Turbo Lover

"Turbo Lover"
Single by Judas Priest
from the album Turbo
B-side"Hot for Love"
Released7 April 1986[1]
Recorded1985
Genre
Length5:33
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tom Allom
Judas Priest singles chronology
"Some Heads Are Gonna Roll"
(1984)
"Turbo Lover"
(1986)
"Locked In"
(1986)
Music video
"Turbo Lover" on YouTube

"Turbo Lover" is a single by heavy metal band Judas Priest from their album Turbo. Unlike the album, most of the reception for this song has been positive, and it is considered a Judas Priest classic.[4]

Lyrics

[edit]

The song's lyrics have been described as being about "auto"-eroticism.[5]

Singer Rob Halford said, "I just liked the analogy of the motorcycle as a euphemism for love. And 'I'm your turbo lover, Tell me there's no other.' It's got kind of a sexual undertone to it – which is fine. It's been done many times in rock n' roll: to use a machine, car, or motorcycle. It's just a fun bit of escapism more than anything else."[6]

Reception

[edit]

AllMusic writer, Steve Huey, in his review of the song's parent album Turbo, called it "easily the best song on the record".[7] Decibel Magazine described the song as "one of the classiest songs in [Judas Priest's discography]".[8] Loudwire ranked the song at number 10 on their list of the "10 Best Judas Priest Songs".[9]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1986) Peak
position
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[10] 44

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 39.
  2. ^ Begrand, Adrien (5 April 2017). "36 Essential '80s Pop Metal Tracks". Stereogum. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ Hartmann, Graham (20 May 2013). "Judas Priest, 'Turbo Lover' (Live) – Exclusive Video Premiere From 'Epitaph' DVD + Blu-ray". Loudwire. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. ^ Bowar, Chad (19 January 2017). "Judas Priest Unveil Live Version of 'Locked In'". Loudwire. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ Begrand, Adrien (20 June 2002). "Judas Priest: Turbo / Priest . . . Live!". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ^ Prato, Greg (5 November 2020). "Rob Halford of Judas Priest: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  7. ^ Huey, Steve. "Turbo - Judas Priest | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  8. ^ Begrand, Adrien (29 December 2010). "Justify Your Shitty Taste: Judas Priest's "Turbo"". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  9. ^ Hartmann, Graham (24 August 2012). "10 Best Judas Priest Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Judas Priest Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 September 2022.