Shooting Shark
| "Shooting Shark" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing UK 12" single cover | ||||
| Single by Blue Öyster Cult | ||||
| from the album The Revölution by Night | ||||
| Released | February 1984[1] | |||
| Length | 4:20 (single edit) 7:07 (album version) | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Bruce Fairbairn | |||
| Blue Öyster Cult singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| Shooting Shark on YouTube | ||||
"Shooting Shark" is a song by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, appearing on the band's ninth album The Revölution by Night. Written by guitarist/vocalist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser with lyrics inspired by a Patti Smith poem, the song features a synthesizer-heavy pop sound mixed with rock elements. The song features Randy Jackson, of future American Idol fame, on bass.[2]
The song tells the story of a man in a bad relationship, who wants to be done with the woman. Each time he breaks up with her, everything he sees reminds him of her, and he eventually returns. This has happened three times, and at the end of the song he's returning for the fourth, which he says will be the last.
"Shooting Shark" was a modest success, peaking at #83 on the Billboard Hot 100,[3] as well as #16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[4]
Reception
[edit | edit source]AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann picked the song as an Allmusic reviewer's pick.[5] Errol Somay of Rolling Stone noted the song's saxophone solo, stating it "remind[s] us that Blue Öyster Cult are capable songwriters at both ends of the rock & roll Richter scale".[6]
Track listing
[edit | edit source]- American 7" single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shooting Shark" | Roeser, Smith | 4:20 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dragon Lady" | Broadway Blotto, Roeser | 4:04 |
- American 12" single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shooting Shark" (Edit) | Roeser, Smith | 4:20 |
| 2. | "Shooting Shark" | Roeser, Smith | 7:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Take Me Away" | Eric Bloom, Aldo Nova | 4:26 |
| 2. | "Eyes On Fire" | Gregg Winter | 3:54 |
- European 7" single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shooting Shark" | Roeser, Smith | 4:20 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Feel the Thunder" | Bloom | 5:47 |
- UK 12" single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shooting Shark" (Extended Version) | Roeser, Smith | 7:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dragon Lady" | Blotto, Roeser | 4:04 |
Personnel
[edit | edit source]- Blue Öyster Cult
- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – vocals, lead guitar, keyboards
- Allen Lanier – keyboards
- Rick Downey – drums
- Additional musicians
- Randy Jackson – bass
- Larry Fast – synthesizers, programming
- Marc Baum – saxophone
Charts
[edit | edit source]| Chart (1983–1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[7] | 97 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 83 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[9] | 16 |
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Randy Jackson is Leaving 'American Idol' After This Season. Retrieved May 5, 2018
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Oyster Cult Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Oyster Cult Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
