The song, “The Stroke” was created by a popular American rock artist, Billy Squire back in 1981. The song had reached the heart of the audience. It was his first single that made it to No. 3 on the Top Tracks chart. It also reached number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 list. Such was the power of the song that it left the audience mesmerized. This song also got the title of 59th best hard rock song of all time. The whole album is still considered to be a landmark as it bridged the gap between hard rock music and power pop music.
But something that made this song a hit is its lyrics. The Stroker lyrics meaning will be clear to you once you get to know about the creator of the song. William Haislip Squire, popularly known as Billy Squire created a lot of great music during the 1980s. Some of them include – “Lonely is the Night”, “In the Dark ”, “Love is the Hero” and many more. His most successful period lasted between 1981 and 1984. During this time, he created 5 songs that reached the Top 10 Mainstream Rock hits. Three of his albums were also very popular and platinum-selling ones. His last album, “Tell the Truth” was released in 1993 after which he only started performing on some tours and gave live performances.
The Stroke was one of the most popular songs he has created. The Stroke lyrics meaning explained the evil side of the business industry. For the first time, someone had spoken about it in the public in the form of a song. This song was a part of his first album, “Don’t Say No”. This song undoubtedly made the whole album a hit.
What Does the Title Mean?
Most people interpret The Stroke lyrics meaning as sexually explicit. But that is completely wrong. Of course, the audience has the right to have their interpretation of the song, but Billy wrote this song to let the audience know about the cruelty of the business industry. In this song, he talks about how the music industry works, how corrupted it is, and how only the big musical tycoons have all the power. Billy has successfully created the song in a way that even the biggest music tycoons have unknowingly released the song. They broadcasted it all over the radio without even realizing the hidden meaning behind it!
There are a lot of sexual connotations in the song. But, the creator cleared it out in one of the interviews by saying how happy he was about people making their interpretation of the song, be it sexual. But he had made it to let his audience know about the business world and how it works.
Even the title of the song brings out a sexual massage. But “The Stoke” also means to persuade someone gently.
The song is about ego-stroking in the music business. Each line has been written in a way that The Stroke lyrics meaning can have 2 different interpretations. But why did he write this song? Billy was a veteran recording artist in the music industry for 12 years. He knew everything about the evils of this industry. This song was a hit back then not just in America but in all parts of the world especially Canada and Australia.
Verse 1: What Does it Mean?
Now everybody, have you heard, if you’re in the game
Then the stroke’s the word
Don’t take no rhythm,
Don’t take no style
Gotta thirst for killin’,
Grab your vial uh
The first few lines of this song are the key to understanding The Stroke lyrics meaning. These lines summarize the whole aim of the song. In these few lines, she explains how evil the music business is. He goes on to say how you do not need to have a good knowledge of “rhythm” or a great “style” to become a famous musician. Then what makes you a great musician or a great artist? It is their thirst to kill others in the business. The business tycoons exploit the talented musicians by stroking their egos and making them work to suit their needs.
These tycoons do not care about the real talent of the musicians, rather all they care about is their interests. He says how the public might think that the musicians live a wealthy and glamorous life. But, in reality, it is the tycoons who lead that life. These people make their decisions and always stay behind the scenes, yet they are the ones to get all the success in the industry. Billy says how only becoming a tycoon will make you successful in this cruel industry.
Verse 2: What Does it Mean?
Put your right hand out, give a firm handshake
Talk to me about that one big break
Spread your ear pollution, both far and wide
Keep your contributions by your side and
In the second verse, he goes on to say how an artist needs to meet an executive or a producer before releasing any song. But once you meet them, they tell you how you should make your music. The artist loses his identity. After that, the artist does not produce great music but only “ear pollution”.
Chorus: What Does it Mean?
Stroke me, stroke me
Could be a winner boy you move mighty well
Stroke me, stroke me (stroke)
Stroke me, stroke me
You got your number down
Stroke me, stroke me
Say you’re a winner but babe, you’re just a sinner now
The chorus talks about how the artist has now become famous. He is now a winner as his singing has become a hit. But, in the process, he has lost his individuality. The artist did deliver a number one song, but now, he is also a sinner. He has sinned by taking advantage of some other person to become famous in the industry. So, now, he might be a winner, but he has won at the cost of sinning.
Verse 3: What Does it Mean?
