There are two versions of the video. The first version (the 1982 version) starts off with a girl walking into a record store. She picks up a Billy Idol record and the song starts to play. The video features scenes from New York City, interspersed with stock footage of nuclear bomb tests. The second version (the 1987 version) was banned by MTV because it showed Idol's then-girlfriend Perri Lister bound to a cross toward the end of the video. The later version was included on the DVD edition of "The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself".
Although the released version of the song has Idol shouting "New York!", other versions of the song were recorded for various radio stations, including ones for such cities as "Amarillo", "Boston", "Minneapolis", "New Haven", "Chattanooga", and "Sioux Falls", or none at all with a repeated synthesiser stab instead.
The song, with a remixed synthesizer intro, was used as the introduction for Booker, the TV series spin-off of "21 Jump Street". It is also featured in the 1988 hit film "Big", starring Tom Hanks.
The song was used by the NBA's Phoenix Suns during the introductions of the visiting team at home games during the team's run to the 1993 NBA Finals.
An early Billy Idol song, the punk rocker wrote it himself. It's all about running wild and free in New York City on a summer night, something Idol did plenty when he moved to New York from London in 1981 after his band Generation X split up. Idol found himself once again moving to an unfamiliar city to follow his dreams: in 1976 he left his hometown of Bromley, England and moved to London. This song reflects his optimism and assurance.
This was Idol's second single as a solo artist, following his cover of "Mony Mony." That one stalled at #107, which Idol blamed on the packaging: the cover art showed him as a fully fledged punk rocker, with spiked hair and his trademark snarl. This apparently dissuaded American program directors, most of whom were unfamiliar with Idol, from giving it a chance. So, the "Hot In The City" single was issued in America with no Billy on the cover, just an overhead shot of a city street.
The ploy apparently worked, as the song got plenty of airplay and rose to #24 in America, clearing a path for Idol's successful solo career.
Keith Forsey, who worked with Idol when he was with Generation X, produced this track and the rest of the Billy Idol album. Forsey, who produced every Idol album through "Charmed Life", became one of the top hitmakers of the '80s, with writing and production credits on three #1 hits: Irene Cara's "Flashdance... What a Feeling," Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)," and Bob Seger's "Shakedown."
This was Idol's first solo effort that came with a music video. Directed by Kort Falkenberg III, it relied on computer effects that looked very dated a few years later. Still, the video did well on MTV and started a long and fruitful relationship between Idol and the network.
In 1987, this song was reissued as a single and included on Idol's greatest hits package Idol Songs: 11 of the Best. This time, it made #13 UK (it made #58 the first time) and #48 US. A new video was shot, this time directed by Larry Jordan. This version is far more prurient, with various bondage references and shot of Idol's girlfriend Perri Lister strapped to a cross. Lister, who as part of the dance group Hot Gossip appeared in a number of videos, also played the bride in Idol's "White Wedding" clip and showed up in "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without A Face" (she does the French vocal in that song).
Many of the lyrics aren't that easy to understand, but Idol is very clear when he sings the line, "I can really feel the heat now... New York!"
Idol's record company, Chrysalis, created customized versions of the song with "New York" replaced with the names of various other cities, and those versions were sent to radio stations in those cities, giving them custom versions of the track for their local listeners. So if you were in Kentucky, you might hear Idol sing, "I can really feel the heat now... Lexington!"
Hot In The City
Billy Idol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's hot here at night, lonely, black and quiet
On a hot summer night
Don't be afraid of the world we made
On a hot summer night
'Cause when a long-legged lovely walks by
Yeah you can see the look in her eye
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
(Stranger, stranger)
For all the dreams and schemes
People are as they seem
On a hot summer night
Don't be no fun, don't forget you're young
On a hot summer night
A sometime someone you're not
Don't wait to see what you've got
'Cause you know that you're
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
We'll walk until my feet drop
I'm a train when I'm hateful
Yeah, lay right down now
And ride until your head breaks
I'm a-walkin' 'til my brain pops
I will move with the beat now
I'm a chain 'round an A-bomb
I'm a ribbon in the heat now
New York!
