T.Rex was a primary force in glam rock, thanks to the creative direction of guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld). Bolan created a deliberately trashy form of rock and roll that was proud of its own disposability, which stood in contrast to the low-key whimsical poetry of the earlier duo. T.Rex's music borrowed the underlying sexuality of early rock & roll, adding dirty, simple grooves and fat distorted guitars, as well as an overarching folky/hippie spirituality that always came through the clearest on ballads. While most of his peers concentrated on making cohesive albums, Bolan kept the idea of a three-minute pop single alive in the early 1970s. In Britain, he became a superstar, sparking a period of "T.Rextacy" among the pop audience with a series of Top Ten hits, including four number one singles. Over in America, the group only had one major hit -- the Top Ten "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" -- before disappearing from the charts in 1973. T.Rex's popularity in the U.K. didn't begin to waver until 1975, and they retained a devoted following until Marc Bolan's death in 1977. Over the next three decades, Bolan has emerged as a cult figure and the music of T.Rex has proved quite influential on hard rock, punk, new wave, and alternative rock.
Following a career as a teenage model, Marc Bolan began performing music professionally in 1965, releasing his first single, "The Wizard," on Decca Records. Bolan joined the psychedelic folk-rock combo John's Children in 1967, appearing on three unsuccessful singles before the group disbanded later that year. Following the breakup, he formed the folk duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took. The duo landed a record deal with a subsidiary of EMI in February 1968, recording their debut album with producer Tony Visconti. "Debora," the group's first single, peaked at number 34 in May of that year, and their debut album, "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brow", reached number 15 shortly afterward. The duo released their second album, "Prophets, Seers & Sages, the Angels of the Ages", in November of 1968.
By this time, Tyrannosaurus Rex was building a sizable underground following, which helped Bolan's book of poetry, The Warlock of Love, enter the British best-seller charts. In the summer of 1969, the duo released their third album, "Unicorn", as well as the single "King of the Rumbling Spires," the first Tyrannosaurus Rex song to feature an electric guitar. Following an unsuccessful American tour that fall, Took left or as is often stated by people close to the band, was sacked. He was replaced by Mickey Finn, previously linked to the band Haphash and the coloured coat.(There are a few more artists using the name Mickey Finn, though that is where the connection ends)! The new duo's first single did not chart, yet their first album, 1970's "A Beard of Stars", reached number 21.
The turning point in Bolan's career came in October of 1970, when he shortened the group's name to T.Rex and released "Ride a White Swan," a fuzz-drenched single driven by a rolling backbeat. "Ride a White Swan" became a major hit in the U.K., climbing all the way to number two. The band's next album, T.Rex, peaked at number 13 and stayed on the charts for six months. Encouraged by the results, Bolan expanded T.Rex to a full band, adding bassist Steve Currie and drummer Bill Legend (born Bill Fifield). The new lineup recorded "Hot Love," which spent six weeks at number one in early 1971. That summer, T.Rex released "Get It On" (retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the U.S.), which became their second straight U.K. number one; the single would go on to be their biggest international hit, reaching number ten in the U.S. in 1972. "Electric Warrior", the first album recorded by the full band, was released in the fall of 1971; it was number one for six weeks in Britain and cracked America's Top 40.
By now, "T.Rextacy" was in full swing in England, as the band had captured the imaginations of both teenagers and the media with its sequined, heavily made-up appearance; the image of Marc Bolan in a top hat, feather boa, and platform shoes, performing "Get It On" on the BBC became as famous as his music. At the beginning of 1972, T.Rex signed with EMI, setting up a distribution deal for Bolan's own T.Rex Wax Co. record label. "Telegram Sam," the group's first EMI single, became their third number one single.
"Metal Guru" also hit number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart. The Slider, released in the summer of 1972, shot to number one upon its release, allegedly selling 100,000 copies in four days; the album was also T.Rex's most successful American release, reaching number 17. Appearing in the spring of 1973, Tanx was another Top Five hit for T.Rex; the singles "20th Century Boy" and "The Groover" soon followed it to the upper ranks of the charts. However, those singles would prove to be the band's last two Top Ten hits. In the summer of 1973, rhythm guitarist Jack Green joined the band, as did three backup vocalists, including the American soul singer Gloria Jones; Jones would soon become Bolan's girlfriend. At the beginning of 1974, drummer Bill Legend left the group and was replaced by Davy Lutton, as Jones became the group's keyboardist.
In early 1974, the single "Teenage Dream" was the first record to be released under the name Marc Bolan and T.Rex. The following album, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, was the last Bolan recorded with Tony Visconti. Throughout the year, T.Rex's popularity rapidly declined -- by the time "Zip Gun Boogie" was released in November, it could only reach number 41. Finn and Green left the group at the end of the year, while keyboardist Dino Dines joined. The decline of T.Rex's popularity was confirmed when 1975's Bolan's "Zip Gun" failed to chart. Bolan took the rest of the year off, returning in the spring of 1976 with "Futuristic Dragon", which peaked at number 50. Released in the summer of 1976, "I Love to Boogie," a disco-flavored three-chord thumper, became Bolan's last Top 20 hit.
