By: Michael Drukarsh - Sorry Crue, you lost "Your Right To Party" as soon as Mick left...
In 1986, the hip-hop group, Beastie Boys released the single “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)”. The intention behind it, according to member Adam “MCA” Yauch, was to poke fun at all the dumb rock songs that were coming out at the time.
38 years later, Motley Crue, a band who were most certainly within the crosshairs of the Beastie Boys tongue in cheek poke at the 80’s heavy metal scene, has released their version. Already debuted live during a club performance back in June 2023, this new single follows the single “Dogs Of War” which was released in April, both of which were recorded in April of 2023 with producer Bob Rock.
While the original version may have started off as a joke, it turned into a phenomenon, a song that definitely changed the course of the Beastie Boys and became a battle cry for teenagers everywhere. Unfortunately, after listening to Crue’s version, it seems that not only did they miss the intent of the original, they ignored the feel that made it a true classic.
When a band releases a cover song it can go two ways, they can stay true to the original artist’s version or, pay homage to the original but put on their own signature style. The Crue do neither.
Opening with Vince (Neil, lead singer) inviting the rest of the band to “make some noise” and having the names Sixx (Nikki Sixx, bassist) and 5 (John 5, guitarist) as band members makes it sound more like a bad attempt at a countdown than a battle cry. From there the famous “Kick It” proclaimed and that is the end of any similarity to the original.
With new guitarist John 5 taking over for founding member Mick Mars after the latter’s controversial release from the band, the guitar sound that brought Motley Crue to the forefront of the 80’s metal scene is gone. In its place, a screeching guitar on endless display trying to “rock up” the song. Tommy Lee’s drums sound like a preprogrammed loop and Sixx’s bass is nowhere to be found within the song. Vince’s voice sounds like the hypocritical father in the song who “smokes two packs a day”.
In the original, the Beastie Boys proclaim, “Aw, mom you're just jealous it’s the Beastie Boys”. The Crue of course change it to, “Aw, mom you're just jealous it’s the Motley Boys”, which, like the rest of the song, just doesn’t work.
“(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” and ”Dogs Of War” will be released on the group's recently announced three-song EP Cancelled on October 4th.
What do you think of Crue's efforts on this one? Shoot us a comment below.
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