‘Sister Christian’ is a song by the American hard rock band Night Ranger. A power ballad, it was released in March 1984 as the second single from their album Midnight Madness. It was ranked No. 32 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s. It was written and sung by the band's drummer, Kelly Keagy, for his sister. It was the band's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, and staying on the charts for 24 weeks. It also reached No. 1 in Canada.
‘Sister Christian’ was inspired by Keagy's younger sister, Christy. Upon returning from a visit to his hometown of Eugene, Oregon, Keagy wrote the song at his San Francisco apartment after being astonished at the speed at which his sister was growing up. Keagy later recalled that "after we started playing it a lot, Jack turned to me and said, 'what exactly are you saying?,'" adding that bandmate Jack Blades "thought the words were Sister Christian, instead of Sister Christy, so it just stuck."
The meaning of the lyric, "You're motoring. What's your price for flight? In finding Mr. Right?" has generated significant attention and debate. In a VH-1 Behind the Music interview, the band stated that the term "motoring" should be interpreted to mean "cruising". Keagy grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where "Motoring" was a term for driving around with your friends, often trying to pick up girls. He told Songfacts how he came up with this very memorable part of the song: "That was the first section that I wrote. I wanted something that sounded like it had some teeth to it, and movement. But at the same time, a little left of center, so it wasn't so obvious. The first thing I started writing was the chorus, and the second line was, 'What's your price for flight?' Which is kind of weird. But if you understand that it's coming from a brother to a sister, it was like, 'What's the price for making a bad decision now with your life going forward?'"
The song got a big boost from MTV, which played the video constantly. The network went on the air in 1981, and in its first few years didn't have many well-produced videos to choose from. They favored American rock acts, which worked out well for Night Ranger; MTV played their 1982 and 1983 videos for songs like ‘Don't Tell Me You Love Me’ and ‘Sing Me Away.’ The ‘Sister Christian’ proved very popular in part because it's set in high school, making it relatable to the average MTV viewer. It stars the actress/model Macha Bennet-Shephard, who was 19 at the time, and was shot at San Rafael High School in California with many real students as extras. The video was directed by Mary Guido, who also did Quiet Riot's ‘Cum On Feel The Noize.’ Macha Bennet-Shephard also appeared in the next Night Ranger video, which was for ‘When You Close Your Eyes.’
Labels – MCA, Epic (Canada)
Songwriter – Kelly Keagy
Producer - Pat Glasser
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Sister Christian, oh, the time has come
And you know that you're the only one to say, "Okay"
Where you goin'? What you lookin' for?
You know those boys don't want to play no more with you, it's true
[Chorus]
You're motorin'
What's your price for flight?
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
[Verse 2]
Babe, you know you're growin' up so fast
And mama's worryin' 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
[Chorus]
Motorin'
What's your price for flight?
You've got him in your sight
And drivin' through the night
Motorin'
What's your price for flight?
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Motorin'
What's your price for flight?
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
You're motorin'
What's your price for flight?
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
[Outro]
Sister Christian, oh, the time has come
And you know that you're the only one to say, "Okay"
But you're motorin'
Yeah, motorin'