Bolan released "Dandy in the Underworld" in the spring of 1977; it was a modest hit, peaking at number 26. While "The Soul of My Suit" reached number 42 on the charts, T.Rex's next two singles failed to chart. Sensing it was time for a change of direction, Bolan began expanding his horizons in August. In addition to contributing a weekly column for Record Mirror, he hosted his own variety television show, Marc. Featuring guest appearances by artists like David Bowie and Generation X, Marc helped restore Bolan's hip image. Signing with RCA Records, the guitarist formed a new band with bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Tony Newman, yet he never was able to record with the group. While driving home from a London club with Bolan, Gloria Jones lost control of her car, smashing into a tree. Marc Bolan, riding in the passenger's seat of the car, was killed instantly.
While T.Rex's music was intended to be disposable, it has proven surprisingly influential over the years. Hard rock and heavy metal bands borrowed the group's image, as well as the pounding insistence of their guitars. Punk bands may have discarded the high heels, feather boas, and top hats, yet they adhered to the simple three-chord structures and pop aesthetics that made the band popular, as they still are today 30 years after Marc's death.
Celebrate Summer
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey little girl want a quick romance
Hey little girl won't you take a chance
And celebrate summer with me
Hey little chick where did you learn that trick
Hey don't you know you got rock and roll
Hey little punk forget all that junk
And celebrate summer with me
This is summer
And it's now
Summer is heaven in '77
Hey little girl would you like a dance
Hey little girl want a quick romance
Hey little girl won't you be the one
To celebrate summer with me
The lyrics to T. Rex's song "Celebrate Summer" exude a sense of youthful energy, recklessness, and unbridled optimism. The song is an invitation to an unnamed "little girl" to break free from the constraints of the mundane and embrace the spirit of summer. The lyrics are uncomplicated and repetitive, underscored by a lively rock and roll beat that captures the carefree and exuberant vibe of the season.
The opening lines of the song, "Hey little girl would you like a dance / Hey little girl want a quick romance," suggest a flirtatious and playful tone, inviting the listener to let loose and have fun without worrying about the future or consequences. The following lines, "Summer's not a bummer / This is summer / And it's now / Summer is heaven in '77," reinforce the idea that the present moment is all that matters, and that the summer of 1977 is a time of unlimited potential and possibility. The chorus, "And celebrate summer with me," reinforces the idea that summer is a time to come together and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
The lyrics to "Celebrate Summer" are distinctly different from the more cerebral and introspective style of music that was popular in the 1970s. The song represents a departure from the social and political themes that characterized much of the music from that era, and instead, celebrates the universal human experience of joy, freedom, and self-expression. The catchy, upbeat melody, and playful lyrics have remained popular over the years and continue to be enjoyed by fans of classic rock.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little girl would you like a dance
The singer is asking a girl if she would like to dance with him.
Hey little girl want a quick romance
The singer is asking the girl if she wants to engage in a brief romantic fling with him.
Hey little girl won't you take a chance
The singer is asking the girl if she will take a risk and spend time with him.
And celebrate summer with me
The artist is inviting the girl to enjoy the summer season with him.
Hey little chick where did you learn that trick
The artist is complimenting the girl on her skills or moves and asking her where she learned them.
Hey don't you know you got rock and roll
The singer is telling the girl that she has a natural talent for rock and roll music.
Hey little punk forget all that junk
The singer is telling someone who identifies as a punk to disregard any negative attitudes or beliefs.
And celebrate summer with me
The artist is encouraging the punk to enjoy the summer with him.
Summer's not a bummer
The artist is emphasizing that summer isn't boring or negative in any way.
This is summer
The artist is affirming that the current season is, in fact, summer.
And it's now
The singer is indicating that summer is happening at the present moment.
Summer is heaven in '77
The artist is expressing that the summer of 1977 was an incredible time period.
Hey little girl would you like a dance
The singer is asking the girl again if she would like to dance with him.
Hey little girl want a quick romance
The singer is asking the girl again if she wants a brief romantic fling.
Hey little girl won't you be the one
The singer is asking the girl to be the one to enjoy the summer with him.
To celebrate summer with me
The artist is reiterating his invitation for the girl to enjoy the summer season together.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: MARC BOLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
beltanetrex
The perfect rock song that straddles glam and punk, but done with unmatchable Bolanic flair. :-)
Shane Wright
Marc Bolan is the only celebrity that I cried over when they died. I still consider him the ultimate Rock God.
Stephen Vine
Marc's last official single and the lyric summer is heaven in 77 was a weird act of what was to come God rest you Marc great talent still sadly missed
carl kane
great singer god rest his soul.
Zinc Alloy
Marc's rough cut blows the single version out of the water . . . sliding into the A/D/E changes Eddie Cochran style . . . could and should have been better than it was . . . (still bought it on the day it was released though 😎)
Lyds Orrick
I wish they would release this along with the other unreleased songs on Dandy in The Underworld. Anyone want to start a campaign for it?
Звиади Гамсахурдия
Как спел Марк Болан - Summer is heaven in '77. Пророческие слова, ведь это было последнее лето в его жизни, увы....
Luis Trejo
Marc Bolan saved my life 💜
Sweet Emotion
I will marry someone for bass tabs to this 😁
Zinc Alloy
Herbie "Grandad" Flowers . . . Marc gathered quite a band around him towards the end . . .