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Photograph (Def Leppard song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Photograph
| cover = Def-Leppard-Photograph.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Def Leppard
| album = Pyromania
| released = 3 February 1983
| recorded = 1982
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Robert John "Mutt" Lange
| prev_title = Bringin' On the Heartbreak
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Rock of Ages
| next_year = 1983
| misc =
}}
"'Photograph'" is a song by the English rock band Def Leppard and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. It is the lead single from the band's third studio album, 'Pyromania' (1983). Their lead vocalist Joe Elliott has described the song as generally about "something you can't ever get your hands on". When released as a single it reached No. 1 on the 'Billboard' Top Tracks chart, where it stayed for six weeks, and No. 12 on the Pop Singles chart.Whitburn, Joel (2004). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits', 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 170.
In 2008, they performed the song with Taylor Swift on 'CMT Crossroads'. The performance was nominated for both Wide Open Country Video of the Year and CMT Performance of the Year at the 2009 CMT Music Awards.
In 2013, the song was featured in the 'Grand Theft Auto V' video game, on the Los Santos Rock Radio station. It was also featured in the DLC release of 'Rock Band 3', in 2011.
Musical style
The song has been described as glam metal, hard rock, and power pop.
Reception
'Cash Box' called it "a well-crafted if typical hard-pop outing," praising the "incendiary metal guitar licks and deafening drumbeats."
Music video
There are two slightly different versions of the music video. The uncensored version shows a knife scene at the beginning, and on the censored version of the video, it is almost the same except the knife scene is replaced with a stationary black cat among other minor bits removed. There are several appearances of a lookalike impersonating Marilyn Monroe in the video, for the song is actually about the star and lead singer Joe Elliott's declaration that he does not just "want [her] photograph" but that is all he has of her, and he must admire her from afar.
The music video was directed by David Mallet and was shot on 2 December 1982 (bassist Rick Savage's 22nd birthday), in Battersea, London, England. It featured the video debut of their co-lead guitarist Phil Collen. The video aired in heavy rotation on MTV.
Live performances
"Photograph" has been performed at every Def Leppard concert tour since its release. The song is traditionally the final song of the concert, often used during the encore (as well as fellow 'Pyromania' track "Rock of Ages"). During these performances, Elliott attempts to rile the crowd into singing along by saying "Come on, sing it" before the first chorus. "Photograph", however, is harsh on the singer's vocals (especially as time wears on) due to the song's high notes.
Legacy
"Photograph" is widely considered one of Def Leppard's best songs and one of the best rock songs of all time. In 2009 it was named the 13th-greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. It was also listed as the 17th-greatest song of the past 25 years by VH1. In 2015, 'Loudwire' ranked the song number one on their list of the 10 greatest Def Leppard songs, and in 2017, 'Billboard' placed it number two on their list of the 15 best Def Leppard songs.
Personnel
*Joe Elliott lead vocals
*Steve Clark lead guitar, backing vocals
*Pete Willis rhythm guitar
*Phil Collen guitar solo, backing vocals
*Rick Savage bass guitar, backing vocals
*Rick Allen drums, backing vocals
*Thomas Dolby keyboards
Charts
;Original version
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
;Santana featuring Chris Daughtry
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col"| Chart (201112)
!scope="col"| Peak position
|-
!scope="row" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks ('Billboard')
| style="text-align:center;"|30
|}
See also
*List of number-one mainstream rock hits (United States)
*List of glam metal albums and songs
References
Category:Songs about Marilyn Monroe
Category:Def Leppard songs
Category:1983 singles
Category:Songs written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Category:Song recordings produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Category:Santana (band) songs
Category:Daughtry (band) songs
Category:2011 singles
Category:1982 songs
Category:Songs written by Steve Clark
Category:Songs written by Pete Willis
Category:Songs written by Joe Elliott
Category:Songs written by Rick Savage
Category:British power pop songs
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by David Mallet (director)
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