Scorpions Songwriter Originally Wanted to Call Famous Song “F*ck You Like a Hurricane”
Everyone knows the classic song “Rock You Like a Hurricane” by Scorpions from their 1984 album Love at First Sting. It was a smash hit that’s still used in sports and commercials. And to be honest, there’s a good reason you can hear it everywhere: it’s a banger with clever, suggestive lyrics. But apparently the original idea for the song was a lot less subtle, as according to an interview with Classic Rock Magazine drummer Herman Rarebell, who co-wrote the song and its lyrics, originally wanted to call it something more simple and direct: “Fuck You Like a Hurricane.” Other outlets can be shy about revealing that title to you. We put it in the headline. Fuck it; we’re MetalSucks.
As Rarebell explained in the interview:
“I thought we needed a rock song with lyrics that should be forbidden. The original title, for me at least, was ‘Fuck You Like A Hurricane.’ The record company looked at me and said, ‘You’re completely out of your mind!’ Which I was.”
Somehow, “Fuck You Like a Hurricane” sounds like it’s less about fucking and more like a really great insult. It sounds like something you would yell at someone in traffic. “Hey, look where you’re going, asshole! Fuck you like a hurricane!” But Rarebell thinks the title would have gone over much easier today than it did in 1984.
“Looking back at in now, it makes you laugh. There are all these songs that go, ‘Motherfucker, asshole…’ They would never have been played in America back then. Now you could release it as ‘Fuck You Like A Hurricane’ and nobody would give a shit.”
I don’t know if Rarebell is exactly correct on that one. While radio is decreasing in importance, it’s not completely irrelevant, and having a song with a title that can’t be aired can potentially limit airplay. It also can’t be said on TV, so you would have a hard time getting press about it on television. Having a swear word in the title of something can even limit how often it gets shared on social media, hence why our headline will say “F*ck” instead of “Fuck.” Sometimes songs can overcome that like NWA’s “Fuck the Police,” but I feel like that’s the exception more than the rule. Ultimately, the song just might not have taken off like it did in any era if it had that title.
If you want to see Scorpions fuck you like a hurricane, check them out live at the dates below.
Saturday, June 15th – Rock in Rio Lisboa – Passeio do Tejo, Portugal
Tuesday, June 18th – Théâtre Antique de Vienne – Vienne, France
Friday, June 21st – Zénith – Nancy, France
Sunday, June 23rd – Graspop Festival – Dessel, Belgium
Thursday, June 27th – Topfest 2024 – Letisko Žilina, Slovakia
Saturday, June 29th – Budapest Arena – Budapest, Hungary
Tuesday, July 2nd – Luxexpo Open Air – Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Thursday, July 4th – Stars of Sounds – Murten, Switzerland
Saturday, July 6th – Pinot and Rock – Breisach am Rhein, Germany
Thursday, July 11th – Marina Sur – Valencia, Spain
Saturday, July 13th – Concert Music Festival – Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain
Tuesday, July 16th – WiZink Center – Madrid, Spain
Friday, July 19th – RockLand Art Fest – Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Spain
Sunday, July 21st – Tsunami Xixón Festival – Gijón, Spain
Tuesday, July 23rd – Festival de Carcassone – Carcassone, France
Friday, July 26th – PGE Narodowy – Warszawa, Poland
Monday, July 29th – Enteria arena – Pardubice, Czech RepublicThursday, August 1st
Saturday, June 15th – Rock in Rio Lisboa – Passeio do Tejo, Portugal
Tuesday, June 18th – Théâtre Antique de Vienne – Vienne, France
Friday, June 21st – Zénith – Nancy, France
Sunday, June 23rd – Graspop Festival – Dessel, Belgium
Thursday, June 27th – Topfest 2024 – Letisko Žilina, Slovakia
Saturday, June 29th – Budapest Arena – Budapest, Hungary
Tuesday, July 2nd – Luxexpo Open Air – Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Thursday, July 4th – Stars of Sounds – Murten, Switzerland
Saturday, July 6th – Pinot and Rock – Breisach am Rhein, Germany
Thursday, July 11th – Marina Sur – Valencia, Spain
Saturday, July 13th – Concert Music Festival – Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain
Tuesday, July 16th – WiZink Center – Madrid, Spain
Friday, July 19th – RockLand Art Fest – Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Spain
Sunday, July 21st – Tsunami Xixón Festival – Gijón, Spain
Tuesday, July 23rd – Festival de Carcassone – Carcassone, France
Friday, July 26th – PGE Narodowy – Warszawa, Poland
Monday, July 29th – Enteria arena – Pardubice, Czech Republic
Thursday, August 1st – Wacken Open Air – Wacken, Germany
Wednesday, September 11th – Arena Nürnberger Versicherung – Nürnberg, Germany
Friday, September 13th – Barclaycard Arena – Hamburg, Germany
Sunday, September 15th – QUARTERBACK Immobilien ARENA – Leipzig, Germany
Wednesday, September 18th – LANXESS Arena – Cologne, Germany
Friday, September 20th – Festhalle – Frankfurt, Germany
