Turner began her career with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1957. Under the name Little Ann, she appeared on her first record, "Boxtop", in 1958. In 1960, she debuted as Tina Turner with the hit duet single "A Fool in Love". The duo Ike & Tina Turner became "one of the most formidable live acts in history". They released hits such as "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", "River Deep – Mountain High", "Proud Mary", and "Nutbush City Limits" before disbanding in 1976.
In the 1980s, Turner launched "one of the greatest comebacks in music history". Her 1984 multi-platinum album Private Dancer contained the hit song "What's Love Got to Do with It", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became her first and only number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. At age 44, she was the oldest female solo artist to top the Hot 100. Her chart success continued with "Better Be Good to Me", "Private Dancer", "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)", "Typical Male", "The Best", "I Don't Wanna Fight", and "GoldenEye". During her Break Every Rule World Tour in 1988, she set a then-Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.
Turner also acted in the films Tommy (1975), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), and Last Action Hero (1993). In 1993, What's Love Got to Do with It, a biographical film adapted from her autobiography I, Tina: My Life Story, was released. In 2009, Turner retired after completing her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour, which is the 15th highest-grossing tour of the 2000s. In 2018, she became the subject of the jukebox musical Tina.
Having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Turner became one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She received 12 Grammy Awards, which include eight competitive awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first black artist, and first woman, to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone ranked her among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Turner has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Ike Turner in 1991 and as a solo artist in 2021. She was a 2005 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and Women of the Year award.
In 2020, she came out of retirement to collaborate with Norwegian producer Kygo on a remix of "What's Love Got to Do with It". With this release, she became the first artist to have a top 40 hit in seven consecutive decades in the UK.
Studio albums
Tina Turns the Country On! (1974)
Acid Queen (1975)
Rough (1978)
Love Explosion (1979)
Private Dancer (1984)
Break Every Rule (1986)
Foreign Affair (1989)
Wildest Dreams (1996)
Twenty Four Seven (1999)
Steel Claw
Tina Turner Lyrics
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It's one more fairytale about a rich bitch
Lying by the swimming pool
Life is so cool
Easy living when you make the rules
Last Friday was the first time
It only took about a half a minute
On the stairway
The odds turn out even when you give up believing in the
Cold law, steel claw
Try to get on board you find the lock is on the door
Well I say no way, no way
Don't try to keep me out or there'll be hell to pay
I don't know who's right or who's wrong
It doesn't really matter when you're lying in the gutter
It's a see saw
A long hot battle with the cold law
Is what you get for messing with the steel claw
The politicians have forgotten this place
Except for a flying visit in a black Mercedes
No election time
They cross the line
And everybody runs to watch the pantomime
If they could see what's going on around here
So many people hanging onto the edge
Crying out for revolution
Retribution
The odds turn out even
When you give up believing in the
Cold law, steel claw
Try to get on board you find the lock is on the door
Well I say no way, no way
Don't try to keep me out or there'll be hell to pay
I don't know who's right or who's wrong
It doesn't really matter when you're lying in the gutter
It's a see saw
A long hot battle with the cold law
Is what you get for messing with the steel claw
Sometimes I think I'm going crazy
Sometimes I do a line, makes me laugh
Makes me want to take a joyride
On the high tide
Sometimes I'm contemplating suicide
Meanwhile Eddy is on the west coast
I know he's making out with some sweet senorita
Up in Frisco
You and I know
The odds turn out even
When you give up believing in the
Cold law, steel claw
Try to get on board you find the lock is on the door
Well I say no way, no way
Don't try to keep me out or there'll be hell to pay
I don't know who's right or who's wrong
It doesn't really matter when you're lying in the gutter
It's a see saw
A long hot battle with the cold law
Is what you get for messing with the steel claw
Cold law, steel claw
Try to get on board you find the lock is on the door
Well I say no way, no way
The odds turn out even when you give up believing in the
Cold law, steel claw
The song "Steel Claw" by Tina Turner talks about the corrupt and unjust systems and laws that exist in society. It starts with a sarcastic tone where she likens life to a fairytale for the wealthy, lying by a swimming pool and enjoying the easy life. But in reality, life is not so easy or fair for those who face the cold law, represented by the steel claw. The steel claw is a metaphor for the unjust and forceful grip of the government and those in power who try to keep others out or punish them for trying to fight back.
