Brian Johnson’s favourite Mark Knopfler song: “This is my real world”
Brian Johnson’s persona is shaped by his passions. As the gravelly-voiced Geordie and frontman of AC/DC, he embodies the rock and roll lifestyle and is a dedicated fan of hard rock music. This enthusiasm is evident in his musical preferences; when questioned about his favourite songs, he often cites classics from bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, alongside gems like those from Mark Knopfler.
AC/DC is an excellent example of how energy contributes to good music. While they’re a band who may not have diverted from the few-chord formula, they have had a long, successful career, making hits and selling out stadiums thanks to the unique and upbeat delivery with which they perform. This kind of energy is something that Johnson looks for in his music, and it’s also why he was particularly frustrated during a lull in the sound of rock music in the ‘70s.
“[About] ’78, ’79, rock was getting a little soft, and everything was just way too comfortable,” he said. It’s no surprise that this style might somewhat bore the frontman, someone who has made a career off of his charisma on stage and ability to deliver volcanic live shows.
Despite this period, one song came out that shook up the status quo, and Johnson labels it as one of the best tracks he’s ever heard. “This thing came out. It feels like Blues, Jazz, Rock, and [everyone felt] ‘What is this song?’” The song he is referring to is ‘Sultans of Swing,’ by Dire Straits.
‘Sultans of Swing’ is from the band’s 1978 debut album. It follows someone who likes to go to a club after work to listen to music and unwind. It discusses abandoning the image assigned to a band and admiring them for the music they make alone. This is likely another element that Johnson enjoyed, as, despite some devil horns and Angus Young’s school uniform, AC/DC has never been a band that put their image before their music.
In talking about the song, Johnson said, “Mark [Knopfler] is from Newcastle, you know, this is my real world, this is what happened to me and I’m going: ‘That’s fantastic!’” Clearly, this Dire Straits track didn’t just breathe life into rock music during a period when it was gasping a little bit, but it also appealed to Johnson on a personal level. It was a song that spoke about loving music that doubled up as music he loved. Could there be a better combination?
There is no escaping the fact that Brian Johnson is the result of the music he grew up loving and listening to. He puts hard rock energy into every word he sings, and as such, it’s no surprise that ‘Sultans of Swing,’ a song that embodies that spirit in its theme and execution, is massively important to him.
