Joan Jett is a groundbreaking pioneer who wouldn’t let anyone tell her who to be, what to do, or what instrument to play. She’s rebellion personified, which was no easy task to achieve. Early on in her playing days, Jett told a teacher she wanted to learn the electric guitar. To her surprise, he was flustered and blurted, “Oh, no! Girls don’t play electric guitar!”
“He was so taken aback,” Jett tells American Songwriter, “that I was like, ‘Oh my God, what have I hit on here?’” Ever since then, she has been making waves in rock music and doing it in a way that’s both inspiring to others and long-lasting. Here below, we wanted to explore three of Jett’s most beloved songs. A trio of tracks that have stood the test of time. Indeed, these are three eternal Joan Jett songs.
[RELATED: Joan Jett: Rebellion Personified]
“I Love Rock ‘n Roll” from I Love Rock ‘n Roll (1981)
A cover of a song originally recorded by the band Arrows that Joan Jett & the Blackhearts made their own, this track, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, is as straightforward as it gets. And singing it, Jett is 100% believable. Even more than that, she’s a beacon as she performs it. Her voice and guitar tone ooze both love for, and skill within, the genre of rock music, which includes buzzy instrumentation and often a ton of flirtation. On the offering, Jett growls over rollicking music,
He smiled, so I got up and asked for his name
“That don’t matter”, he said, “’cause it’s all the same”
I said, “Can I take you home where we can be alone?”
And next we were movin’ on
He was with me, yeah, me
Next we were movin’ on
He was with me, yeah, me singin’
I love rock n’ roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, baby
I love rock n’ roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
“Bad Reputation” from Bad Reputation (1980)
When it comes to rock music, the genre has long been about rebellion. It is not a conformist sound or ethos. And so to be a star in it means to be one, among some at least, with a bad reputation. On this track, which was released on the rocker’s debut LP, Jett takes advantage of that trope and owns it, black leather jacket and all. On the offering, Jett sings about pushing the proverbial societal envelope, as if her voice is supercharged with lightening,
I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
Living in the past, it’s a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that’s what I’m gonna do
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me
An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An’ I’m only doin’ good when I’m havin’ fun
An’ I don’t have to please no one
“I Hate Myself for Loving You” from Up Your Alley (1988)
A love song with a twist. Not only does the singer have an affection for the subject but, says Jett, she doesn’t like that she’s infatuated with the other. The track, which hit No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, is rich with heavy guitar riffs and a chorus that can be sung over and over with a slew of friends in a bar or live in concert. We’ve all had that person we adore who we know we should probably walk away from, and on this track, Jett puts that reality to rock music. On it, she sings,
Hey man, bet you can’t treat me right
You just don’t know what you was missin’ last night
I wanna see you beggin’, say, “Forget it” just for spite
I think of you every night and day
You took my heart, and you took my pride away
I hate myself for loving you
Can’t break free from the the things that you do
I wanna walk but I run back to you
That’s why I hate myself for loving you
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