Joan Jett bet everything on a guitar and on the pure love of rock n’ roll. And it worked! Despite personal hardships and frequent fashion changes in the music world, the singer/guitarist’s reputation has always remained the same. The rebellious Joan Jett & The Blackhearts is one of the best groups in the history of rock music.
You know the hits! You’ve probably seen Jett live. Here’s a collection of the best Joan Hett & The Blackhearts songs that include both the famed tracks and some underrated gems.
Top 10 Greatest Songs by Joan Jett
10. “I’m Gonna Run Away”
The story of Joan Jett and of The Runaways is that of young girls escaping their regular existence to live the rock n’ roll dream and be part of it as artists, not just fans.
For 1981’s “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” Jett used the similar idea of the teenager who escapes the boredom and the grind of everyday life throughout the song. “I’m Gonna Run Away” is a great anthem and one of Jett’s most underrated songs. If you want to know anything about the guitarist/singer, you may just as well start here.
9. “Real Wild Child”
Yes, Joan Jett loves rock n’ roll. She also loves the kings and queens of rock n’ roll. Technically, “Real Wild Child” is a cover of a cover. Practically, it’s a loving tribute to Iggy Pop that shows how Jett’s greatest assets were the same as Pop’s. Both had a spirit that you simply could not break down.
8. “You Don’t Own Me”
In 1981, Joan Jett made her start as a solo artist with not one but two albums. Both became known for their Stonesy rock grooves. But the atypical “You Don’t Own Me,” where Jett sings over a piano part, is revealing about where the artist’s mind was at the time.
Her solo career was a new opportunity at playing the rock game without the intervention of former manager, the notorious Kim Fowley.
7. “Ridin’ With James Dean”
There’s something cartoonish about Joan Jett and her stage presence. But that’s what makes her such an undeniablyly memorable character. When most of her peers had faded into obscurity, Jett had become a household name.
“Ridin’ With James Dean” is a song that lets you know just what kind of character Jett is – one who was born out of the rebellious spirit of rock n’ roll just like Dean himself.
6. “I Wanna Be Your Dog”
More than anything, Joan Jett’s always possessed taste when it comes to rebellious rock n’ roll. Given her public persona and love for a good power-chord sequence, it’s no wonder that The Blackhearts would opt to cover The Stooges. Their version of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” is one of the best and most sinister-sounding.
5. “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)”
There are countless stories of talented, famous musical artists who failed during the 1980s because of an unwillingness to take MTV at its word and play the game. Former guitarist of The Runaways, Joan Jett, was not that kind of artist.
The Gary Glitter stomp-rock of “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)” was just right for Jett’s attack on MTV. The video was part of heavy rotation on the television station. And, years later, the glam-rock anthem feels just right in the artist’s discography.
4. “Crimson and Clover”
“Crimson and Clover” was the single chosen to follow up the immense success of “I Love Rock ‘N Roll.” The song showcases Jett’s surprisingly easy-on-the-ears singing and her knack for picking great songs to cover.
Originally a 1960s track by Tommy James and the Shondells, it is Joan Jett’s version that’s done the most to keep the song’s reputation alive.
3. “I Hate Myself for Loving You”
Not many punks or classic rockers sustained their success in the 1980s. Jett did. While this might’ve seemed surprising at the time, looking back, it makes perfect sense.
Jett & The Blackhearts were rocking, but hooky. Jett was a rebellious star who looked great on camera. “I Hate Myself for Loving You” was a smooth rock hit in 1988 and there’s no denying this belongs on the charts.
2. “I Love Rock ‘N Roll”
There are a few things that Joan Jett does better than nearly anyone. She can play incredibly punchy, correct rhythm guitar, and she can deliver a powerful scream. But the rocker also has a knack for picking the songs that are most appropriate for her talents.
“I Love Rock ‘N Roll” is one of the most famous songs of the 1980s. It’s a track that, even nowadays, is ever-present at rock discos across the world. However, the song was initially a minor glam-rock stomp by Alan Merrill and Jake Hooke which was released in 1975.
The Blackhearts added the attitude, Jett’s snarl, and the rest is part of rock n’ roll history.
1. “Bad Reputation”
Joan Jett had a clear vision for herself from the very start of her career. She was rebellious, wanted to play by her own rules, and needed to prove that female guitarists could be as cool and as musically capable as her hero, Keith Richards.
If you want to know about Jett’s career, you can practically narrow it down to “Bad Reputation.” Like her best songs, this doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Marvellously hooky and a relatively rare original Jett composition, “Bad Reputation” is one of the best rock songs of all time and the singer’s finest hour.
