Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1985
Rough Boy
Buy Rough Boy now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Rough Boy'" was the third single by American rock band ZZ Top from their 1985 album 'Afterburner'. The song reached No. 5 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 22 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100, as well as No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart. Unlike the other songs on the album, this song has a much slower tempo and is more of a power ballad. It also shares a similar tune to their song "Leila" from their album 'El Loco'.
Background
Hill said in 2007 "Rough Boy' is a pretty li'l song. We're doin' it this tour. We pulled it back out. I like that song so much, I had it played at my wedding.
Reception
'Cash Box' called it a "rapturous teen ballad" in which "the band turns its leather-tough into pure silk."
Music video
The music video (directed by Steve Barron) features the band's "Eliminator" car/space shuttle hybrid (from the 'Afterburner' album cover) visiting a space car wash, interspersed with images of the band members' hands and faces, as well as a woman's legs, protruding from metal plates, some of which double as lighted message signs or crosswalk signals.
Charts
Personnel
*Billy Gibbons - guitar, lead vocals
*Dusty Hill - bass, keyboard, backing vocals
*Frank Beard - drums
References
Category:ZZ Top songs
Category:1980s ballads
Category:1985 songs
Category:1985 singles
Category:Music videos directed by Steve Barron
Category:Songs written by Billy Gibbons
Category:Songs written by Dusty Hill
Category:Songs written by Frank Beard (musician)
Category:Rock ballads
Buy Rough Boy now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1985