Music Review: Night Ranger "Sister Christian"

Night Ranger

Sister Christian

Album: Midnight Madness

Year: 1984

  Kelly Keagy, lead singer of Night Ranger, looks out for his younger sister in the memorable “Sister Christian.”

     A stern piano opens the single, setting a personal tone. Keagy pulls her aside and tells his sister they need to talk. He says she has every right to live her life. As of now, she’s not doing anything meaningful with it. She’s out late every night and having casual sex. She’s starting to get a reputation and the decent guys are staying away from her. (“Sister Christian/Oh, the time has come/And you know that you're the only one/To say, okay/Where you going/What you looking for/You know those boys/Don't want to play no more with you/It's true.”)

      In the chorus, he tells her she’s living hard. She’s going from guy to guy without taking a breather. He says it’s ok to be alone. (“You're motoring/What's your price for flight/In finding mister right/You'll be alright tonight.”)

      She’s sixteen now, nearly an adult. To him, it seems like yesterday he was helping his mom teaching her how to talk. However, their mom thinks she’s not going to make it to twenty. She’s afraid she may she get a STD or get involved with an abusive guy. Keagy tells her she has a lot to look forward to: graduation, college, having a career. She doesn’t have to worry about finding a boyfriend. He’s not ready to see her become a parent yet. (“Babe, you know/You're growing up so fast/And mama's worrying/That you won't last/To say, let's play/Sister Christian/There's so much in life/Don't you give it up/Before your time is due/It's true/It's true, yeah.”)

      In the extended chorus, he says she’s spending all her time with guys and not enough on herself. (“Motoring/What's your price for flight/You've got him in your sight/And driving through the night/Motoring/What's your price for flight/In finding mister right/You'll be alright tonight.”)

     The guitar, blasting its warning, in a stunning solo follows.

      The chorus is sung twice.

     Part of the first verse is sung to close to the single. (“Sister Christian/Oh, the time has come/And you know that you're the only one/To say, okay/But you're motoring/Yeah, motoring.”)

       Keagy’s protective, sympathetic vocals are full of concern. He urges his sister to stop what she’s doing without lecturing to her. He wants what’s best for her and wouldn’t be able to handle it if she got hurt.

     The awesome “Sister Christian” maintains its cool while still being incredibly sweet.