Even if you love the seductive 1982 rock song “Crimson and Clover” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, you may not know it’s actually cover song. It’s true. And although both versions of “Crimson and Clover” were hits in their time, it was Jetts’ version with its gritty, punk rock edge that became one of the dreamiest love anthems of the 1980s and in music history.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ rendition of “Crimson and Clover” opens with Jett’s signature raspy vocals over a grating electric guitar. “Ahhh, now I don’t hardly know her / But I think I could love her,” Jett’s voice grinds semi-sweetly, keeping the female pronouns in the song right where she wants them. “Crimson and clover.”
In her reinvention of “Crimson and Clover,” Joan Jett gave the song both a tougher rock edge and a sensuality. She makes it her own, singing with that cool, confident edge. “My, my, such a sweet thing,” Jett sings. “I wanna do everything / What a beautiful feelin’.” A slow, hypnotic rock rhythm carries listeners into the sultry song that perfectly captures that ethereal feeling of deep longing, that fantasy imagining of a romantic and irresistible “what if” scenario.
It’s sexy, moody, and defiant with every note until finally your whole body is literally rockin’ along with the outro in a dreamlike state: “Crimson and clover, over and over / Crimson and clover, over and over / Crimson and clover, over and over / Crimson and clover, over and over.”
With its more psychedelic pop sound, the original 1968 version of “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells (written by James and drummer Peter Lucia Jr.) was released in November 1968, and became worldwide hit. It debuted on U.S. charts in December 1968, where it stayed for 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Following the rock band’s performance of the track on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1969, “Crimson and Clover” hit No. 1 in February 1969, where it held for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
Related: 1975 Rock Song Flopped Then Became a No. 1 Hit Seven Years Later
In 1982, more than a decade later, Joan Jett introduced the song to a new generation. The band’s cover of “Crimson and Clover” was released as a single in April 1982. The song was featured on Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ second studio album, I Love Rock ‘n Roll, which was released in November 1981. In May 1982, “Crimson and Clover” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, and by June 1982, it peaked at No. 7, remaining on the charts for an impressive 15 weeks.
The “Crimson and Clover” music video for Joan Jett’s hit cover played frequently on MTV in the early 1980s, which only added to its rising popularity. Fans immediately fell hard for Jett’s unique rocker style, her rebellious swagger, and the way she assertively strummed that low-slung guitar. In one interview about making the video, Jett explains what she was going for, “I wanted to push it because you have to understand it was pretty new for girls to be playing rock ‘n’ roll. It was still pretty threatening, at least in America.”
Fans still revisit to both versions of “Crimson and Clover” for their distinctive sounds and timeless, nostalgic appeal. Both the 1968 and 1982 hits continue to get played again and again. To date, the original rendition has over 167 million streams on the Spotify streaming service, and the Joan Jett version has over 38.4 million streams.
And more than 40 years later, the song’s legacy continues to garner new attention, too. Search the #crimsonandclover tag on Instagram, and you’ll receive more than 20.3K results that include modern-day covers of the song and tributes to the awesomeness that is Joan Jett. On TikTok, #crimsonandclover delivers more than 8K posts. Plus, Joan Jett’s rendition of “Crimson and Clover” currently sits at No. 43 on the Ranker list of “The Greatest Songs Sung By Female Rockers…”
There’s no doubt fans will keep coming back to “Crimson and Clover” for its captivating emotional pull and driving rock sound, as well as for the nostalgia of an era that finally brought an extraordinary female rocker to the forefront. The unforgettable song with a gritty and salacious edge remains a forever dreamy love anthem that fans will be playing “over and over.”
Check out the music video for “Crimson and Clover” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts:
Watch Tommy James and the Shondells’ original version of “Crimson and Clover”:
And just because it smacks, here’s Prince’s rendition of “Crimson and Clover,” too:
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