‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ is a song by the English rock band Slade, which was released in 1973 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their fourth number one single, and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. The song was included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest. In a UK poll in 2015 it was voted 15th on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One.
In 1983, the American heavy metal band Quiet Riot recorded their own version of the song, which was a million-selling hit single in the United States, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. British group Oasis covered the song which was released as a B-side on their 1996 hit single ‘Don't Look Back in Anger’ and regularly played it live.
Slade released ‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ in February 1973 as their first single of the year. The song gave the band their fourth number one in the UK, and also their first single to reach number one in its first week. This achievement had not been seen since The Beatles' ‘Get Back’ in 1969. The song remained there for four consecutive weeks and sold 500,000 copies in its first three weeks of release. With ‘Cum On Feel the Noize’, the band's manager Chas Chandler and Polydor's head John Fruin had devised a strategy to get the single to number one on the first week of release. The strategy used pre-release airplay to build up pre-order sales for the single. In America, the song reached No. 98 on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ detailed the atmosphere found at the band's concerts. Originally titled ‘Cum On Hear the Noize’, Holder changed the title after recalling one of the band's 1972 UK concerts, where he "felt the sound of the crowd pounding in [his] chest". The song's introduction of Holder shouting "Baby, baby, baby" had just been a microphone test and was not intended for the finished recording. In a 1984 interview with Record Mirror, Jim Lea added: "I was at a Chuck Berry gig in '72 and everybody was singing his tunes. He kept stopping and letting the crowd sing and it wasn't just a few people, it was everyone. I thought it was amazing and thought – why not write the crowd into the songs, and so we got round to 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' and 'Cum On Feel the Noize' and all the chants were written into the tunes." In a 1986 fan club interview, guitarist Dave Hill said: "The song was based around audiences and things that were happening to us. They were just experiences. Obviously, when you are on the road, you are writing about being on the road, you're writing about what's going on."
Upon release, Disc magazine commented: "Slade do this pop/rock stomping better than anyone. Perhaps there's a more obvious melody, but Slade always include a bit of a tune anyway and therein lies their success, and there's a soccer sing-a-long chorus that'll grab you." Sounds described the song as a "rousing, raucous, rocker that follows its predecessors with an instantly recognisable sound". American magazine Cash Box listed the single as one of their "picks of the week" during April 1973. They felt it was another "rollicking rock effort", "teaming with commercial appeal".
Label – Polydor
Songwriters – Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
Producer – Chas Chandler
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Baby baby baby!
Ee-ow...
[Verse 1]
So you think I got an evil mind, well I'll tell you honey
And I don't know why
And I don't know why
So you think my singing's out of time, well it makes me money
And I don't know why
And I don't know why
Anymore
Oh no
[Chorus]
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild
We get wild, wild, wild
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild
At your door
[Verse 2]
So you say I got a funny face, I ain't got no worries
And I don't know why
And I don't know why
Say I'm a scruff bag well it's no disgrace, I ain't in no hurry
And I don't know why
I just don't know why
Anymore
Oh no
[Chorus]
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild
We get wild, wild, wild
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild
At your door
[Verse 3]
So you think we have a lazy time, well you should know better
And I don't know why
I just don't know why
And you say I got a dirty mind, well I'm a mean go getter
And I don't know why
And I don't know why
Anymore
Oh no
[Chorus]
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild
We get wild, wild, wild
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild
At your door