Sweet Sixteen (song)

"Sweet Sixteen" is a song by British singer-songwriter Billy Idol, released in 1987 as the third single from his third studio album Whiplash Smile (1986). The song written by Idol and produced by Keith Forsey. "Sweet Sixteen" peaked at No. 20 in the US and No. 17 in the UK. It was also a hit across Europe and beyond.[3][4]

"Sweet Sixteen"
Single by Billy Idol
from the album Whiplash Smile
B-side"Beyond Belief"
ReleasedApril 1987 (US)[1]
1 June 1987 (UK)[2]
GenreRock
Length4:14
LabelChrysalis
Songwriter(s)Billy Idol
Producer(s)Keith Forsey
Billy Idol singles chronology
"Don't Need a Gun"
(1987)		 "Sweet Sixteen"
(1987)		 "Soul Standing By"
(1987)
Music video
"Sweet Sixteen" on YouTube

Background

"Sweet Sixteen" was inspired by the true story of Edward Leedskalnin, a Latvian emigrant who single-handedly built the Coral Castle in Florida. In Latvia, Leedskalnin was set to marry Agnes Skuvst, but she broke the engagement and Leedskalnin decided to immigrate to America. He built the Coral Castle there in dedication to Skuvst, who he often referred to as his "Sweet Sixteen".[5][6] Idol wrote the song after watching "The Castle of Secrets", an episode of Leonard Nimoy's program In Search of... which was based on Coral Castle.[7] The song was written during the making of Idol's 1983 album Rebel Yell.[8]

In his 2014 autobiography, Idol described the song as a "heartfelt lament". He added that while the castle was Leedskalnin's "coral memorial" to his former love, "Sweet Sixteen" was Idol's to his then-girlfriend Perri Lister.[8]

Music video

Two music videos were filmed to promote the single. The black-and-white version, directed by Peter Sinclair, featured Idol performing the song in an empty room.[9][10] An alternative video, filmed in colour, featured scenes shot at Coral Castle.[11][12]

Release

The single was released on 7", 12" and cassette by Chrysalis.[13] The B-Side was the Whiplash Smile album track "Beyond Belief.[14] For the 12" single, another track from the album, "One Night, One Chance" was also included.[15] The UK edition of the 12" single, which was also released in some other European countries, included an extended version of "Rebel Yell" instead.[16]

Critical reception

In a contemporary review of Whiplash Smile, Rolling Stone described the song as having an "acoustic shuffle", which "recalled the texture" of Idol's 1984 hit "Eyes Without a Face".[17] Billboard noted in their review of the album: "...quick spins of "World's Forgotten Boy," "Sweet Sixteen," and "Don't Need a Gun" provide positive indication that Idol is rocking on the right track."[18] In a retrospective AllMusic review of the album, Johnny Loftus commented on the song's "weird, Marty Robbins-meets-Del Shannon-in-space vibe." Loftus also selected the song as one of the album's highlights by labelling it an AMG Pick Track.[19] On the 30th anniversary of the album, Ultimate Classic Rock described the song as a "relatively stripped-back acoustic love song".[20]

Formats
7" single
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
7" single (Costa Rican release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Man For All Seasons" – 4:38
7" single (US promo release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
7" single (Australian limited edition double-pack release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
  3. "Mony Mony (Extended Version)" – 5:01
  4. "White Wedding (Extended Version)" – 8:20
12" single (UK and European release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
  3. "Rebel Yell (Extended Version)" – 4:45
12" single (European release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
  3. "One Night, One Chance" – 3:52
12" single (US promo release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
Cassette single (UK release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "Beyond Belief" – 4:00
Cassette single (Canadian limited edition release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "White Wedding" – 4:12
Cassette single (1990 US release)
  1. "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:14
  2. "To Be a Lover" – 3:51

Charts

Personnel

References
  1. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen / Beyond Belief – Chrysalis – UK – IDOL 10". 45cat. 11 June 1987. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  2. Stickland, Andy (30 May 1987). "News Digest". Record Mirror. p. 28. ISSN 0144-5804.
  3. "billy idol | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. "Billy Idol – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  5. "Edward Leedskalnin and his Coral Castle in Florida". Latvian History. 12 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  6. Kevin Wuench (2 June 2014). "Monday lost and found: The bizarre story behind Billy Idol's 'Sweet Sixteen' | Tampa Bay Times". Tampabay.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  7. "Billy Idol explains Sweet Sixteen background: first two Minutes". YouTube. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  8. "Preview Billy Idol's Candid Memoir 'Dancing With Myself'". Rolling Stone. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  9. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen". YouTube. 9 March 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  10. "Billy Idol: Sweet Sixteen (Video 1987) - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  11. Gladys L. Knight (11 August 2014). Pop Culture Places: An Encyclopedia of Places in American Popular Culture [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 213. ISBN 9780313398834.
  12. "Billy Idol Sweet Sixteen". YouTube. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  13. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  14. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  15. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  16. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  17. Tannenbaum, Rob (4 December 1986). "Whiplash Smile". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  18. "Billboard – Google Books". 18 October 1986. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  19. Johnny Loftus. "Whiplash Smile – Billy Idol | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  20. "30 Years Ago: Billy Idol Releases His Third Album, 'Whiplash Smile'". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  21. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 147. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  23. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  24. "Image: RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  25. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 163. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
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  27. "Indice per Interprete: I". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  28. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  29. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  30. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  31. Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1965–1989 Acts (I)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  32. "Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  33. "Billy Idol: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  34. "Billy Idol Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  35. "Billy Idol Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  36. "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Idol – Sweet Sixteen" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  37. "Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Australian Music Report. Retrieved 11 December 2019 – via Imgur.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten 1987". Ultratop. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  39. "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 34. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
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  41. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
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