Background Information
Thunderstruck is a song by the legendary Australian rock band AC/DC. It’s their highest-charting single in the US and was released on their 1990 album The Razor’s Edge. The song was co-written by AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young and bass player Malcolm Young. This hard rock classic was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1991 for Best Hard Rock Performance. It was also featured in the 1996 film Twister and was included in the games Guitar Hero III and Rock Band 3. The song has been covered a number of times by artists and bands from all over the world, including Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Foo Fighters.
Expert Perspective
Thunderstruck has been celebrated as one of AC/DC’s greatest hits, and its influence on the band’s sound can be heard in other of their songs. Angus Young described it as being his favorite AC/DC song, and even the BBC and Rolling Stone have praised it. BBC journalist Jo Whiley said, “It’s a song that celebrates everything that AC/DC stands for- it’s hard, it’s fast, it’s loud and it’s uncompromising. It’s just pure energy and it’s one of those songs that when it comes on, you can’t help but want to jump up and down to it.”
Data and Facts
Thunderstruck was certified Platinum in the US, Platinum and Gold in the UK, and Gold in France, Germany, and Canada. The song has been listened to by millions of people on YouTube, and continues to be a fan favorite. It ranked in the top 100 of the Decade-End chart in 2000. It was also nominated for a Grammy and MTV Video Music Award in 1991.
Insights and Analysis
The success of Thunderstruck was largely due to its memorable chorus and signature guitar riff. The song is driven by a catchy two-note solo, and its memorable lyrics—where singer Brian Johnson exclaims, “Thunderstruck!”—have become part of popular culture. The song’s popularity is reflective of AC/DC’s influence on hard rock and metal, and its lasting appeal points to its strong composition and arrangement.
Lyrics
“Thunderstruck” contains lyrics that tell the story of being “taken by surprise” and being “in the mist of thunder and lightning”. It’s narrating a story of being “struck by the sound of thunder”. The lyrics feature a quick back-and-forth with the singer yelling “Thunder!”, with thunder sounds punctuating the chorus.
Recording and Mixing
The song was recorded in May of 1990 at the “Big Noise” studios in Vancouver, Canada. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, and Jerry Finn was the mixing engineer. A “click track” was recorded in pre-production to ensure the timing between the instruments was tight. The drums were recorded first, followed by bass and guitar tracks. The guitars recorded included a wall of fuzz pedal guitar and two overdubbed guitar solos. The final mix was done using analog tape — the drums and bass were recorded separately to ensure clarity, and the guitar and vocal tracks were mixed on the 2-track stereo tape.
The Overall Sound
The song’s overall sound radiates AC/DC’s energy and iconic sound. The tempo is fast and driving, and the distorted guitars give it a powerful, hard rock sound. The layered guitar riffs and solo further amplify the energy. The drums are loud and tight, and provide a solid backbeat for the rest of the instruments. The powerful electric guitar riffs create a signature and memorable sound that has become iconic in the hard rock and metal world.
Melody and Structure
The song’s verse and chorus structure is fairly typical of most four-chord songs. It starts with a verse section that consists of two lines, followed by two lines of a chorus. The verse and chorus are repeated four times, and then the song goes into a bridge section before returning to the chorus for the finale. The melody of the chorus is the ear-worm of the song, with fans of the band singing along every time it’s played.
Cultural Influence
Thunderstruck has been a major influence in pop culture, being covered by a number of different artists from bands such as Foo Fighters, Iron Maiden and Metellica. It was also featured in the 1996 film Twister and in the video game Guitar Hero III. It’s been celebrated for its powerful guitar riffs and memorable lyrics, and has become an anthem to many long-time AC/DC fans. Even today, its popularity reigns strong and it continues to be a staple in the hard rock and metal worlds.
