This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker"
Single by Ramones
from the album Rocket to Russia
B-side"I Don't Care"
ReleasedMay 1977[1]
RecordedApril 1977
Genre
Length2:49
LabelSire
Songwriter(s)Joey Ramone
Producer(s)Tony Bongiovi, Tommy Ramone
Ramones singles chronology
"I Remember You"
(1977) 		"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker"
(1977) 		"Swallow My Pride"
(1977)
Music video
"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" on YouTube

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, released in 1977 through Sire Records. Written by front man and lead vocalist Joey Ramone it appears on the band's third studio album Rocket to Russia (1977). The song is well known for its early 1960s influence of surf rock and bubblegum pop that influenced Joey; it has since remained one of the band's most popular songs.[5]

The song first appeared in May 1977 as a single in the UK where it charted at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart.[1][6] In the US, it was released as a single in July 1977, and reached number 81 in the Billboard Hot 100, and appeared on copies of the second issue of the band's 1977 album Leave Home (replacing the track "Carbona Not Glue"). The track, as well as its B-side "I Don't Care", was remixed and re-released for their third LP Rocket to Russia.

Background

The "Sheena" referred to in the title is in fact the comic book character Sheena, Queen of the Jungle; the idea being that punk rock music would appeal to a savage jungle girl brought to civilization. Joey Ramone said of the track, "To me 'Sheena' was the first surf/punk rock teenage rebellion song. I combined Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, with the primalness of punk rock. Then Sheena is brought into the modern day."[citation needed]

The song is notable for being one of the first to explicitly refer to "punk rock" in its title and lyrics in terms of a subculture.

Reception

The song was ranked at number 5 among the top "Tracks of the Year" for 1977 by NME;[7] it is ranked number 461 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[8] in 2010, number 457 in 2004, and number 434 in 2021 and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[9] Cash Box said that "this combination of grinding guitars, rock nostalgia and Anglophiliac delivery could only belong to the Ramones" and that it "is their slickest effort to date."[10]

Record World said that the single "recalls California surf instrumentals, and it could be [the Ramones'] first hit.."[11]

Charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 20
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) 22
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 81

Cover versions

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

References

  1. ^ a b "The UK version of Sheena Is A Punk Rocker". Ramones on Vinyl. May 24, 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
  2. ^ Bradley, Michael (March 15, 2016). "The 10 best punk rock singles, by The Undertones' Michael Bradley". TeamRock. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ramones - Rocket to Russia". Allmusic. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  4. ^ Carafelli, Carl (October 17, 2017). "The Ramones: Power Pop Hall of Fame". Boppin’ (Like the Hip Folks Do). Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  5. ^ Ramones – Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, retrieved 2021-12-03
  6. ^ "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  7. ^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Ramones, 'Sheena Is a Punk Rocker'". Rolling Stone. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  9. ^ "500 Songs That Shaped Rock". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  10. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 25, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
  11. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 2, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  12. ^ "The Complete Studio Recordings". Swedishcharts. 1977. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  13. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 689.
  14. ^ "www.allmusic.com". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
Categories