NO, BILLY SQUIRE DID NOT HAVE A STROKE!
Billy Squire's (real name William Haislip Squier - quite the handle) '81 hit - THE STROKE - has some very suggestive lyrics. But, is that what Billy really meant when he wrote it?
Comb the lyrics with the bang-bang tempo of the song and it makes a great a good stripper song. It was used this way by Will Ferrel in Blades of Glory by his sex-symbol macho figure skater character.
But, according to Billy, the interpretation of the song as 'racy' is wrong. It is actually about how the record companies behave - they seduce artists, pay attention to them, stroke their ego etc...as long as records are flying off shelves and concerts are selling out and these mean old record companies are getting their share of the money.
Well, I admit, I was fooled. I never made the connection between stroke and the relationship between record companies and their artists. Good on Billy!
Apparently the label did not even want The Stroke on Billy's hit album - see what record execs really know!?
I know lots of other artists have the same view and express it through song. Smashing Pumpkins did this with their song Cherub Rock from their smash hit album Siamese Dream. To top it off, they put this song as track number one on the album. Were they trying to send a message?
Apparently the label did not even want The Stroke on Billy's hit album - see what record execs really know!?
I know lots of other artists have the same view and express it through song. Smashing Pumpkins did this with their song Cherub Rock from their smash hit album Siamese Dream. To top it off, they put this song as track number one on the album. Were they trying to send a message?
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