| "Young Turks" | ||||
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| Single by Rod Stewart | ||||
| from the album Tonight I'm Yours | ||||
| B-side | "Tora, Tora, Tora (Out with the Boys)" | |||
| Released | 9 October 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
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| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
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| Rod Stewart singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Young Turks" on YouTube | ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Young Turks" on YouTube | ||||
"Young Turks" is a song by Rod Stewart that first appeared in 1981 on his album Tonight I'm Yours. The track presented Stewart backed by a new synth-pop and new wave sound, in part influenced by acts like Devo.[5][6][1] The term young Turk, which originates from the early 20th-century secular nationalist reform party of the same name, is slang for a rebellious youth who acts contrary to what is deemed normal by society.[7] The phrase "young Turks" is not heard in the song, the chorus instead centring on the phrase "young hearts, be free, tonight", leading to the song frequently being known as "Young Hearts" or "Young Hearts Be Free".
The music for the song was composed by Carmine Appice, Duane Hitchings, and Kevin Savigar, with lyrics written by Stewart.[8] The song, which was released as the first US single (second in the UK) from Tonight I’m Yours, was produced with synthesizers and a hi-hat played over a drum machine. Billboard said that it was "the kind of song Stewart is best at: melodic, lyrical and a bit harder than a ballad."[9] Record World said that "Stewart hitches onto a brisk beat and trades in his vocal gravel for an attractive light tenor."[10]
On the Billboard Hot 100, "Young Turks" debuted at No. 61 on 17 October 1981 and peaked at No. 5 on 19 December 1981 – 9 January 1982. The song peaked at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and also was a top 5 hit in Australia, Belgium, Israel (No. 1) and Canada. Released a few months after MTV commenced operations, it was the first video containing breakdancing to be played by the channel.[11]
- ^ a b "Rod Stewart – Tonight I'm Yours". Allmusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (10 September 2021). "Spirit of '71 Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "1970: Everything's Gone Gray". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 291. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
- ^ Lamb, Bill. "Top 10 Rod Stewart Hit Songs". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "My5". www.my5.tv.
- ^ "Reelz set to tell "The Story of the Songs" with Viacom International Studios UK".
- ^ "Young Turk". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
- ^ "Young turks / words by Rod Stewart; music by Carmine Appice, Kevin Savigar, and Duane Hitchings.[music]". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ^ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. 17 October 1981. p. 79. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 17 October 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Young Turks". Songfacts.com.