Music Monday: Old Time Rock and Roll, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

In honor of World Music Day, I can’t resist sharing my all-time favorite song: “Old Time Rock and Roll.” Originally released in 1978 by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, this timeless anthem has been cranking up speakers and lifting spirits for nearly five decades. From the very first piano riff, it’s impossible not to tap your foot, nod your head, or sing along at the top of your lungs.

The song got an even bigger boost in popularity when it was featured in the 1983 film Risky Business starring Tom Cruise. Who could ever forget that iconic scene? Cruise sliding across the living room floor in socks, rocking out in a white dress shirt, and turning an ordinary coffee table into a concert stage. It’s one of those movie moments that lives rent-free in pop culture history. Even people who haven’t seen the whole film know that dance. It perfectly captures the carefree, slightly rebellious joy that the song embodies.

For me, though, the magic of “Old Time Rock and Roll” isn’t just about Hollywood nostalgia. It’s deeply personal. The second that song came on the radio in our house, my joker sister Suzy would spring into action. Without missing a beat, she’d grab the nearest broomstick and transform it into her official dance partner. Suddenly our living room became a stage, and we were backup singers to her full-blown rock performance. There were spins, dramatic dips, exaggerated lip-syncing — the whole show. We’d be laughing so hard we could barely breathe.

What can I say? It’s our goofy sister song. It carries the sound of belly laughs, sock-sliding competitions, and carefree afternoons when the only thing that mattered was the music blasting from the radio. Every time I hear it now, those vivid memories come rushing back like it was yesterday. The song has become more than just a classic rock hit; it’s a time machine.

Four decades after its release, “Old Time Rock and Roll” still feels as fresh and electrifying as ever. Some songs fade into the background over time, but not this one. It has that rare, enduring spark — the kind that bridges generations and gets everyone from kids to grandparents on their feet. There are no signs that I’ll ever get sick of hearing it. In fact, I’m pretty sure the opening notes will always make me smile.

So here’s to World Music Day — to the songs that define eras, the movie scenes that become legendary, and the memories that soundtrack our lives. And here’s to cranking up the volume, grabbing a broomstick microphone, and dancing like nobody’s watching. 🎶

Lyrics

Just take those old records off the shelf
I’ll sit and listen to ’em by myself
Today’s music ain’t got the same soul
I like that old time rock and roll

Don’t try to take me to a disco
You’ll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I’ll be late for the door
I like that old time rock and roll
EverybodyOld time rock and roll
That kinda music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock and roll, Drew Abbott!

Won’t go to hear ’em play a tango
I’d rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There’s only one sure way to get me to go
Start playin’ old time rock and rollCall me a relic, call me what you will
Say I’m old fashioned, say I’m over the hill
Today’s music ain’t got the same soul
I like that old time rock and roll

Still like that old time rock and roll
That kinda music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock and roll

Old time rock and roll
Baby, just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock and rollEverybody come on
Old time rock and roll
Baby, just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock and roll

Old time rock and roll
It just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock and roll
It’s not like the old time rock and roll

Alright Alright Alright, just one more

Source: Musixmatch