The Ballroom Blitz (The Sweet); drum cover by Sina

Catching up with requests from my latest Q&A video. Here comes The Sweet!

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Kirchhoff Schlagwerk

Meinl Cymbals (Pure Alloy Series)

Evans Drumheads

Beyerdynamic mics (snare/toms/hihat/Overheads)
& headphones (DT 770 M)

#SweetSina

[julietp.]

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) to the Ballroom to Blitz the Band? Uh, Where's the Exit...

SONG (aka THE SONG) - "Ballroom Blitz" (aka "The Ballroom Blitz") was written by the songwriting team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman for the article dropping Brit-glam-rock band Sweet (aka The Sweet). It appeared on their third studio album 'Desolation Boulevard' on Capitol Records in the US and Canada but not on the RCA Records version released in Europe where it appeared only as a single.

The album was recorded at Audio International Studio in London in 1974 ("in a mere six days" according to one source) and released in Nov 1974, as stated on the RCA version. The Capitol version states recording took place from 1973 to 1975 and it was released in July 1975. As a single. "Ballroom Blitz" was released in Europe in Sept 1973 and, in the US and Canada. in July 1975.

"Ballroom Blitz" hit #1 in Canada and Germany and was within the top 5 in many other countries including the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, South Africa, and Switzerland. In the US, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #100 on June 14, 1975, peaked at #5 on Oct 18, 1975, and was last seen Nov 29, 1975 at #78 with 25 weeks on the chart. The album 'Desolation Boulevard' peaked at #25 on Billboard 200 on Oct 25, 1975.

The song was inspired by a real-life incident. During what has been called their "swishy, lipstick and eyeshadow period", Sweet had a gig at the Grand Hall of the Palace Theater in Kilmarnock, a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland on January 27, 1973. The only precise details seem to be that bottles were thrown and the band left the stage. Songfacts playfully asks, "Who threw bottles? Why? Were the throwers angry, lusty, spiteful, what? What kind of bottles? Wine bottles? Ten-gallon Sparkletts Water bottles? Baby bottles? Were they throwing the bottles at the band, at each other, or up in the air in celebration?"

THE BAND - Sweet had their beginning in the bubblegum era doing covers of The Archies and trying to combine styles of The Monkees with more mainstream rock and pop groups like The Who and The Hollies. Sweet often called The Who a main influence and played a medley of their songs during concerts for many years. This was followed by the excesses of the glam-rock period. Drummer Mick Tucker told 'Classic Rock' magazine, in 1974, "We were like four dissipated old whores, mincing about on Top Of The Pops and churning out computerised pop, just being as flash as a**holes. Everybody thought we were a bunch of poofs, and that Brian [Connolly] and I were bum-chums. even the birds thought we were a bit sexually-suspect long before that."

"At the start, we just used make-up as a giggle, " recalled Tucker. "We were at Top Of The Pops for 'Little Willy' and Bowie kept telling our make-up girls, 'No, no, no, their eyes aren't right'. We all thought, 'What a strange young man, taking it so seriously'. Perhaps for Bowie is was just the excuse he needed to wear make-up in public, but for Sweet it was all a piss-take.

"After a while things rapidly got right out of hand, " Tucker elaborated. "At gigs, Andy would mince onstage swinging a handbag and call himself Andre. Steven became Stephanie and I changed my name to Michelle. Brian was the only one who never really went along with the make-up thing."

Despite the silliness and dated lyrics, Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" has shown great staying power and numerous cover versions have been made. It's also appeared in many movie and TV soundtracks. The band's website states - Over 55 million records sold and 34 number 1 hits worldwide. They proudly display the following quotes - "Without The Sweet there would not have been a KISS" - Gene Simmons, "We wanted to be The Sweet" - Nikki Sixx - Mötley Crüe, and "This is the band I wish I had been in" - Joe Elliot - Def Leppard.

If you've seen the official video, I'm sure you'll understand when I say I much prefer Sina's cover!

Ah, well. It's only rock 'n' roll

[Sojourner-qldu]

Sina, I am a Professor of media production at university and have been a recording engineer for 40+ years. My students will tell you that I don't hand out compliments lightly, but I feel compelled to express how impressed I am with your work. One of my students sent me a link to your YouTube channel, and I must say that your production quality and musicianship are quite impressive. You're already a success, and as a new subscriber to your channel, I am looking forward to watching your rise to even higher levels of achievement.

[gregbr]

Sina did it again. This is her 91st video to go over one million views. Only Casey Cooper has more (116) in 6 more years on YouTube. Congratulations Sina.

[Richard_Ashton]

You brought me a smile on a rainy day.
I remember when it first came out, as a teenage schoolboy.
Where have all those years gone?

[frank]

I remember this. It was back in the day when people actually played instruments instead of just making electronic noises on a computer. Mick Tucker was a great drummer and so are you!

[GingerRum]

Mick Tucker is a very underrated drummer. You now need to learn to spin the sticks...his trademark! I am going to share this with his widow, Janet.

[ardvark]

Girl you blow my away with your talent you're the best female drummer on the internet

[stefanwoehlke]

What an awesome tribute to the so very underrated and unforgotten Mick Tucker!!!!

[steveashforth]

As an English guy from the time, who was (still is) a fan of the Sweet, this is a great cover Sina. So much energy!!

[ledzep]

Now that's what I'm talking about - this young lady is at her best doing classic rock - Excellent!

[ianhinrichsendrummer]

You nailed it. Well done.
The biggest mistake most people make, is the bass drum - they play the 4th beat on the beat and that's wrong, also the more you put your accents in the right places makes this a lot easier.
This is probably the best and most famous shuffle in the world, and it sounds fantastic. Mick used a Ludwig Supraphonic snare drum. The rest of the kit wasn't stainless, it was wood, Mick fitted the chrome onto it. It was a great looking kit. Ludwig and Premier ruled in those days.

[jefflejeune]

Well done, Sina. You are remarkable, you can drum anything! You made my day better, much better! Jeff in Louisiana USA

[on-site]

She makes the world a better with her beats 🎧

[MikeTorbay]

Wow, Sina! For some reason I hadn't seen this before, but I would like to add my compliment to all those below. This is a fast-paced song (I well remember The Sweet) and your drumming / keeping up the tempo is spot on.... Very well done! Thank you for posting this on YouTube 🙂

[arnolddalby]

Brilliant cover and brought back memories of seeing The Sweet on top of the Pops in 1973. Thanks for bringing back happy memories and it was a great Christmas too that year. Hahaha.

[gregyancoskie]

Thank You Miss Sina again for your knack of bringing back old memories as new ones. Your enthusiasm as you play is contagious and anybody watching more than a handful of your video's can see you're doing what you love to do. Keep being true to you!

[Mike]

More talent here than 1, 000 other u Tube videos put together.

[lonnierichter]

you did a super job, you always do super in everything you do, no matter the style of song or instrument

[daviddemar]

Boy her precision is just masterful- no other word for it. Bravo ms. Doerring👏👍❤🥁

[caseycooper]

I have read a negative comment or two on all of your videos and I have to say. Ignore the people who say you are wasting your talent with covers or heavy metal or whatever. Follow your heart, play with passion and go where your heart and you muse lead you. You have sensational talent and you use it well. Keep it coming! I have both your Chi Might albums and enjoy your music immensely!. I wish I could send you some of my own music and have your drums on them but I can see how extraordinarily busy you keep yourself so I will refrain from asking that for now. You go girl!!!