“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

“Thunderstruck” is designed to be something like your quintessential hard rock song. And the title is meant to be a reference to power, as the term AC/DC is generally understood.

First Verse

The beginning of the first verse especially lends to above-mentioned idea, as it mentions “a railroad track”, which is a widely-recognized generator of considerable amounts of electricity. But as the passage progresses, Brian Johnson uses the occasion to rather allude to an unspecified type of interpersonal relationship he is in. And basically what he is saying is that he was in a situation (which “being caught in the middle” of the aforementioned railroad track is meant it signify) where he was in dire need of this person’s assistance. But said individual gave him “no help”.

Second Verse

Then the second verse is obviously about a different topic. Here, the singer and some unidentified individuals, presumably his AC/DC bandmates, take a trip to Texas. And while there, they hook up with “some girls”, “some dancers” in fact and have a “good”, no-holds barred time.

Chorus

Meanwhile the chorus has the singer asserting to the addressee that he or she has “been thunderstruck”. And all things considered, this statement reads as if it may actually be a shoutout to the band, as in touting the power of their own music. Or more specifically let’s say that in this case, “thunderstruck” is meant to point to being rocked by an AC/DC tune. But overall, it can also be said to be referring to the notion of being heavily-excited in general.

So in the end, it seems as if with this track, AC/DC were trying to create something like a prototypical heavy-metal song, one that epitomizes the stylistic leanings of the band and the genre in general. And considering that “Thunderstruck” did go on to become somewhat of a classic, it seems as if they have achieved that goal.

Facts about “Thunderstruck”

This is the lead single from AC/DC’s album entitled “The Razors Edge”. And the track was issued by Atco Records on 24 September 1990.

“Thunderstruck” earned AC/DC a number-one hit in Finland. It also made an appearance on three US-based Billboard charts. Furthermore it managed to hit position number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. And overall this track charted in over 15 nations.

Additionally, “Thunderstruck” has been certified quintuple-Platinum in Australia and Platinum in a couple of other countries. Also its ringtone has been certified Platinum in the US and Canada.

This song was written by AC/DC members Angus Young and his older brother, Malcolm Young.

And the track was produced by Bruce Fairbairn. In fact AC/DC recorded the entirety of “The Razor’s Edge” at his studio in Vancouver.

Interestingly enough, computer hackers decided to include this song in a virus which struck computers belonging to the Iranian nuclear program in 2012. It’s not clear why they did that.

Then in 2015, during the infamous Ashley Madison leak, the hackers in that situation also forced the computers they violated to play “Thunderstruck”. However, this time around, they made their victims aware that they had indeed been hacked.

There is 2004 Australian comedy entitled “Thunderstruck”. he comedy centers on fictional fans of AC/DC.