The second part of the song focuses on the political situation, where politicians have seemingly forgotten about the struggles of the people and only engage with them during election time for their own purposes. The people cry out for revolution and retribution but often feel helpless and cornered by the steel claw.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of hopelessness and frustration with a society that seems to be rigged against the common people. The steel claw represents the oppressive systems in place that prevent people from thriving and living free, and the odds are stacked against those who try to stand up against it.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a television wonderland
The world depicted on television is a fantasyland.
It's one more fairytale about a rich bitch
This is yet another story that tells of wealthy and out-of-touch people.
Lying by the swimming pool
These people sit around doing nothing and living off their wealth.
Life is so cool
They enjoy a life that is easy due to their wealth.
Easy living when you make the rules
They are able to live easy because they are the ones who make and enforce the rules.
Last Friday was the first time
Last week, something significant occurred.
It only took about a half a minute
This event was incredibly quick.
On the stairway
The event occurred on some stairs.
It was child's play
The event was incredibly easy or simple to accomplish.
The odds turn out even when you give up believing in the
Things tend to even out when you stop believing in or following the rules.
Cold law, steel claw
Referring to a system that is harsh and unforgiving, one that will not be easily escaped.
Try to get on board you find the lock is on the door
Trying to become part of such a system is difficult and almost impossible.
Well I say no way, no way
I will not let these people control me or my life.
Don't try to keep me out or there'll be hell to pay
If these people try to keep me out of their world, I will make them suffer the consequences.
I don't know who's right or who's wrong
I'm not sure who is behaving properly here.
It doesn't really matter when you're lying in the gutter
The outcome is the same whether you are morally right or wrong, both scenarios result in a bad end.
It's a see saw
Life is constantly up and down, with various hardships and rewards.
A long hot battle with the cold law
Fighting against the unforgiving system is a difficult, ongoing struggle.
Is what you get for messing with the steel claw
If you try to fight against or interfere with the system, you will face stronger retribution.
The politicians have forgotten this place
The politicians no longer care about or visit this location.
Except for a flying visit in a black Mercedes
The only time they visit is in a flashy, expensive car, as a public show rather than genuine concern.
No election time
They only care about these places during election season; otherwise, they are ignored.
They cross the line
They overstep their boundaries and act inappropriately, to the detriment of the people.
And everybody runs to watch the pantomime
Everyone is entertained or distracted by the politicians' antics, despite the tactics being damaging or false.
If they could see what's going on around here
If the politicians truly understood the situation and its severity, they would act accordingly.
So many people hanging onto the edge
There are many individuals struggling and barely able to keep going.
Crying out for revolution
These individuals want change and are desperate for it.
Retribution
They want those in charge to experience punishment for the damage they have caused.
Sometimes I think I'm going crazy
Life can be overwhelming and make one feel as if they are losing their mind.
Sometimes I do a line, makes me laugh
Sometimes, drugs can make a person feel better and allow them to find joy in life.
Makes me want to take a joyride
Drugs can make someone feel invincible and tempted to engage in reckless behavior.
On the high tide
The feeling of being high or invincible is fleeting, but while it lasts, it feels great.
Sometimes I'm contemplating suicide
Depression and hopelessness can cause a person to consider ending their own life.
Meanwhile Eddy is on the west coast
While I am struggling, Eddy is off living his own life on the opposite coast.
I know he's making out with some sweet senorita
Eddy is having fun and connecting with someone else while I am not.
Up in Frisco
Eddy is in San Francisco, enjoying his time there.
You and I know
You and I both understand the difficulties and frustration of this situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Joseph Gerald Mary Brady
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind