Sweet Sixteen (song) explained

Sweet Sixteen
Cover:Billy Idol Sweet Sixteen 1987 Single Cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Billy Idol
Album:Whiplash Smile
B-Side:"Beyond Belief"
Released:April 1987 (US)[1]
1 June 1987 (UK)[2]
Genre:Rock
Length:4:14
Label:Chrysalis
Producer:Keith Forsey
Prev Title:Don't Need a Gun
Prev Year:1987
Next Title:Soul Standing By
Next Year:1987

"Sweet Sixteen" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, released in 1987 as the third single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). The song written by Idol and produced by Keith Forsey. "Sweet Sixteen" peaked at No. 20 in the US and No. 17 in the UK. It was also a hit across Europe and beyond.[3] [4]

Background

"Sweet Sixteen" was inspired by the true story of Edward Leedskalnin, a Latvian emigrant who single-handedly built the Coral Castle in Florida. In Latvia, Leedskalnin was set to marry Agnes Skuvst, but she broke the engagement and Leedskalnin decided to immigrate to America. He built the Coral Castle there in dedication to Skuvst, who he often referred to as his "Sweet Sixteen".[5] [6] Idol wrote the song after watching "The Castle of Secrets", an episode of Leonard Nimoy's program In Search of... which was based on Coral Castle.[7] The song was written during the making of Idol's 1983 album Rebel Yell.[8]

In his 2014 autobiography, Idol described the song as a "heartfelt lament". He added that while the castle was Leedskalnin's "coral memorial" to his former love, "Sweet Sixteen" was Idol's to his then-girlfriend Perri Lister.

Music video

Two music videos were filmed to promote the single. The black-and-white version, directed by Peter Sinclair, featured Idol performing the song in an empty room.[9] [10] An alternative video, filmed in colour, featured scenes shot at Coral Castle.[11] [12]

Release

The single was released on 7", 12" and cassette by Chrysalis.[13] The B-Side was the Whiplash Smile album track "Beyond Belief.[14] For the 12" single, another track from the album, "One Night, One Chance" was also included.[15] The UK edition of the 12" single, which was also released in some other European countries, included an extended version of "Rebel Yell" instead.[16]

Critical reception

In a contemporary review of Whiplash Smile, Rolling Stone described the song as having an "acoustic shuffle", which "recalled the texture" of Idol's 1984 hit "Eyes Without a Face".[17] Billboard noted in their review of the album: "...quick spins of "World's Forgotten Boy," "Sweet Sixteen," and "Don't Need a Gun" provide positive indication that Idol is rocking on the right track."[18] In a retrospective AllMusic review of the album, Johnny Loftus commented on the song's "weird, Marty Robbins-meets-Del Shannon-in-space vibe." Loftus also selected the song as one of the album's highlights by labelling it an AMG Pick Track.[19] On the 30th anniversary of the album, Ultimate Classic Rock described the song as a "relatively stripped-back acoustic love song".[20]

Formats

7" single
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
7" single (Costa Rican release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Man For All Seasons" – 4:38
7" single (US promo release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
7" single (Australian limited edition double-pack release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
  3. "Mony Mony (Extended Version)" – 5:01
  4. "White Wedding (Extended Version)" – 8:20
12" single (UK and European release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
  3. "Rebel Yell (Extended Version)" – 4:45
12" single (European release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
  3. "One Night, One Chance" – 3:52
12" single (US promo release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
Cassette single (UK release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
Cassette single (Canadian limited edition release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "White Wedding" – 4:12
Cassette single (1990 US release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "To Be a Lover" – 3:51

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sweet Sixteen"!Chart (1987)!Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[21] 9
Canada (RPM)[22] 18
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 16
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 9
Italy (FIMI)[25] 30
South Africa (RISA)[26] 30

Year-end charts

1987 year-end chart performance for "Sweet Sixteen"!Chart (1987)!Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[27] 73
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[28] 97
European Hot 100 Singles (Music & Media)[29] 63
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[30] 75
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 87
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 21
West Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 10

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Great Rock Discography. 405.
  2. Stickland . Andy . News Digest . . 30 May 1987 . 28 . 0144-5804.
  3. Web site: billy idol | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . 6 July 2017.
  4. Web site: Billy Idol – Chart history . Billboard . 6 July 2017.
  5. Web site: Edward Leedskalnin and his Coral Castle in Florida . Latvian History . 12 January 2014 . 6 July 2017.
  6. Web site: Kevin Wuench . Monday lost and found: The bizarre story behind Billy Idol's 'Sweet Sixteen' . Tampabay.com . 2 June 2014 . 6 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170715082816/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/80s/monday-lost-and-found-the-bizarre-story-behind-billy-idols-sweet-sixteen/2182507 . 15 July 2017 .
  7. Web site: Billy Idol explains Sweet Sixteen background: first two Minutes . YouTube . 6 July 2017.
  8. Web site: Preview Billy Idol's Candid Memoir 'Dancing With Myself' . Rolling Stone . 25 September 2014 . 6 July 2017.
  9. Web site: Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen . YouTube . 9 March 2009 . 6 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Billy Idol: Sweet Sixteen (Video 1987) - IMDb. 27 June 2019. IMDb.com.
  11. Book: Gladys L. Knight . Pop Culture Places: An Encyclopedia of Places in American Popular Culture [3 volumes] ]. . 11 August 2014 . 213. 9780313398834 .
  12. Web site: Billy Idol Sweet Sixteen . YouTube . 19 July 2012 . 18 March 2018.
  13. Web site: Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen at Discogs . Discogs.com . 6 July 2017.
  14. Web site: Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 2017-07-06.
  15. Web site: Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 6 July 2017.
  16. Web site: Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Vinyl) at Discogs . Discogs.com . 6 July 2017.
  17. Web site: Tannenbaum . Rob . Whiplash Smile . Rolling Stone . 4 December 1986 . 6 July 2017.
  18. Web site: Billboard – Google Books . 18 October 1986 . 6 July 2017.
  19. Web site: Johnny Loftus . Whiplash Smile – Billy Idol | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic . 6 July 2017.
  20. Web site: 30 Years Ago: Billy Idol Releases His Third Album, 'Whiplash Smile' . Ultimateclassicrock.com . 6 July 2017.
  21. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 147.
  22. Web site: Image: RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada . 17 July 2013 . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 6 July 2017.
  23. Book: Pennanen, Timo. 2006. Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. 1st. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. 978-951-1-21053-5. 163.
  24. Web site: The Irish Charts - All there is to know . The Irish Charts . 6 July 2017.
  25. Web site: Indice per Interprete: I . Hit Parade Italia . 6 July 2017.
  26. Web site: Brian Currin . South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1965–1989 Acts (I) . Rock.co.za . 6 July 2017.
  27. Web site: Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987. Australian Music Report. Imgur. 11 December 2019.
  28. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1987. Ultratop. 26 September 2021.
  29. European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles. Music & Media. 26 December 1987. 4. 51/52. 8 April 2022. 34.
  30. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987. Dutch Top 40. 26 September 2021.
  31. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987. dutchcharts.nl. 26 September 2021.
  32. Web site: END OF YEAR CHARTS 1987. Official New Zealand Music Chart. April 22, 2021.
  33. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. German. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 26 September 2021.

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