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The lyrics of Billy Idol's song "Hot in the City" describe the ambiance of a summer night that is both hot and lonely. The singer encourages the listener not to be afraid of the world that they created and to enjoy the moment. He also advises them to take advantage of their youth, not to be someone they are not, and to seize the opportunity when it arises. In the chorus, the singer repeats the phrase "Hot in the city" twice and adds the word "tonight" several times. The end of the song refers to New York City.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hot here at night, lonely, black and quiet
The night brings a sense of heat, loneliness, darkness and an eerie quietness.
On a hot summer night
The events of this song are set on a hot summer night.
Don't be afraid of the world we made
Despite what the world has become, don't be afraid to engage with it.
On a hot summer night
The events of this song are set on a hot summer night.
'Cause when a long-legged lovely walks by
The appearance of a beautiful woman is imminent.
Yeah you can see the look in her eye
The woman's eyes show interest and eagerness.
Then you know that it's
The song reaches its climax and the night's heat picks up.
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The night is hot and wild, characterized by excitement, unpredictability and a sense of danger.
For all the dreams and schemes
Despite any hopes and aspirations people may have, they remain as they seem.
People are as they seem
People's appearances and personalities are not always what they seem to be.
On a hot summer night
The events of this song are set on a hot summer night.
Don't be no fun, don't forget you're young
Don't be too serious, don't forget to enjoy your youth and innocence.
On a hot summer night
The events of this song are set on a hot summer night.
A sometime someone you're not
Sometimes you behave in ways that are not true to yourself.
Don't wait to see what you've got
Don't hesitate or hold back, go out and pursue what you want.
'Cause you know that you're
The night is full of excitement and possibilities.
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The night is hot and wild, characterized by excitement, unpredictability and a sense of danger.
We'll walk until my feet drop
Keep walking and moving, even till exhaustion.
I'm a train when I'm hateful
When upset, the singer compares himself to a fast and dangerous train.
Yeah, lay right down now
Take a break, relax and rest.
And ride until your head breaks
Continue moving till your body can no longer handle it.
I'm a-walkin' 'til my brain pops
Keep walking until the thought process becomes too much to handle.
I will move with the beat now
Move and dance to the rhythm of the night.
I'm a chain 'round an A-bomb
The artist is dangerous and unpredictable, like a chain around a bomb.
I'm a ribbon in the heat now
The singer is flowing and flexible, like a ribbon in the heat.
New York!
The city of New York is the backdrop for this song.
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The night is hot and wild, characterized by excitement, unpredictability and a sense of danger.
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The night is hot and wild, characterized by excitement, unpredictability and a sense of danger.
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The night is hot and wild, characterized by excitement, unpredictability and a sense of danger.
Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight
The night is hot and wild, characterized by excitement, unpredictability and a sense of danger.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Billy Idol
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@louisefrater
Whose listening 2024🎉🎉🎉🎉
@rickymolina3494
Me
@pw5192
My mum passed away in Nov 2023 we had to sort her flat & belongings out & in her cd player was a Billy Idol cd , i guess Billy Idol was the last artist she listened too .
I can imagine her tapping her feet & fingers with a cuppa coffee swaying her head to the tunes , miss you mum .❤
@covmiss1
i recommend this song to everyone full blast
@silvanagavazziacdc71
Ciao
ottimo striptease maschile
grazie a lui Billy Idol
so so imitare alla perfezione
Saluti dall'Italia 🇮🇹
@redriderbbgun8018
When you think about it, Billy Idol has had quite a remarkable career.
Chiseled good looks, iconic hair, and a unique voice & style that appealed to several different demographics.
His style was very "punky" and his attitude was cocky enough to bring in the youth of the 1980's who were looking for "cool" artists, but yet his songs were accessible to all, which made Billy a pop idol for a nice stretch of time in the 80's & 90's. He's unique in every conceivable way, and no one looked or sounded like him during the roaring 80's, and that kind of talent has afforded the man right to tour and earn a living in the music world until he dies. 5 decades on, and Billy is still giving audiences what they want.
Don't ever stop Billy --We Love the sneer!! 🤜🤛
@markmcso7
Quite possibly the coolest man that’s ever walked the planet.
@simbatron24
After Brian Ferry!
@footienz
If not very nearly then very actually!
@---qo3yz
After Mr. Merlino (Italian Mafia) 😅