When the summer heat begins to cool and Labor Day is just a weekend away, it can only mean one thing. Yes, the day that many of you might be dreading is near: back to school! While school was never as fun and music-filled as movies like Grease and School of Rock made it out to be, it wasn't all bad. As the following school themed rock classics can attest to, school can be about much more than just hitting the books!
Rock And Roll High School - The Ramones
Originally recorded for the 1979 film of the same name and then later as part of their 1980 album, End of the Century, this classic from the Ramones captures the essence of what most of us probably felt high school was really all about: "I just wanna have some kicks / I just wanna get some chicks.“
School's Out - Alice Cooper
The inspiration for this school-themed hit came to Cooper when asked what he thought were the greatest three minutes of his life: "The last three minutes of the last day of school when you're sitting there and it's like a slow fuse burning. I said, 'If we can catch that three minutes in a song, it's going to be so big." Turns out he was right! A last day of school anthem if there ever was one -- too bad it's September!
Smokin In The Boy's Room - Mötley Crüe
This classic hit about adolescent mischief describes the all too familiar scene of students hoping to avoid being caught violating their school's smoking ban by sneaking a smoke in the restroom. While the original Brownsville Station version was the bigger hit, reaching No. 3 and 2 on the American and Canadian charts, respectively, its the Mötley Crüe cover version that many of us associate with the song thanks in no small part to the classic music video accompanying the track.
Hot For Teacher - Van Halen
This song is not only memorable for Alex Van Halen's double bass drum performance but for its music video as well, featuring what is easily one of the most awkward dance routines ever attempted by a rock band. While choreography was never the band's strong suit, capturing the thoughts of adolescent boys everywhere and turning it into rock and roll gold sure was! How many of us haven't had the hots for a teacher or two?
Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) - Pink Floyd
As one of several standout tracks featured on Pink Floyd's highly influential rock opera, The Wall, this song stray's true to the album's overall imagery of abandonment and personal isolation, specifically protesting against rigid schooling in general (and boarding schools in the UK in particular). The fact that this song was able to reach no.1 on several charts, including the US and UK, just goes to show that Roger Waters wasn't alone in feeling like school can be sometimes be a drag (to put it lightly).
