You're On Top of the World Tonight

I remember when I was just a little kid and I came across my mom's old record player and collection of vinyl in the basement. These black, circular objects fascinated me more than any compact disc ever could. As I picked through the records, I found Cheap Trick's 1978 album, Heaven Tonight. Although I now play it on a newer record player, I still listen to the album sometimes and even more now in these past few days since I've bought it for my iPod.

Although the album contains many amazing songs like "Surrender," "Auf Wiedersehen," "Heaven Tonight," and "High Roller," and I could have picked any of them to write about, I chose the second track, "On Top of the World." This song is catchy, lyrically well-written, and impressively performed.

I can't find one line in this song that I dislike. I honestly began to go through the lyrics of the song and highlighted every one that I liked. I soon gave up, after noticing that I was highlighting every single line. If I had to pick favorites, though, I'd have to say that there were three parts that really stood out to me.  "It wasn't easy, it was hard as Hell / You didn't get luck in a wishing well," caught my attention because it made me picture someone throwing a coin into a well in hope that their life would get easier, but it didn't. I also really liked "Quit school and had no dreams" since it was a rather sad line in such an upbeat song. "Wrapped herself around you with her stare" was also really interesting to me. I could imagine someone being sort of tied up in black shadows as a result of a woman gazing at them.

The lead vocalist, Robin Zander, got the chance to show off his excellent, unique voice in "On Top of the World." There's not one point in the entire song that listening to him sing gets boring or unenjoyable. And I can truthfully say that he's performs just as well on the rest of the album.The guitar complements the song perfectly throughout the whole four minutes and four seconds. The drumming's simplicity suits it also, and the added touches of piano only intensify the allure of the song.

"On Top of the World" is a great, catchy song full of thoughtful, interesting lyrics on a fantastic album. I heartily recommend both.

Here's "On Top of the World" off of Cheap Trick's 1978 album, Heaven Tonight: