Rock and Roll Is Dead explained

Rock and Roll Is Dead
Cover:Lenny_Rock_Dead.jpg
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Lenny Kravitz
Album:Circus
B-Side:
  • "Another Life"
  • "Confused"
  • "Is It Me, Is It You?"
Length:3:22
Label:Virgin
Producer:Lenny Kravitz
Prev Title:Is There Any Love in Your Heart
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Circus
Next Year:1995

"Rock and Roll Is Dead" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released in August 1995 by Virgin as the first single from his fourth album, Circus (1995). The song, both written and produced by Kravitz, reached the top 20 in Canada, Finland, New Zealand, and Spain, but it underperformed in the United States, peaking at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video for "Rock and Roll Is Dead" was storyboarded by Andrew Trovaioli and directed by Ruven Afanador. It shows Kravitz performing the song with his band, as well as Kravitz with visual artistic related backgrounds. Kravitz was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the song in 1996.[1]

Content

Kravitz told on the meaning of "Rock and Roll Is Dead":

Critical reception

Everett True from Melody Maker said in his review of the song, "F***ing way to go, Lenny!"[2] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Borrowing half of the riff from Led Zeppelin's "Heartbreaker" is not exactly the way to back up the statement he's making here. By going retro again, Kravitz reanimates rock totally. DJ Hans Van Rijn at Danish radio station The Voice/Copenhagen said, "As rock is still very big in Scandinavia, it will be a big radio hit. It's typical of him, the way it's structured. Although playable in all day slots, in the evening it will do best on EHR stations which pretend to cater to youth."[3] Paul Moody from NME felt it "could've been a classic opener" of the album, noting that it "is the riff from 'Are You Gonna...' played backwards".[4]

Chart performance

The song reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. It was a top-10 hit in Finland, New Zealand and Spain, reaching numbers 10, eight, and five, respectively. In Canada, the song reached number 16. Elsewhere, the song reached the top 40 in Australia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Track listings

  1. "Rock and Roll Is Dead" – 3:22
  2. "Another Life" – 3:59
  3. "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (live) – 4:00
  1. "Rock and Roll Is Dead" – 3:22
  2. "Another Life" – 4:21
  3. "Confused" – 6:48
  4. "Is It Me, Is It You?" – 3:54
  1. "Rock and Roll Is Dead" – 3:22
  2. "Another Life" – 4:21
  1. "Rock and Roll Is Dead" – 3:24
  2. "God Is Love" – 4:26

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 31
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] 18
Spain (AFYVE)[14] 5

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United KingdomAugust 28, 1995Virgin[15]
JapanSeptember 6, 1995Mini-CD[16]
United StatesSeptember 12, 1995Contemporary hit radio[17]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lenny Kravitz. Grammy Awards. August 10, 2021.
  2. Everett. True. Singles. Melody Maker. September 2, 1995. 41. March 11, 2024. Everett True.
  3. New Releases: Singles . . 12 . 35 . September 2, 1995 . 11 . May 19, 2021 .
  4. Paul. Moody. Long Play. NME. September 9, 1995. 50. March 11, 2024.
  5. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. US & Canadian CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. V25F-38514, 7243 8 38514 2 3.
  6. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. US cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records. 4KM-38514, 7 2438 38514 4 7.
  7. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. UK CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VUSCD 93, 7243 8 93102 21.
  8. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. UK 10-inch single sleeve. Virgin Records. VUSAB 93, 7243 8 93102 0 7.
  9. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. UK cassette single sleeve. Virgin Records. VUSC 93, 7243 8 93102 4 5.
  10. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. European CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VUSCDE 93, 7243 8 93103 2 0.
  11. Rock and Roll Is Dead. Lenny Kravitz. 1995. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. Virgin Records. VJDP-10252.
  12. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 38. 16. September 23, 1995. July 7, 2021.
  13. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (30.9. '95 – 6.10. '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 24. September 30, 1995. October 1, 2019.
  14. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  15. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 43. August 26, 1995. August 10, 2021.
  16. Web site: ロックン・ロール・イズ・デッド レニー・クラヴィッツ. Rock 'n' Roll Is Dead Lenny Kravitz. Oricon. ja. September 3, 2023.
  17. Selected New Releases. Radio & Records. 1111. 71. September 8, 1995. August 10, 2021.