Get ready to rewind to the peak of late-80s Sunset Strip excess with Ratt's "I Want A Woman" music video.
The Song
"I Want A Woman" is a quintessential track from Ratt's fourth studio album, Reach for the Sky, released in 1988. The song encapsulates the band's signature blend of glam metal and hard rock, delivering catchy riffs and an anthemic chorus that appealed to their dedicated fanbase. The single itself was released in 1989.
The track was a collaborative effort, written by Ratt members Robbin Crosby, Juan Croucier, and Stephen Pearcy, alongside producer Beau Hill. Hill also co-produced the album with Mike Stone, marking Hill's final production credit for a Ratt record.
The Artist
Ratt emerged from the vibrant Hollywood, California, scene, forming in 1977 initially as Mickey Ratt, and quickly becoming instrumental in shaping the burgeoning glam metal movement of the early 1980s. Their sound, characterized by powerful riffs, melodic hooks, and a swaggering attitude, helped define the genre often referred to as "hair metal."
The classic lineup of Ratt featured Stephen Pearcy on lead vocals, Robbin Crosby and Warren DeMartini on guitars, Juan Croucier on bass, and Bobby Blotzer on drums. This quintet was responsible for a string of multi-platinum albums and hit singles, making them one of the most recognizable bands of the decade.
Chart Performance
The parent album, Reach for the Sky, proved to be a commercial success for Ratt, achieving platinum status and peaking at No. 17 on the Billboard album charts.
While "Way Cool Jr." was the more prominent single from the album, "I Want a Woman" also garnered significant attention, receiving MTV airplay. It charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.
Cultural Impact
The music video for "I Want A Woman" captured the essence of late-stage 1980s glam metal, featuring the band performing amidst a vibrant crowd. The footage was partially shot at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan on January 28, 1989, reflecting the lively concert scene of the era.
However, by the time "I Want A Woman" was released, the glam metal genre was beginning to show signs of waning mainstream dominance. Some viewers and critics, retrospectively, have described the video as somewhat "generic" or even a "parody" of the prevailing hair metal aesthetics, highlighting a shift in audience perception as the decade concluded.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "I Want A Woman" prominently features live performance footage, capturing the energy of a Ratt concert.
- Reach for the Sky was the final album where Beau Hill served as producer for Ratt, a role he held for several of their iconic releases.
- The song was also included on Ratt's greatest hits compilation, Ratt & Roll 81-91.
- The album spawned two popular singles, "Way Cool Jr." and "I Want a Woman", both of which benefited from MTV airplay.