About The Song
“Electricland” was written by Paul Rodgers, performed by Bad Company, and released in August 1982 as the only single from their sixth studio album Rough Diamonds on Swan Song Records. It peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100, with stronger performance on rock radio, reaching No. 2 on the Rock Albums & Top Tracks chart, marking a modest success late in the band’s original lineup era.
The song was recorded in March 1981 at Ridge Farm Studio in Surrey, England, and produced by Bad Company. The track features Paul Rodgers on lead vocals and guitar, Mick Ralphs on lead guitar, Boz Burrell on bass, and Simon Kirke on drums, with a dark, atmospheric hard rock sound. It runs 5:26 on the album version.
The lyrics depict a surreal, urban nightscape, with lines like “The neon lights go flashing by.” Rodgers crafted the song to evoke a sense of disorientation and intensity, possibly reflecting the band’s experiences and the gritty rock lifestyle, though specific inspirations remain open to interpretation.
The recording featured a moody arrangement, with Kirke’s dynamic drumming and Rodgers’ expressive vocals standing out, as noted by critics. The song’s dark tone and electric energy contrasted with some of their earlier, more upbeat hits, signaling a shift as the band neared the end of its original run.
Upon release, “Electricland” contributed to Rough Diamonds’s modest reception, which reached gold status but marked a decline from their peak years. It remains notable as the last single with the original lineup before Rodgers’ departure in 1982, with a reappearance in 1999’s “Hey Hey.” The track has appeared on compilations like Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy: The Very Best of Bad Company (2015).
Bad Company, formed in 1973, promoted the single with tours, though the album’s release coincided with internal tensions. The music video, though not widely circulated in 1982, includes live footage, later compiled in retrospectives like the 2002 DVD In Concert: Merchants of Cool.
The song has maintained a niche following, appreciated for its raw energy, and has been featured in rock playlists, though it lacks the widespread cover or film placements of their earlier hits.
Video
Lyric
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The neon lights go flashing by
Electricland is in my eyes
The underworld is on the move
And everybody’s got something to proveYeah, yeah, yeah
The taxidriver delivers the news
Somebody out there has blown a fuse
We’re passing the scene, a man is dead
A thirty-eight blew away his headA jolt of lightning sets me back a pace
Feel like a visitor from outer space
Please excuse me if I don’t quite understand
I’m just a stranger in ElectriclandWilling to have a good time
You live for the moment, the moment is fine
You’re up in your room, the lights are low
Before you know it, it’s time for the showA jolt of lightning sets me back a pace
Feel like a visitor from outer space
Please excuse me if I don’t quite understand
I’m just a stranger in Electricland