"Black Rose" was sent to active rock radio stations in the US on 7 March 2017[1] and was released as a single.[2] It features guest vocals from Canadian musician Danko Jones, a friend of the band who had previously toured with Volbeat. Volbeat guitarist Rob Caggiano stated that the song's verse sections were originally sung by frontman Michael Poulsen but were particularly suited to Jones' vocal style, leading the band to invite him to contribute. Jones agreed to participate, and Caggiano described him as a "huge music nerd".[3]
Poulsen separately recalled thinking of Jones for the verse while practicing the song in the studio and subsequently inviting him to take part. He said Jones delivered the vocal performance as expected. Poulsen added that the two musicians have known each other for years, having first met after a Danko Jones concert in Copenhagen around the time of the band's debut, and have remained in contact since.[4]
Composition and style
Poulsen said the song incorporates elements of punk rock and features what he described as a "Phil Spector sound".[4]
A review by Loudwire noted that Jones' edgier vocal style contrasts with Poulsen's smoother vocals.[5] Thom Jurek of AllMusic also noted the contrast between Jones' rougher vocals and Poulsen's smoother delivery, adding that the backing chorus and guitar work combine elements of 1970s glam metal with early-1960s pop.[6]
Music video
The official lyric video was released on March 23, 2017, and was directed by Shan Dan Horan.[7]
The animated music video was released on June 12, 2017,[8][9] and was produced and directed by Toon53 Productions.[10][11] The video shows the band performing a concert intercut with scenes including a make-out session, a drag race, and a wrestling match.[2]
Live performances
On August 26, 2017, Volbeat performed "Black Rose" live at Telia Parken during their hometown concert in Copenhagen with guest vocalist Danko Jones joining the band[12] for the second encore.[13]
On June 28, 2023, Danko Jones joined Volbeat on stage during their concert in Graz, Austria, performing "Black Rose".[14]
Commercial performance
It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart on June 24, 2017, their sixth song to do so.[15]Billboard reported that it was the band's sixth No. 1 in less than five years, and Jones acknowledged the chart achievement while on tour in Budapest.[16]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
