The AC/DC song with 700 million streams that failed to chart
A lot of the time, bands need a moment to marinate before they can become the successes that they are destined to be. This could be because they haven’t quite worked out what sound they want to go for yet; it might be because they don’t have the right lineup, or it could be because the world isn’t ready for them. In AC/DC’s case, it was all three.
When the band started, they did so with Dave Evans at the helm and to mediocre success. It wasn’t that people disliked them; there wasn’t enough there for people to start getting behind the hype yet. Then, one day, they heard one of their roadies singing and decided to promote him to lead singer; this was none other than Bon Scott.
Bon Scott had different ideas for AC/DC. He wanted them not just to be a rock band, but to become the rock band. This meant creating electrifying riffs that shook music to its core and were ready to rock even the biggest stadiums. As they adapted to Scott’s playing style, it was clear that Malcolm Young would handle the band’s rhythm section, responsible for hard-hitting riffs that got the stiffest of necks head-banging. On top of that, Angus Young would lead and create some of the most electrifying guitar solos in the modern age.
The group got to work in homing in on this new sound, and the very first song they managed to create that truly flexed their creative muscles and showed people that they were on to a winner is a song still considered a classic to this day: ‘TNT’. What initially came about because of the sound made when the power in their rehearsal room went out was made into a chant that formed the foundation of the first track that showed the band were on the right path.
The moment that intro riff starts and you hear the repetitive “oi” sound creeping in, there is no doubt that you are listening to AC/DC. The band have a sound equal parts heavy and infectious, as relatively simple riffs are built around to create some of the most energy-infused rock music on the market. Add to that Bon Scott’s vocal ability, and you will indeed have something special on your hands.
Interestingly, ‘TNT’ didn’t chart when it was first released in the ‘70s, but those who did hear it loved it. It gave AC/DC a blueprint that they could work with and stick to, which they did and have been doing for decades now, continuing to use their excellent rhythm department to tap into the undeniable side of rock fans who just want to nod their head and throw devil horns in the air.
It’s clear ‘TNT’ is the pinnacle of AC/DC tracks because now that their sound is well and truly established and the band’s success has reached the levels it’s at, the song has over 700 million streams. There was never anything wrong with it; it just came out at the wrong time; however, it showed the band the kind of sound they should be aspiring for.
