"Ballroom Blitz" by Sweet (1974)
Dad's Song of the Day #110, Dec. 17, 2025
Auntie Brenda and Papa will remember this one as a “Balm Beach Special” (see DSOTD#37), and it’s just pure Glam Rock energy!
A killer, unmistakable intro: “Ready Steve? (uh-huh), Andy? (yeah), Nick? (okay)…Alright felllas, let’s gooooooooo!!”
Most of the lyrics in the verse are indecipherable, lost within a chaotic drum attack, boosted by hand claps…doesn’t matter though because we’re all just waiting, gearing up to sing along with the pre-chorus, which is exciting, fast and totally unhinged:
Oh, yeah, it was like lightning
Everybody was frightening
And the music was soothing
And they all started grooving
Yeeeeeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
By now, you are so into this, that you are COMPELLED to sing the rest at full volume and speed…No matter what looks you’re getting from the car beside you…
And the man at the back said, “Everyone, attack”
And it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said, “Boy, I wanna warn ya
It’ll turn into a ballroom blitz…ballroom blitz…”
Admit it: You’re singing along, aren’t you.
We all succumb.
Spotify:
YouTube:
This series is for my two 19-year-olds, who moved off to school with the misguided belief they’d escaped their dad’s relentless nostalgia and monopolization of the car stereo. I’m very happy for anyone else to come along for the ride.
The Spotify playlist for Dad’s Song of the Day is located here:
This song brings back so many glorious memories… Blistering sunburns, being buried up to my neck in the sand; trying to eat a PB&J, while fighting off the gulls; wrestling matches and bingo games.
It just occurred to me that I know the first name of everyone in that band *except* the lead singer. That has to be a record.
Also, when I was a kid, I had always assumed that that was from the Rocky Horror soundtrack.