Put your left foot out, keep it all in place
Work your way right into my face
First you try to bet me, you make my backbone slide
When you find you’ve bled me, slip on by, and
In this verse of the song, Billy says after extracting everything from the artist. The business tycoons, exploit his talents, and do not take the time to throw them out of the industry again. They show the artist how much they care for him, and they make fake promises. When they get done with the artist, they leave him alone and look for another to exploit.
Verse 4: What Does it Mean?
Better listen now
Said it ain’t no joke
Don’t let your conscience fail ya’
Just do the stroke
Don’t ya’ take no chances
Keep your eye on top
Do your fancy dances
You can’t stop you just
In this verse, Billy says that if you want success in this industry, you have to do “The Stroke”. Until and unless you learn to exploit others, you will not be able to gain success. Of course, what you are doing is not right, but you have no other option if you want to win. Do not let your conscience stop you from doing “the stroke”.
When you first hear the song, it feels like the song does not speak about anything serious. But analyzing the lyrics carefully will give you a proper insight into the song. You will only be able to appreciate the song when you understand its deep meaning.
FAQs
What movie is the song The Stroke in? ›
Who writes music for The Strokes? ›Formed in 1998, the band is composed of lead singer and songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikolai Fraiture, and drummer Fabrizio Moretti. They were a leading group of the early-2000s indie rock revival.
When did Billy Squier Stroke Me come out? › What causes a stroke? ›There are two main causes of stroke: a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may have only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), that doesn't cause lasting symptoms.
Is The Strokes LOFI? ›By the time U.S. audiences found out about the Strokes, they'd already cultivated a rabid following in the United Kingdom thanks to a lofi style that pulled from the likes of the Stooges, the Velvet Underground and Television.
How did The Strokes get famous? ›Already the toast of the music press, the Strokes also landed on tabloid pages as a result of the band members' rock-star antics and celebrity liaisons. By the 2003 release of the new wave-inspired Room on Fire, the Strokes phenomenon had already peaked, but the band retained a large following.
What does it mean to stroke me? ›1 : to rub gently in one direction also : caress. 2 : to flatter or pay attention to in a manner designed to reassure or persuade.
Who were The Strokes inspired by? ›The Strokes digested everything, from the proto-punk stomp of The Stooges and The Velvet Underground to the quirky cool of CBGB-era legends like Blondie and Talking Heads; even Sam Cooke's vintage soul shone a light on their Lower East Side paradise.
What was The Strokes biggest hit? ›- Under Cover Of Darkness. ...
- Trying Your Luck. ...
- You Only Live Once. ...
- Reptilia. ...
- New York City Cops. ...
- The Modern Age. ...
- Taken For A Fool.
[English] Generally, the movement of a performer to produce sound on a musical instrument. Specifically: The motion of a performer's arm, wrist and fingers that causes the drumstick or mallet to strike a percussion instruments.
Did The Strokes save the rock? ›
And it is for this very reason that The Strokes were able to revitalize rock in the modern age. Not only did they create a record that changed what the 2000's conception of rock would be, they themselves became the pioneers that new bands would look towards for inspiration.
What song uses The Stroke beat? ›“The Stroke,” 1981 has been sampled in: Eminem, “Berserk” Mickey Avalon, “Stroke Me” Company Flow, “Wurker Ant Uprise”
What genre of music is the strokes? › What are the strokes known for? ›The Strokes are known for their energetic, concise bursts, but this slow and stately track defies expectations and hangs around for nearly five minutes.
Where are the strokes from? › Why did The Strokes stop making music? ›The thing that tanked the Strokes' mainstream success is that they stopped wanting to make straightforward rock records. And could you blame them? They learned to play their instruments and began expanding their palette of influences. In a sense, the Strokes stopped pretending to be musicians.
Did The Strokes inspire Arctic Monkeys? ›Casablancas' comments are also a direct spin on Arctic Monkeys lyrics, after the band hailed The Strokes on 'Star Treatment', which featured on their 2018 album 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino'. “I just wanted to be one of The Strokes, now look at the mess you've made me make,” Alex Turner sings on the track.
Did The Strokes change music? ›It is still considered an indie rock album, with elements of new wave and electronic music, but also 80s pop music, dream pop and glam rock. The Strokes never changed, and yet at the same time, they have changed a lot.
What are the 3 types of strokes? ›- Ischemic stroke. Most strokes are ischemic strokes. ...
