Shortly after that, with Kenny's assistance, Joan formed the backing group "The Blackhearts" with three obscure New York area musicians: Gary Ryan on bass, Eric Ambel (replaced shortly thereafter by Rick Byrd) on guitar and Lee Crystal on drums. After almost a year of touring, Joan's first album with The Blackhearts, entitled I Love Rock'N'Roll came out in December of 1981. The album included a version of "Little Drummer Boy" on the pre-Christmas editions. The album's impact on the music scene was immediate with the LP reaching the Top Five, while the single "I Love Rock'n'Roll" hit the very top of the Billboard's Charts on March 20, 1982 and stayed #1 for 7 weeks. Joan Jett had come back from nowhere.
A string of Top 40 hits followed, as well as sellout tours with The Police, Queen, and Aerosmith, among others. Jett was the second American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain, the first one being Blood, Sweat & Tears in Romania in 1969. She was among the first English-speaking rock acts to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Forced label changes in the 80's led to a decline in popularity. Despite the follow-up albums "Album" and "Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth" being praised by her devout fans, neither got the attention or radio play the first two albums received.
After receiving her own MTV New Year's Eve special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. It was about this time that Ryan and Crystal left the Blackhearts. They were soon replaced by the powerful rhythm section of Thommy Price and Kasim Sulton. Later that year, Jett released "Good Music", which featured appearances by The Beach Boys, The Sugarhill Gang and singer Darlene Love. The album only spawned two minor singles which received little airplay. This label decided the band had to either take in outside help or they would lose their contract.
And so they did. Her next release, Up Your Alley, went multi-platinum and was followed by "The Hit List", which was an international hit. Popular songwriter/producer Desmond Child was brought in, resulting in the release of album "Up Your Alley". This album brought the band a resurgence in popularity, with top 10 singles "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and "Little Liar".
This return to the spotlight would be short-lived, however. Follow-up album "The Hit List", an all-cover songs release, spawned only a minor hit with Jett's version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds".
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out ever.
1991 and 1994 had two more releases, "Notorious" and "Pure & Simple". But radio had started looking to grunge by this time, and neither album got the attention they deserved.
In the 1990s, Jett and Laguna released "Flashback", a compilation of her career so far on their own Blackheart Records. Her next release, "Notorious" (which featured The Replacements' Paul Westerberg) was the last with Sony/CBS as Jett switched to Warner Brothers.
In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland), Donita Sparks (L7) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
While a slew of hits packages, some with an occasional new or previously unreleased track were released following this, it would be 10 years before a new studio album would appear.
This would be 2004's "Naked", and thus far has been a Japan-only release. The album sees Jett returning to a more raw and experimental sound, closer to that of her first 4 releases than the polished material that began with "Good Music".
Failing to get "Naked" released in other markets, Jett released on a more international level "Sinner" in June 2006, on Blackheart Records, her own label.. This album featured many remixed tracks from "Naked", and a complete rewrite of "Stuck in the Middle" to new version "Riddles". Lead-off single and video was a cover of "A.C.D.C." by Sweet.
To support the album, the band appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour, and embarked on a Fall 2006 tour with Eagles of Death Metal.
After a long break from recording, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released a 6-song EP of new material, "Mindsets," in June 2023.
Wynnewood
Five
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty sigh, pretty sun, pretty one, pretty oh oh oh
Radio and my television screen
Is it image you want
Is it really me
I've falling over something that I just can't explain
No, no, no, no
You want me to
But I can't define
Desire
Do you wanna watch me cry
I cry a lot
Do you want me to come out
Ready or not
Do you want big proof?
Is that what need
Do you wanna watch me squirm
Do you wanna watch me bleed
Do you want
Everything?
