Born to Be Wild

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"Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first released as a single by Steppenwolf. Although the lyrics do not specifically mention motorcycles, the song is often invoked in both popular and counterculture to denote a biker appearance or attitude since being featured in the 1969 film Easy Rider. Sometimes, "Born to Be Wild" is described as the first heavy metal song, and the second-verse lyric "heavy metal thunder" marks the first use of this term in rock music (although not as a description of a musical style, but rather a motorcycle).[1][2]

Music and lyrics

Mars Bonfire wrote "Born to Be Wild" as a ballad.[3] Bonfire was previously a member of the Sparrows, the predecessor band to Steppenwolf, and his brother was Steppenwolf's drummer. Although he initially offered the song to other bands — The Human Expression, for one[4] — "Born to Be Wild" was first recorded by Steppenwolf in a sped-up and rearranged version that AllMusic's Hal Horowitz described as "a roaring anthem of turbo-charged riff rock" and "a timeless radio classic as well as a slice of '60s revolt that at once defines Steppenwolf's sound and provided them with their shot at AM immortality".[3]

According to Classic Rock Magazine, the track was the first in history to incorporate the word "heavy metal" into its lyrics.[5]

Release and commercial performance

"Born to Be Wild" was Steppenwolf's third single off their self-titled debut album, and became their signature song, reaching number two on the Billboard HotScript error: No such module "String".100 singles charts. It was kept from the number-one spot by "People Got to Be Free" by the Rascals.[6]

Reception and legacy

In 2004, Rolling Stone placed "Born to Be Wild" at numberScript error: No such module "String".129 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[7] Also in 2004, it finished at numberScript error: No such module "String".29 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In 2009, it was named the 53rd-best hard rock song of all time by VH1 (It had ranked 40th in the 100 Greatest Songs of Rock and Roll by VH1 nine years earlier.).[8] In 2018, the song was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a new category for singles.[9]

In 2021, staff writers at Classic Rock Magazine expressed the belief that "Born to Be Wild" is "probably the first real metal track."[10]

Personnel

Personnel taken from Mixonline.[11]

Charts

Weekly charts

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Year-end charts

Chart (1968) Position
Canada (RPM Top Singles)[25] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 31
Chart (1990) Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 47
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 57

Certifications

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Cover versions

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In 1985, the song was covered by Australian band Rose Tattoo. Their version peaked at number 25 in Australia.[29] In 2002, it was covered by Kim Wilde and released as a nonalbum single. Her cover reached number 84 in Germany[30] and number 71 in Switzerland.[31] Belgian singer Tanja Dexters also covered the song in 2002. Her version peaked at number 21 in Belgium.[32]

Other artists who covered this song include Hinder,[33] Etta James,[34] Link Wray,[34] Slade,[35] The Cult,[36] INXS,[34] Ozzy Osbourne with Miss Piggy,[37] Bruce Springsteen,[34] Slayer,[38] Blue Öyster Cult,[34] Status Quo,[34] Fanfare Ciocărlia,[39] Krokus,[40] Wilson Pickett,[34] and La Renga.[41]

Charts

Rose Tattoo version

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[29] 25

Kim Wilde version

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Germany (GfK)[30] 84
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 71

Tanja Dexters version

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 21

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  13. ↑ a b "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5856." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 41, 1968" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Template:Digits/7501/ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1973" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  21. ↑ a b "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  24. ↑ Template:Digits/7501/ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b "Kim Wilde – Born To Be Wild" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  31. ↑ a b "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Kim Wilde – Born To Be Wild". Swiss Singles Chart.
  32. ↑ a b "Script error: No such module "WLink".&titel=Script error: No such module "WLink".&cat=s Tania Dexter – Born To Be Wild" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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