Music Review: Foreigner "Juke Box Hero"

Foreigner

Juke Box Hero

Album: 4

Year: 1981

                 Mick Jones dreams of becoming a famous rock star in the  ceremonious  “Juke Box Hero.”

            An tingling bass open the single, setting an impressed tone. He kept his radio on all day for several weeks to try to get tickets to see his favorite band. He would steal the phone from his sister and dial the radio station’s phone number right away. Every time, he was told the wasn’t the first caller. He begged his parents to at least let him stand outside the field to hear it. Through the downpour of rain starting at the beginning of the show, he stood as close to the wall as his could to the hear the music. From outside, he felt the stadium vibrate from the shouts and cheers above the crash of thunder. The opening riff , a guitar solo he’d recongnize anywhere, left him awestruck. In that moment, he knew exactly what he wanted to be: an accomplished guitarist, playing for dedicated fans. The next morning, he begged his dad to take him to the music store. There, he fell in love with a six string displayed on the wall. All day, he would strum the chords and write lyrics (Standing in the rain/With his head hung low/Couldn't get a ticket/It was a sold out show/Heard the roar of the crowd/He could picture the scene/Put his ear to the wall/Then like a distant scream./He heard one guitar/Just blew him away.”)

          A guitar solo blasts through the verse, splitting it in half.

         He continues to say that the next morning, he begged his dad to take him to the music store. There, he fell in love with a six string displayed on the wall, faded from the light with various scratches all over. All day, he would strum the chords and write lyrics. On his shoulder, his confidence grew and it was though he became larger than life with it.(“Saw stars in his eyes/And the very next day./Bought a beat up six string in a secondhand store/Didn't know how to play it/But he knew for sure/That one guitar/Felt good in his hands/Didn't take long to understand/Just one guitar/Slung way down low.”)

            In the pre-chorus, he started writing a song everyday and took lessons to learn the chords. He got a group of his friends together and formed a band. In his parents’ garage, they work on vocals, trying to find a riff of their own that will get people’s attention. (“Was a one-way ticket/Only one-way to go/So he started rockin'/Ain't never gonna stop/Gotta keep on rockin'/Someday he's gonna make it to the top.”)

             In the chorus, he plans on being a critically acclaimed rock star, hearing his music everywhere he goes. (“And be a juke box hero got stars in his eyes/He's a huke box hero/He took one guitar with stars in his eyes/Juke box hero, he'll come alive tonight.”)

              While walking back to his hotel in Troy, Michigan, he stops to wring out his hair from the hair and spots some kids hanging out. One of them reminds of him and he waves to them. They both shout out his name. He walks over to kids and introduces himself. It was as though he was reliving the moment he had as a young kid. He tells them he hopes to hear them on the radio one day. (“In a town without a name/In a heavy downpour/Thought he passed his own shadow/By the backstage door./Like a trip through the past/To that day in the rain.”)

            During high school, his friends practiced every chance they could. With their demo, they got a gig at a dive bar and began to play around town. It lead to a permenant position at popular club. There, he met the band’s current manager and they signed to a record deal. Now, he’s appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. Tomorrow, planning begans for the international leg of their tour in support of their best-selling album. (“And that one guitar made his whole life change/Now he needs to keep rockin' he just can't stop/Gotta keep on rockin' that boy has got to stay on top.”)

             The chorus is sung again.

             An electrifying guitar solo follows.

             Part of the pre-chorus is sung again. (“So he started rockin'/Ain't never gonna stop/Gotta keep on rockin'/Someday he's gonna make it to the top.”)

             The chorus is sung again to close the single.
 

        Jones’  confiding vocals wish the best for the young kid. He remembers wanting  someone to hear him and feel joy from his music. The music has allowed him to be creative over the years and become therapy during his dark days. He’s humbled by the kids who look up to him and hopes he won’t disappoint them as their role model.

           The  touching recollection told in the blockbuster “Juke Box Hero” reaches out for those in the nosebleed section who are just happy to be there.