All I Got is "Photograph" by Def Leppard

aisasami

May 29

Happy #SongLyricsSunday! Today's prompt is to find a song with the words "Appearance", "Image", "Likeness", "Object", "Picture", or "Photograph". Today's pick is the 1983 song "Photograph" by Def Leppard. I don't know if I have mentioned it before but I am a huge fan of 80's glam metal/hard rock but my parents despise it. I never listened to the likes of Def Leppard or Winger when I was growing up because my parents hated that kind of rock. I actually became a fan of glam metal/hair metal/hard rock when I was in high school and have never been happier.

I also picked Def Leppard because it feels to me like a summery song. I don't know why. Just have that feeling. But, it is a great song that shouldn't be overlooked.

All I've Got is a Photograph

"Photograph" was released in 1983 on the album Pyromania. It was written by Steve Clark, Pete Willis, Rick Savage, Joe Elliott, and Robert John "Mutt" Lange. It was Pete Willis' last contribution to the band as he left mid-way through the Pyromania sessions. According to the lead singer Elliott, the song was entered around the idea from a quote: "It's a photograph of something you can't ever get your hands on, somebody that's not here anymore." Someone who is crazy for someone but only has their photograph. He also said, despite rumors from many during the album's release, "Photograph" is not about Marilyn Monroe, but about someone who is out of the picture.^[1]

This song was Def Leppard's first #1 hit. They were able to do this with the combination of slick production, lively background vocals, and passionate lyrics that attract many women (except my mom, she isn't a fan). The band also created the heavy rotation of the music video on MTV as part of the song's success. "It went through the roof because of MTV. Once people started getting cable all over the States, this fledgling MTV thing took off. We got fantastic bounce-back from people watching it on MTV and then asking the radio stations to play it. The two started bouncing back from each other request-wise, and the song just went crazy."^[2]

This Def Leppard song is a great 80's rock song that should be on anyone's playlist. It is catchy, hot, and slick! How about you? What do you think about this song? Listen below and let me know in the comments!

The Rules for #SongLyricsSunday

(This challenge is currently hosted by the generous Jim Adams.)

Anyone can participate in #SongLyricsSunday, even if you aren't a music blogger! If you want to participate, here are the rules:

Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not.
Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it's a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
Pingback to this post will eventually work, as long as you are being patient, but you can also place your link in the comments if you don't like to wait.
Read at least one other person's blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
Feel free to suggest future prompts.
Have fun and enjoy the music.