You Shook Me All Night Long

AC/DC's mammoth power chord roar became one of the most influential hard rock sounds of the '70s. In its own way, it was a reaction against the pompous art rock and lumbering arena rock of the early '70s. AC/DC's rock was minimalist -- no matter how huge and bludgeoning their guitar chords were, there was a clear sense of space and restraint. Combined with Bon Scott's larynx-shredding vocals, the band spawned countless imitators over the next two decades and enjoyed commercial success well into the 2000s.

You Shook Me All Night Long

AC/DC's train was derailed when Bon Scott died on February 19, 1980. The official coroner's report stated he had "drunk himself to death." In March, the band replaced Scott with Brian Johnson. The following month, the band recorded Back in Black, which would prove to be its biggest album, selling over ten million copies in the U.S. alone and over 40 million copies worldwide.

Bon Scott

One of the best tracks on Back in Black is "You Shook Me All Night Long”. It's got a simple beat; a melodic, heavy rock-boogie riff; a shrill, pumping guitar solo; Brian Johnson's gravelly, raspy vocals; and easy-to-learn, almost exultant, double-entendre lyrics.

AC/DC with Brian Johnson

Johnson told USA Weekend that this song is for him the highlight of the band's catalog because: "It was the first song I wrote with the guys, and it has a special groovy beat that won't let you go. It has such a special place in my heart, and I still love to sing it onstage. To me, it might be one of the best rock songs ever written - if I do say so myself."

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson came up with the line "She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean" when he realized that cars and women were very much alike - they go fast, let you down, but then make you happy again when you see the new model. The inspiration for this song came from seeing images of American girls while recording in the Bahamas for Back in Black.

Two machines (?)

What also made "You Shook Me" so significant and unforgettable was that it was equal parts naughty and proud, pop-tinged yet stomp-worthy -- which is exactly what AC/DC exemplified when at their best. "You Shook Me" is a night-after bragging session with a heavy dose of swagger and pomp, yet its pop-tinged guitar chords give the song a slap-on-the-back, beer-swilling friendliness.

Back in Black, album

The song is one of the band's top 40 singles in the United States of America, reaching number 35 on the USA's Hot 100 pop singles chart in 1980.

You Shook Me, singel

In 2002 Celine Dion covered this song together with Anastacia at a VH1 Divas Las Vegas concert. The French-Canadian singer came on stage playing air-guitar and proceeded to belt out this track. Though never released as a single, some radio stations played her version of this classic heavy metal track.

Celine Dion & Anastacia sing You Shook Me

"You Shook Me" is such a hard rock staple that it's still popular at sporting events and bars, and it remains one of AC/DC's, and hard rock's, most memorable party anthems.

AC/DC live

You Shook Me, lyrics

She was a fast machine, she kept the motor clean,
She was the best damn woman that I'd ever seen
She had the sightless eyes, tellin' me no lies,
Knockin' me out with those American thighs
Takin' more than her share, had me fightin' for air,
She told me to come but I was already there
'Cause the walls start shakin', the earth was quakin',
My mind was achin', we were makin' it and you-

CHORUS:
Shook me all night long!
Yeah, you-
Shook me all night long!

Workin' double-time on the seduction line,
She's one of a kind, she's just mine all mine
Wanted no applause, it's just another cause,
Made a meal outta me and came back for more
Had to cool me down to take another round,
Now I'm back in the ring to take another swing
And the walls were shakin', the earth was quakin',
My mind was achin', and we were makin' it and you-

CHORUS:
Shook me all night long!
Yeah, you-
Shook me all night long!
Knocked me out and then you-
Shook me all night long!
You had me shakin' and you-
Shook me all night long!
Yeah, you shook me...
Well you took me!

Solo

CHORUS:
You really took me and you-
Shook me all night long!
Ohhh, you-
Shook me all night long!
Yeah yeah, you-
Shook me all night long!
You really got me and you-
Shook me all night long!
Yeah, you shook me,
Yeah, you shook me,
All night long!

AC/DC with Bon Scott