Creativity does not have to be serious all the time. Many artists find that a little silliness in the studio can lead to great success. The three songs below show how some of the most famous hits started as jokes between band members. Over time, these jokes turned into songs that became much bigger than anyone expected.
“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
“Highway to Hell” is one of AC/DC’s most famous songs. It is closely linked to the band’s rebellious rock style. But when the band first came up with it in 1979, it was not meant to be taken seriously. Angus Young, the band’s guitarist, said the song began as a joke.
He explained, “Someone asked what we would call one of our tours. I joked, ‘A highway to hell!’ It was just a joke.” When the band arrived in America, Young said he didn’t understand or care about the idea of “satanic” themes. He believed that many bands only pretended to be dark or evil because it matched their image.
“Heart of Glass” by Blondie
Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” stands out because it was very different from the band’s usual punk sound. This was intentional. The band wanted to “be uncool” and made this song as a kind of joke. At the time, playing disco music was not considered cool in their social group.
Debbie Harry, the band’s lead singer, said, “When we did ‘Heart of Glass,’ playing disco wasn’t cool with our friends.” But the song surprised everyone. Instead of being ignored or mocked, it became one of Blondie’s biggest hits and defined their career for decades.
“Michelle” by The Beatles
The Beatles’ song “Michelle” includes French lyrics that sound beautiful and poetic. However, Paul McCartney originally wrote the song as a joke. He wanted to create a fake French song that an English speaker might hear at a party without really understanding the words.
McCartney said, “‘Michelle’ was like a joke French tune you might hear at a party. That’s all it was. Then, after a while, I thought, ‘This is a good tune. Let’s add real words to it.’” The simple and charming lyrics helped make “Michelle” a timeless classic.
