Born to Be Wild facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Born to Be Wild" |
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| Single by Steppenwolf | ||||
| from the album Steppenwolf | ||||
| B-side | "Everybody's Next One" | |||
| Released | June 1968 | |||
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| Songwriter(s) | Mars Bonfire | |||
| Producer(s) | Gabriel Mekler | |||
| Steppenwolf singles chronology | ||||
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"Born to Be Wild" is a very famous song first sung by the band Steppenwolf. It was written by Mars Bonfire. This song is often used in movies and TV shows to show someone who rides a motorcycle or has a free-spirited attitude.
One of the most famous times it was used was in the 1969 movie Easy Rider. Some people even say it was the first heavy metal song ever! The words "heavy metal thunder" in the song's second verse were the first time this phrase was used in rock music. Back then, it described a powerful motorcycle, not a type of music.
How the Song Was Made
The song "Born to Be Wild" was first written by Mars Bonfire as a slower, more gentle song, like a ballad. Mars Bonfire used to be in a band called the Sparrows, which was the band before Steppenwolf. His brother was actually Steppenwolf's drummer!
Mars Bonfire first offered the song to other bands. But Steppenwolf was the first to record it. They made it much faster and changed it around. A music expert named Hal Horowitz called it "a roaring anthem of turbo-charged riff rock." He also said it became "a timeless radio classic." It helped define Steppenwolf's sound and made them very famous.
How Popular Was It?
"Born to Be Wild" became a huge hit for Steppenwolf. It was very popular on music charts around the world.
In the United States, the song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968. It also hit number 1 in Canada on the RPM Top Singles chart. The song was also popular in many European countries, reaching the top 20 in places like Austria, Germany, and Belgium.
It even made it onto the charts again years later, showing how much people still loved the song!
Other Artists Who Sang It
| "Born to Be Wild" | ||||
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| Single by Kim Wilde | ||||
| B-side | "All About Me" | |||
| Released | 2002 | |||
| Length | 3:23 (Radio Mix) | |||
| Label | Edel | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mars Bonfire | |||
| Producer(s) | Ricki Wilde | |||
| Kim Wilde singles chronology | ||||
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Many other artists have recorded their own versions of "Born to Be Wild." This is called a "cover version."
- In 1985, an Australian band called Rose Tattoo covered the song. Their version reached number 25 in Australia.
- In 2002, Kim Wilde also released her own cover of the song.
- Tanja Dexters also covered the song in 2002, and her version was popular in Belgium.
Lots of other famous musicians have also covered "Born to Be Wild." Some of these include Etta James, Link Wray, Slade, The Cult, INXS, Ozzy Osbourne (even with Miss Piggy!), Bruce Springsteen, Slayer, Blue Öyster Cult, and Status Quo. This shows how much the song has influenced different types of music!
See also
In Spanish: Born to Be Wild para niños
