Shakedown (Bob Seger song) explained

Shakedown
Cover:	Bob Seger Shakedown single.png
Type:	single
Artist:	Bob Seger
Album:	Beverly Hills Cop II
B-Side:	The Aftermath
Released:	May 4, 1987^[1]
Genre:	Hard rock, dance-rock
Length:	4:03
Label:	MCA
Prev Title:	Miami
Prev Year:	1986
Next Title:	Blue Monday
Next Year:	1989

"Shakedown" is a 1987 song recorded by Bob Seger, from the soundtrack of the film Beverly Hills Cop II. The music was written by Harold Faltermeyer, who also wrote the score for the film, and Keith Forsey, with lyrics by Seger. The song became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, Seger's only such top mark singles-wise, as well as the Album Rock Tracks chart, where it became his second number-one hit, spending four weeks at the top.^[2] In Canada, it went to number one as well, topping the RPM 100 national singles chart on August 1 of the same year.^[3]

In 1988, "Shakedown" was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, but it lost both awards to Dirty Dancings "(I've Had) The Time of My Life". At the 60th Academy Awards, "Shakedown" was performed by Little Richard.^[4]

History

Initially, Seger's friend and fellow Detroiter Glenn Frey was the first choice to record "Shakedown", after having a hit with "The Heat Is On" from Beverly Hills Cop. Frey did not like the lyrics and then came down with laryngitis, so the song was given to Seger. After the song went to number one, Frey called to congratulate Seger, saying "At least we kept the money in Michigan!"^[5]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Seger's 2003 Greatest Hits 2 compilation.^[6]

• Harold Faltermeyer – Synclavier
• Keith Forsey – percussion
• Dann Huff – guitar
• Bob Seger – vocals

Music video

The music video featured scenes from the film intercut with Seger and the band performing it.

Charts

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1987)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	68
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)^[9]	9

All-time charts

See also

• List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1987 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. Web site: FMQB. 46.
2. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

   . Top Pop Songs: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 218.

3. Web site: Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
4. News: Mull . Marison . The Oscar Telecast From First to Last . March 10, 2023 . The Los Angeles Times . April 10, 1998.
5. Book: Bronson, Fred . 672 Shakedown - Bob Seger . The Billboard Book of Number One Hits . https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC&pg=PT681 . 681 . Billboard Books . 2003. 9780823076772 .
6. Greatest Hits 2 . Bob Seger . 2003 . CD . Capitol Records . CDP 7243 8 52772 0 7.
7. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian)

   . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . 1993 . Australian Chart Book . 0-646-11917-6.

8. Web site: Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987. Australian Music Report. Imgur. 11 December 2019.
9. December 26, 1987 . 1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . Billboard . 99 . 52 .
10. Web site: Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart. Billboard. 10 December 2018.