from SHAKE DOWN (promotional single)
written by Billy Squier
Billy Squier is an American rock singer/songwriter who had a great run of success in the first half of the eighties. He created AOR anthems like “The Stroke,” “In The Dark,” “Everybody Wants You” and “Rock Me Tonite.”
Squier’s material was catchy and energetic. He would put together a melodic twist spotlighting his powerful tenor voice backed up by a tight rocking combo. The singer’s string of hits and platinum albums probably caught the eye of David Foster when he was enlisting artists for the soundtrack of “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Eventually, Squier ended up singing “Shake Down” on the top hit soundtrack.
Foster produced Squier’s original song, giving it his typical radio-friendly touch. He also called in noted engineer Bob Rock to work on the track. The result is a powerful rock anthem with a catchy refrain filled with loud guitars and screaming vocals. “Shake Down” was also released as a promotional single. It’s another interesting example of Foster’s ability to craft a rock tune while keeping his trademark, polished sound.
Listen
[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/shake_down.mp3|titles=Shake Down|artists=Billy Squier]
Lead Vocals: Billy Squier
Keyboards & Synthesizers: David Foster
Guitars: Michael Landau & Billy Squier
Bass: John Pierce
Drums: Bobby Chouinard
Produced & Arranged by David Foster
Lyrics
Rock, rock, never stop, take your passion to the top
Rock, rock, never stop, don’t stop, don’t drop
The strangers in the darkness, this passion for the fight
An obsession finds it burning with a fire in the night
I see that girl, she’s coming, she’s walking soft and slow
Says she’s gonna take me, but I don’t know where’d she go
Once you left, you’ll know who answers
You will walk a lonesome mile
I’m prepared to take my chances, I’m prepared to change my style
Oh ho ho Shake it down again
Oh ho ho We’re goin’ down again
(Rock, rock, never stop, don’t stop, don’t drop)
I’m sitting in the bedroom, and I’m feeling awful strange
I see it in their faces everyone I meet
I feel her arms around me, I feel it in my blood
And I swear I’m on the battle, she’s lying and figured out
When you save your reputation, when you got no more to give
She can be my inspiration, she can be my will to live
Oh ho ho Shake me down again, take me down
Oh ho ho Take me down again
Oh ho ho Shake me down again, do it to me all night
Oh ho ho We’re goin’ down again, yeah
Aaaahh! (guitar solo)
Rock, rock, never stop, take your passion to the top
All right, (all right) all right…WOO!
Rock, rock, never stop, take your passion, shoot your shot
Come on now, baby!
Oh ho ho Shake me down again, shake me downtown
Oh ho ho We’re goin’ down again
Oh ho ho Shake me down again, ooh shake me down again
Oh ho ho We’re goin’ down again, ooh-woo
Oh ho ho Shake me down again