- Hemorrhagic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures (breaks open). ...
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA or “mini-stroke”) ...
- CDC. ...
- Million Hearts® and CDC Foundation. ...
- Other organizations.
- Sudden lack of balance.
- Temporary loss of basic muscle movement (bladder included)
- Slight memory loss.
- Sudden changes in mood or personality.
- Issues with cognitive skills and ability.
What are the 4 types of strokes? ›
Ischemic Stroke. Hemorrhagic Stroke. Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini-Stroke) Brain Stem Stroke.
Why do they call it LOFI? ›- 1950s: The term lo-fi was first used in the 1950s as an abbreviation of low-fidelity, meaning low-quality music recordings, associated with "homemade" productions created outside of a professional studio. The genre became popular with young people who began experimenting with affordable equipment.
Why is music called LOFI? ›Lo-fi (also typeset as lofi or low-fi; short for low fidelity) is a music or production quality in which elements usually regarded as imperfections in the context of a recording or performance are present, sometimes as a deliberate choice.
What is the meaning of alternative rock? ›noun. : alternative music that blends elements of conventional rock with influences from other musical styles (such as punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, or folk)
How did The Strokes get bird on money? ›They chose the 1981 painting Bird on Money by fellow New Yorker, famed graffiti artist, and neoexpressionist Jean-Michel Basquiat for the Grammy-nominated record's cover.
How old were The Strokes when they formed? ›The Strokes met while still schoolboys, starting with Julian and Nikolai when they were six years old.
How does a stroke affect you emotionally? ›Stroke impacts the brain, and the brain controls our behavior and emotions. You or your loved one may experience feelings of irritability, forgetfulness, carelessness or confusion. Feelings of anger, anxiety or depression are also common.
How do you explain a stroke to someone? ›Each artery supplies blood to specific areas of the brain. a stroke occurs when one of these arteries to the brain is either blocked or bursts. as a result, part of the brain does not get the blood it needs, so it starts to die.
What are the three main causes of strokes? ›A stroke happens when blood flow to your brain is stopped. It is an emergency situation. It can be caused by a narrowed blood vessel, bleeding, or a clot that blocks blood flow.
Who are The Strokes similar to? ›- Arctic Monkeys.
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
- Blonde Redhead.
- Eagles of Death Metal.
- Electric Six.
- Hot Hot Heat.
- Jet.
- Kings of Leon.
Who should I listen to if I like The Strokes? ›
- Arctic Monkeys.
- The White Stripes.
- Arcade Fire.
- Bloc Party.
- Death Cab For Cutie.
- Interpol.
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
- Modest Mouse.
Brandon Flowers on how Vampire Weekend inspired The Killers like The Strokes used to. The Killers' frontman Brandon Flowers has spoken of how Vampire Weekend inspired the band's latest album 'Imploding The Mirage', and how it reminded him of a healthy rivalry he once felt with The Strokes.
What is the greatest hit of all time? ›| 1 | THE TWIST Chubby Checker US Release: 1960 |
|---|---|
| 2 | SMOOTH Santana Feat. Rob Thomas US Release: 1999 |
| 3 | MACK THE KNIFE Bobby Darin US Release: 1959 |
| 4 | UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson Feat. Bruno Mars US Release: 2015 |
| 5 | HOW DO I LIVE Leann Rimes US Release: 1997 |
"Old Town Road" holds the record for the longest stretch at No. 1 with 19 weeks. It also became the fastest song in history to be certified diamond.
What is the biggest hit of the century? ›| Rank | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg) | Judy Garland |
| 2 | "White Christmas" (Irving Berlin) | Bing Crosby |
| 3 | "This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie) | Woody Guthrie |
| 4 | "Respect" (Otis Redding) | Aretha Franklin |
FAST is an acronym used as a mnemonic to help detect and enhance responsiveness to the needs of a person having a stroke. The acronym stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services.
What is stroke language? ›Aphasia is a language disorder that affects your ability to communicate. It's most often caused by strokes in the left side of the brain that control speech and language. People with aphasia may struggle with communicating in daily activities at home, socially or at work.
Who saved rock and roll? ›On July 3, 2001, Jack and Meg White saved rock and roll. Twenty years ago today, just a month before The Strokes released Is This It, The White Stripes saved rock and roll.
