It’s amazing how often in today’s music, tracks written in haste to finish off an album become incredibly popular.
In previous articles on Blimey, we have already talked about such cases and today we will continue the topic. It’s about the song Pour Some Sugar on Me by the rock band Def Leppard.
History of creation and meaning
The guys were recording the song Armageddon It for the album Hysteria and decided to take a break. During a break, Joe Elliott picked up an acoustic guitar and began to improvise, playing a new riff. The melody was heard by producer Matt Lange, who was haunted by the obsessive thought that the album lacked a killer hit. He thought it could make a great song, and he and Elliott took on the lyrics. Time was running out, so we had to act very quickly.
They worked extraordinary. Both took a tape recorder, and each recorded on tape everything that came to mind. The two of them then listened to both tapes together and agreed that the line “Love is like a bomb” would be a great way to start the song and express its overall meaning. Then they only had to collect the text from scattered fragments.
Elliott later called Pour Some Sugar on Me “a metaphor for whatever sexual preference you have.” So the idea of the song is quite understandable, although it was managed to be cleverly veiled so that music radio stations and TV channels could easily air the track.
An interesting story is the origin of the main phrase of the text, which became the title of the song Pour Some Sugar on Me. It seems that Joe Elliott said that the first single he bought was Sugar, Sugar of the rock band The Archies from the then popular cartoon. There is almost the same line in the last verse of that song. It is possible that this is where the source of inspiration lies.
Release and achievements
It took about two weeks to record Pour Some Sugar on Me, after which it was included as the twelfth track on the Hysteria album. It was released as a single, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada, she topped the charts. The song not only pulled the whole album on itself, but also provided him with a level of sales that the band Def Leppard did not even count on.
In 2006, VH1 placed “Pour Some Sugar on Me” at number two on their list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s.
Video clips
Two music videos were made for Pour Some Sugar on Me.
The first version, in which a woman with a hammer appears, was categorically not liked by the Def Leppard participants, so (again in a short time) the second version was edited. Choose for yourself which one you like best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ4xwmZ6zi4
In 2012 the band re-recorded the song called Pour Some Sugar on Me 2012
Interesting Facts
- In the manner of performing the song, the influence of rap music is felt. Elliott explained that it was inspired by Aerosmith and Run-DMC’s Walk This Way.
- Pour Some Sugar on Me performed by Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages.
Lyrics Pour Some Sugar on Me – Def Leppard
Love is like a bomb, baby, c’mon get it on
Livin’ like a lover with a radar phone
Lookin’ like a tramp, like a video vamp
Demolition woman, can I be your man?
Razzle ‘n’ a dazzle ‘n’ a flash a little light
Television lover, baby, go all night
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Little miss innocent sugar me
Take a bottle, shake it up
Break the bubble, break it up
Pour some sugar on me
Ooh, in the name of love
Pour some sugar on me
C’mon fire me up
Pour your sugar on me
Oh, I can’t get enough
I’m hot, sticky sweet
From my head to my feet
Listen! red light, yellow light, green-a-light go!
Crazy little woman in a one man show
Mirror queen, mannequin, rhythm of love
Sweet dream, saccharine, loosen up
You gotta squeeze a little, squeeze a little
Tease a little more
Easy operator come a knockin’ on my door
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Little miss innocent sugar me
You got the peaches, I got the cream
Sweet to taste, saccharine
‘Cos I’m hot, sticky sweet
From my head, my head, to my feet
Do you take sugar? one lump or two?
Translation of the song Pour Some Sugar on Me – Der Leppard
Love is like a bomb, baby, come on now
Living like a lover in a radar phone
I look like a tramp, like a movie vampire
Disaster woman, can I be your man?
Clutter, confusion and brief flash
TV lover, baby, let’s go all night
Anytime, anywhere, sweeten me up
Little Miss Innocence, sweeten me up
Take the bottle, shake it
Uncork it and smash it to smithereens
Sprinkle me with sugar
Oh in the name of love
Sprinkle me with sugar
Come on, light a fire in me
Sprinkle me with sugar
Oh I can’t get enough
I’m on fire, all sticky sweet
From head to toe
Listen! Red light, yellow light, green light – let’s go!
Crazy little woman in a one man show
Queen of mirrors, mannequin, rhythm of love
Sweet dream, saccharine, relax
You should snuggle up to me a little, just a little more
Tease some more
Take it easy, knock on my door
Anywhere, anytime, sweeten me
Little Miss Innocence, sweeten me up
You have peaches, I have cream
Sweet taste, saccharin
‘Cause I’m hot, sticky sweet
Head to toe
Do you have sugar? One or two pieces?
Song quote
Playful, ridiculous anthem
Allmusic
