in the morning.
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I find if you sing while brushing your teeth and write down the sounds, it could be Vince Neil lyrics.
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Ha!! You would be right sir!
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I reckon if you do a few 20m interval sprints and then sing, you’ll sound like Vince live. And I’ll still pay to watch em. The insanity. Lol
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I actually passed on the Summer tour coming to Charlotte. I couldn’t justify the prices for even nosebleed seats. I have seen all 3 bands before in the past, so that helped with my decision as well.
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I would as well if they come to Oz
I’ve done the rounds with Crue as a crazy rock head, then taken my wife as well and then my wife and kids.. then again every 80s band that comes to Aus is cancelling. Kids cancelled the whole tour, Metallica as well and Scorpions/Whitesnake played Melbourne, Klaus got kidney stones, now he’s hospitalized and Sydney got cancelled but maybe it would be rescheduled for a weeks time. The bodies are not what they used to be
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I heard about Klaus, I hope they get rescheduled. I am seeing Whitesnake this Summer with Sammy Hagar. I have taken my kids to see Def Leppard and Kiss as I wanted them to see two of my favorite bands. My youngest likes Gene Simmons and The Demon personae and she is already saying when I die, she wants The Vault since she likes Gene. Of course, I will grant her that wish and leave it to her. Hopefully in 40 years or so.
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I’ve been very critical of Gene and his views about music recently and when I went back to what I like about Kiss it was Paul and Ace. Even Gene’s biggest songs were written more by others than him, like God Of Thunder is a Paul Stanley cut and War Machine is a Bryan Adams cut and so on. But the Vault series you are doing is giving me a different perspective and a renewed interest in Gene as the artist and not the persona
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One of my favorite songs from them. Could listen to it all day.
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Just listened! so glad they are back. Just hope it’s not a mistake…
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Me too! I am afraid it is going to be a disaster, but we will see.
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