Are The Strokes successful? ›So much so that for the next fifteen years, The Strokes were victims of their own insurmountable hype. “Victims” isn't exactly the right word. They were successful, they had hordes of adoring fans, and they made a succession of good-to-great records that continued to poke at, if not fully permeate, the mainstream.
Are The Strokes emo? ›The Strokes is not an emo band.
What song has the same melody as big energy? ›
If you've heard Latto's swaggering track "Big Energy"—and after 30 weeks on the Hot 100, you probably have—you may have heard a resemblance to Mariah Carey's 1995 hit "Fantasy." That's because both songs borrow a groove from the 1981 hit "Genius of Love," a genre-defying smash made by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth.
How do you find a song if you only remember the beat? ›If you're listening to the song, use an app like Shazam to identify it on the spot so you can find it. If you only know the basic tune or a lyric or two, use an app like Soundhound and try humming the tune to see if it can identify it. If it's able to successfully identify it, you can look up the song and download it.
Did Eminem sample Billy Squier? ›DETROIT, MI - Billy Squier, a classic early-80s rocker, has something to say about Eminem's sampling of his song "The Stroke" for a new tune called "Berzerk."
Did Billy Fury write his own songs? ›His first album, 'The Sound of Fury' featuring 10 songs all written by Billy, was ground breaking for its time. He was one of the few artists before the Beatles era to write and record his own songs.
What was Billy SquiRE's greatest hit? ›- 'The Big Beat' From: 'The Tale of the Tape' (1980) ...
- 'You Know What I Like' From: 'Don't Say No' (1981) ...
- 'Stronger' From: 'Hear & Now' (1989) ...
- 'Love is the Hero' From: 'Enough is Enough' (1986) ...
- 'Rock Me Tonight' ...
- 'Lonely Is the Night' ...
- 'Everybody Wants You' ...
- 'My Kinda Lover'
Nicholas Valensi (born January 16, 1981) is an American musician and songwriter, best known for his role as lead and rhythm guitarist in the American rock band The Strokes.
Who was the lead guitarist for Billy Squier? ›Jason Newman. Jeff Golub, the longtime jazz, blues and rock guitarist who played on albums by Rod Stewart and Billy Squier alongside his own solo work, died on Thursday at the age of 59, according to Jazz Times.
Did Billy Fury meet Elvis Presley? ›Music fan Matt Jacobson recounts the day he discovered the music of Liverpool singing sensation Billy Fury - and ruined his tea in the process. Billy meeting Elvis Presley on the set of 'Girls, Girls, Girls' in Hollywood, May 1962.
How old was Billy Fury when he dies? › What song is played on the piano in the movie Fury? ›The Virgin's Slumber Song is a German song sung by Emma and played by Norman on the piano in Fury.
What is voted the greatest song of all time? ›
After thousands of votes, we have crowned the winner of Gold's Hall of Fame Top 300 for 2022! Queen's iconic 1975 song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was voted the greatest song of all time by Gold listeners, ahead of 'Hotel California' by the Eagles at two.
What is Taylor Swift's most favorite song? ›Taylor Swift Says This 'Midnights' Track Is One of Her 'Favorite Songs' She's Ever Written.
Why are they called The Strokes? ›Julian brainstormed their iconic band name.
Contrary to what most would think, The Strokes' name doesn't have symbolic meaning. “We had a running joke that every time we met up we had to have a certain number of names. Some were horrible. One day Julian said, 'How about The Strokes?
the Strokes, American rock group often credited with having spearheaded a revival of 1960s-style garage rock in the early 21st century. Although their songs hinted at a rough-and-tumble life, the Strokes were composed mainly of privileged sons of the New York City elite. Singer Julian Casablancas (b.
What genre is The Strokes? › Who is Billy Gibbons favorite guitar player? ›“Jimmy Page is one of the greatest. I would invite all of you readers to go check out the nightclub scene from the 1966 movie Blowup, where The Yardbirds are playing. They had Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page at the same time!
Are Ian Brown and John Squire still friends? ›Squire and Brown - who was jailed briefly for threatening behaviour in 1998 - had been childhood friends before forming the group. Brown told The Word: "I've had a whole other chapter since he left the group - I've got a 13 year old son he's never met. But I've no animosity towards John.
What guitar did Billy Squier use? ›The main guitar I use with Ringo is actually my '57 Strat. I also bring my Nocaster and '56 Les Paul Special and '56 Junior.