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1977 song by Ramones

"Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" is a song by American punk rock band Ramones, released in 1977 through Sire Records. Written by front man and lead vocalist Joey Ramone, it appears on the band`s third studio album Rocket to Russia (1977). The song is well known for its early 1960s influence of surf rock and bubblegum pop that influenced Joey; it has since remained one of the band`s most popular songs.[5]

The song first appeared in May 1977 as a single in the UK where it charted at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart.[1][6] In the US, it was released as a single in July 1977, and reached number 81 in the Billboard Hot 100, and appeared on copies of the second issue of the band`s 1977 album Leave Home (replacing the track "Carbona Not Glue"). The track, as well as its B-side "I Don`t Care", was remixed and re-released for their third LP Rocket to Russia.

Background

The "Sheena" referred to in the title is in fact the comic book character Sheena, Queen of the Jungle; the idea being that punk rock music would appeal to a savage jungle girl brought to civilization. Joey Ramone said of the track, "To me `Sheena` was the first surf/punk rock teenage rebellion song. I combined Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, with the primalness of punk rock. Then Sheena is brought into the modern day."[citation needed]

The song is notable for being one of the first to explicitly refer to "punk rock" in its title and lyrics in terms of a subculture.

Reception

The song was ranked at number 5 among the top "Tracks of the Year" for 1977 by NME;[7] it is ranked number 461 on Rolling Stone`s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[8] in 2010, number 457 in 2004, and number 434 in 2021 and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame`s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[9] Cash Box said that "this combination of grinding guitars, rock nostalgia and Anglophiliac delivery could only belong to the Ramones" and that it "is their slickest effort to date."[10]

Record World said that the single "recalls California surf instrumentals, and it could be [the Ramones`] first hit.."[11]

Charts

Cover versions

• Rancid covered the song on the We`re a Happy Family tribute album.[14]
• Paul Jones covered it as a single, arranged as a ballad with strings.
• Hüsker Dü covered the song on The Living End, a live collection taken from the band`s final tour.
• German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen has a live cover version available on their album Im Auftrag des Herrn.
• Sonic Youth`s Thurston Moore and Be Your Own Pet`s Jemina Pearl performed their version of the song for the CW show Gossip Girl.
• Love Camp 7 covered the song on the Ramones Maniacs tribute album.
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover the song on the album Heroes, a recording for the War Child charity organization.
• New Model Army covered the song during their 2001 tour, shortly after Joey Ramone`s death.
• Shonen Knife, the all-female band from Osaka (Japan), covered the song on their 2012 Ramones tribute album Osaka Ramones, with bassist Ritsuko Taneda on vocals.
• Manic Hispanic covered the song as Creeper Is A Low Rider on their 2003 album Mijo Goes to Jr. College.
• Charli XCX covered the song live during the VICE party at New York`s Pier 59 Studios in 2016.
• The Vindictives and The Queers each covered the song as part of their covers of the entire Leave Home and Rocket to Russia albums, respectively, for Selfless Records.