‘Thunderstruck’ is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released as the lead single from their 1990 album "The Razors Edge". It peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, No. 1 in Finland, and No. 5 on the US "Billboard" Album Rock Tracks chart. In 2010, ‘Thunderstruck’ topped Triple M Melbourne's Ultimate 500 Rock Countdown in Australia. The song is used in movies such as "Deadpool 2", "Planes: Fire & Rescue", "Varsity Blues", "The Longest Yard", "Katie and Orbie", "Battleship", "The Fall Guy", "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Daddy's Home", among others, as well as TV shows. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time with over 15 million units sold.
Angus Young stated in the liner notes of the 2003 re-release of The Razors Edge: “It started off from a little trick I had on guitar. I played it to Mal and he said "Oh, I've got a good rhythm idea that will sit well in the back." We built the song up from that. We fiddled about with it for a few months before everything fell into place. Lyrically, it was really just a case of finding a good title ... We came up with this thunder thing, based on our favourite childhood toy ThunderStreak, and it seemed to have a good ring to it. AC/DC = Power. That's the basic idea.”
The song has sold over a million digital copies since it became available for digital download. In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the "most Australian" songs of all time, ‘Thunderstruck’ was ranked No. 8. The song is one of the most recognizable in the band's entire catalogue and it is a set list staple having been performed at nearly all shows since its release. With the exception of new material from albums they are touring behind, it is one of only four songs released after Back in Black that are still performed live by the band.
The video which accompanied the single, directed by David Mallet, was filmed at London's Brixton Academy on 17 August 1990. The audience members were given free T-shirts with the words "AC/DC – I was Thunderstruck" on the front and the date on the back, and these T-shirts were worn by the entire audience throughout the filming of the video. "Thunderstruck" is widely considered one of the band's best songs. In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number eight on its list of the 40 greatest AC/DC songs, and in 2021, the British rock magazine Kerrang! ranked the song number six on its list of the 20 greatest AC/DC songs.
Label – ATCO
Songwriters – Angus Young, Malcolm Young
Producer - Bruce Fairbairn
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
Thunder, ah
[Verse 1]
I was caught in the middle of a railroad track (Thunder)
I looked 'round and I knew there was no turning back (Thunder)
My mind raced and I thought, what could I do? (Thunder)
And I knew there was no help, no help from you (Thunder)
Sound of the drums beating in my heart
The thunder of guns tore me apart
[Refrain]
You've been - thunderstruck
[Verse 2]
Went down the highway, broke the limit, we hit the town
Went through to Texas, Yeah, Texas, and we had some fun
We met some girls, some dancers who gave a good time
Broke all the rules, played all the fools
Yeah-yeah, they, they, they blew our minds
[Pre-Chorus]
I was shaking at the knees
Could I come again please?
Yeah, the ladies were too kind
[Chorus]
You've been - thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Yeah-yeah-yeah, thunderstruck
Oh, thunderstruck
Yeah
[Bridge 1]
I was shaking at the knees
Could I come again please?
Yow
[Instrumental Break]
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Yeah-yeah-yeah, thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, yeah, yeah, yeah
Said
[Bridge 2]
Yeah, it's alright
We're doing fine
Yeah, it's alright
We're doing fine, so fine
[Chorus]
Thunderstruck, yeah-yeah-yeah
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Whoa, baby, baby (Thunderstruck)
You've been thunderstruck, thunderstruck
Thunderstruck, thunderstruck
You've been thunderstruck