Pretty palm, pretty balm, pretty bomb, pretty oh oh oh
Pretty sigh, pretty sun, pretty one, pretty oh oh oh
Radio and my television screen
Is it image you want
Is it really me
I've fallen into something that I just can't explain
No, no, no, no
You want me to
You want me to
But I can't define
Desire
Do you wanna watch me cry
Do you wanna make me bleed
Do you wanna hear me say
What I don't really mean
Do you want it so real
Do you want it so fake
Do you want big proof
Is that what you crave
Do you want to watch me crack
Wanna see me shatter
Make me behave
Doesn't really matter
I can't define desire
I won't defend desire
I can't defile desire
I won't defend desire
Radio, radio, radio is blaring
Radio, radio, radio is scaring me
Radio, radio, radio is blaring
Radio, radio, my radio is scaring me
You said
Explain this shit
I said
Fire
Do you wanna watch me cry
Do you wanna make me bleed
Do you wanna hear me say
What I don't really mean
Do you want it so real
Do you want it so fake
Do you want big proof
Is that what you crave
Do you wanna watch me crack
Wanna see me shatter
Make me behave
Doesn't really matter
Do you wanna watch me cry
I cry a lot
Do you want me to come out
Ready or not
Do you want big proof?
Is that watcha need
Do you wanna watch me squirm
Do you wanna watch me bleed
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
The lyrics of "Five" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are a contemplative exploration of desire and the pressures society and media exert upon individuals. The song opens with a series of repeating phrases that juxtapose images of beauty and destruction, suggesting that desire is both alluring and dangerous. Joan Jett's raw and emotive vocals convey a sense of confusion and vulnerability as she asks if the person addressing her really wants to see her cry, bleed, and squirm.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I can't define desire," suggesting that desire eludes easy explanation or understanding. Jett explores the potential consequences of succumbing to societal pressure, asking if the listener wants her to say things she doesn't mean or behave in certain ways. She ultimately declares that it "doesn't really matter," indicating an internal determination to resist external pressures.
Overall, "Five" is a powerful meditation on the complexities and contradictions of desire, and the need to assert one's own agency in the face of cultural expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Pretty palm, pretty balm, pretty bomb, pretty oh oh oh
Everything seems pretty and perfect, but underneath the surface, there is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Pretty sigh, pretty sun, pretty one, pretty oh oh oh
Despite the apparent beauty and happiness, there is a deeper sense of dissatisfaction and longing.
Radio and my television screen
The media we consume influences our thoughts and perceptions, creating a distorted reality.
Is it image you want
Are you seeking a superficial image or something deeper and more meaningful?
Is it really me
Am I being true to myself or just projecting an image for the sake of others?
I've fallen into something that I just can't explain
I am caught in a situation or desire that I don't fully understand.
No, no, no, no
I am resisting the pressure to conform or satisfy someone else's expectations.
You want me to
There is a demand or expectation for me to act a certain way.
But I can't define
I am unable to articulate or express this desire or feeling.
Desire
This craving or longing is referred to as desire.
Do you wanna watch me cry
Are you seeking to witness my vulnerability or emotional pain?
Do you wanna make me bleed
Do you want to hurt me physically or emotionally, to see me suffer?
Do you wanna hear me say
Are you hoping to hear me express something I don't truly believe?
What I don't really mean
I am being pressured to express something that is insincere or inauthentic.
Do you want it so real
Are you looking for something genuine and authentic, or just a façade?
Do you want it so fake
Do you prefer a superficial and false reality over what is genuine?
Do you want big proof
Do you require overwhelming evidence or validation to believe something?
Is that what you crave
Is this relentless demand and scrutiny a reflection of your own desires?
Do you wanna watch me crack
Do you want to witness me breaking down or losing control?
Wanna see me shatter
Are you hoping for my complete emotional collapse or destruction?
Make me behave
There is an expectation for me to conform or adhere to certain standards or rules.
Doesn't really matter
Ultimately, none of these demands or expectations truly matter or have any value.
I can't define desire
Despite being asked to explain this feeling or desire, I am unable to fully grasp or articulate it.
I won't defend desire
I refuse to justify or defend this desire or craving to others.
I can't defile desire
I will not tarnish or corrupt this desire by conforming to external expectations or pressures.
Radio, radio, radio is blaring
The noisy and relentless media surrounds us constantly, bombarding us with messages and images.
Radio, radio, radio is scaring me
This constant barrage of media can be terrifying and overwhelming, causing fear and anxiety.
You said explain this shit
There is a demand for me to make sense of this inexplicable desire or feeling.
I said fire
In response, I choose to act on my desires and impulses, to embrace the passion and heat of the moment.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
This counting sequence serves as a repeated chorus, emphasizing the repetition and predictability of these demands and expectations.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DUSK MATT, MATT DUSK, TERRY SAWCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind