[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Billy Idol — White Wedding
Album: Billy Idol
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2841









Released: 1982
Length: 4:08
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Hey, little sister, what have you done?
Hey, little sister, who's the only one?
Hey, little sister, who's your Superman?
Hey, little sister, who's the one you want?
Hey, little sister, shotgun!

It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again

Hey, little sister, who is it you're with? (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Hey, little sister, what's your vice or wish? (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Hey, little sister, shotgun, oh yeah
Hey, little sister, who's your Superman?
Hey, little sister, shotgun!

It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again, ow!

"Pick it up!
Take me back home, yeah!"

Hey, little sister, what have you done? (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
Hey, little sister, who's the only one? (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
I've been away for so long (So long)
I've been away for so long (So long)
I let you go for so long

It's a nice day to start again
C'mon, it's a nice day for a white wedding
It's a nice day to start again, ow!

There is nothing fair in this world, baby
There is nothing safe in this world
And there's nothing sure in this world
And there's nothing pure in this world
Look for something left in this world

Start again
C'mon, it's a nice day for a white wedding, wow!
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day to start again
Comments (180)add comment
I didn't realize at the time I first heard this at age 10 that it would endure so well!
 Solanus wrote:


Filly Idol?

Irreverent.   To horses.
I once saw Billy Idol on a talk show, he commented that only he and the Queen had maintained the same hairstyles for over 50 years.
He wins.
 joejennings wrote:



He  recently released an album called "Roadside".  It has a great tune called "Bitter Taste".   It is on the RP Playlist!


Thanks for posting this -- I'm a Billy fan.... saw him a million years ago when Rebel Yell was popular on a thing we called "the radio." Downloading his new album now.... He still rawks! Steve Stevens = underrated guitarist. 
 joejennings wrote:



He  recently released an album called "Roadside".  It has a great tune called "Bitter Taste".   It is on the RP Playlist!

 "Bitter Taste" deserves more airtime here...
 melzabutch wrote:
Image result for fool billy idol lip


accurate
 ImaOldman wrote:



Watched the video, thanks, but I believe that's Steve Stevens playing guitar not Slash...

Agreed, I think I found a clip from a year before or after the show I went to.
 bc wrote:

What's Billy been up to lately?  Still recording?
Or has Billy been Idle?




He  recently released an album called "Roadside".  It has a great tune called "Bitter Taste".   It is on the RP Playlist!
have a soft spot for Billy Idol as his music is fun and I remember dancing to this at my cousin's wedding with my older brother. Wedding music is traditionally difficult to dance to if one isn't drunk or a good dancer. I was neither...at least at this wedding
What's Billy been up to lately?  Still recording?
Or has Billy been Idle?
 lizardking wrote:

I've rated this awesome track at 9.  Probably really a 7 (to match the average RP rating) and +1 because my wife LOVED singing this on Rock Band and +1 because I got to see Billy Fucking Idol perform in August 2010 at Seattle area casino (oddly enough, at the Tu-la-lip tribe casino) and well all I can say is that show was freaking AWESOME.  Slash was a guest guitarist that day and that was a total bonus. 

And it felt like Billy Idol was in his prime still....and he got PLENTY of tits flashed at him.  So yeah...great show...love this track and THANKS BillG for playing it!

Long Live RP!!

PS - here's a YouTube clip from that show of Billy and Slash doing "Dancing with Myself" https://youtu.be/FjrcIvN9kdw   I haven't looked further yet and hoping to find a clip of "White Wedding" too.





Watched the video, thanks, but I believe that's Steve Stevens playing guitar not Slash...
 melzabutch wrote:
Image result for fool billy idol lip


It's Bojak Idol! 
 ziggytrix wrote:


Oh yeah, well Steve's guitar would have just been some generic hair metal without Billy's screams... maybe?



Somehow it's become some sort of connoisseur signaling to say that Steve Stevens is a great guitarist etc. Reminds me a bit of everyone suddenly 'loving' Johnny Cash. I'm not saying that Stevens or Cash are bad artists btw.
 maboleth wrote:

What's wrong, RP elitists? Too soft, cheesy for you? Don't worry, they also play Beatles & Radiohead quite often.



Must be a Floyd fan.
Wait, maybe not.
Not exactly clear.......
 eileenomurphy wrote:
totally agree, first few bars of that song made me physically cringe! now it not bad, even a bit nostalgic!
 

The boss
When this came out, it was severely overplayed and I hated  it! Now, that I am older & getting senile, I LIKE it! ...go figure! ...Especially in FLAC w/ great studio phones, amp & DAC!
Stop making fun of my sneer, right meow!!
 tinypriest wrote:

Nice reminiscence. But the song is not a wedding song. It is about starting again to take drugs. The "white wedding" is the ritual of going back to taking whatever white powder the girl tried to kick before. That's what he means by, "It's a nice day to start again".


Thanks for the insight. I had no idea, and the lyrics make much more sense now that I do. 
Holy crap! It’s been 40 (almost) years! Probably explains my rating change: 9 -> 7. But still pretty good
 tonyinnj wrote:
martinc wrote:
I drove my buddy to his wedding in my 69 Opel GT with this on repeat, over and over again at volume setting 11. It's was a nice day to start again!`

A buddy of mine had one of them...Looked like a Corvette Stingray washed in hot
water that shrunk...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 
Nice reminiscence. But the song is not a wedding song. It is about starting again to take drugs. The "white wedding" is the ritual of going back to taking whatever white powder the girl tried to kick before. That's what he means by, "It's a nice day to start again".
 martinc wrote:
I drove my buddy to his wedding in my 69 Opel GT with this on repeat, over and over again at volume setting 11. It's was a nice day to start again!
 
The one sports car I always wanted to own.  There were two in my neighborhood growing up and I loved them.

 martinc wrote:
I drove my buddy to his wedding in my 69 Opel GT with this on repeat, over and over again at volume setting 11. It's was a nice day to start again!`

A buddy of mine had one of them...Looked like a Corvette Stingray washed in hot
water that shrunk...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 

Stevie Stevens - guitar genius!
I recall NPR playing an instrumental version of this after on a piece about Will & Kate's wedding.
 melzabutch wrote:
Image result for fool billy idol lip
 

Filly Idol?
Billy Idols Greatest Hits!       Both of them on one record!
 AhhtheMusic wrote:
It's Steve Steven's guitar work that really makes this most excellent.  Billy is good, but he couldn't have made it without Steve's amazing prowess!
 

Oh yeah, well Steve's guitar would have just been some generic hair metal without Billy's screams... maybe?
 melzabutch wrote:
Image result for fool billy idol lip
 
Too Funny! .....looks just like him!
Thanks RP your My Faves option is a great way to build our own track of life! Thanks Bill & Rebecca
Doesn’t get much better than this...what a great song in spite of coming from the 80s
o lábio é igual
I was almost a teenager back in the '80s when my grandparents first got cable tv and I watched this song on the novelty channel called MTV.
A great song actually.  Always liked it even when I wasn't in the mood for hearing it.  In the car it was one of those songs where you are going faster when its over than when it started playing
First time I heard this was on radio the night I quit college. Out in the parking lot firing up the car. Didn't want to be an arc welder...
 melzabutch wrote:

Image result for fool billy idol lip
 

Just saw him earlier this month at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. He's touring with Steve Stevens, and he's full of stories and great music. There's a video by Nate (my son) on YouTube of this show.  He is (as always) so good in concert. 
Some songs just 'take you back'. For me this is one of them. 
 Noé wrote:
{#Notworthy}

 
I so want to be him when I grow up!!


{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Drummer}{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana}
the aggressive beat of Billy's music lends itself very well Spinning!
I grew up listening to this, that's why I never grew up (and I'm glad).
{#Notworthy}
 melzabutch wrote:
The sneer
 

 
WOOOOOOOOO!!!    (PSD'ED POOR NICK DRAKE FOR SOME STOMPIN BILLY : )

I've rated this awesome track at 9.  Probably really a 7 (to match the average RP rating) and +1 because my wife LOVED singing this on Rock Band and +1 because I got to see Billy Fucking Idol perform in August 2010 at Seattle area casino (oddly enough, at the Tu-la-lip tribe casino) and well all I can say is that show was freaking AWESOME.  Slash was a guest guitarist that day and that was a total bonus. 

And it felt like Billy Idol was in his prime still....and he got PLENTY of tits flashed at him.  So yeah...great show...love this track and THANKS BillG for playing it!

Long Live RP!!

 AhhtheMusic wrote:
It's Steve Steven's guitar work that really makes this most excellent.  Billy is good, but he couldn't have made it without Steve's amazing prowess!

 
He is such a masterful guitarist {#Notworthy}
When I first heard this I was flipping thru used at Rasputin's in Berkeley, and they played this, loud. It was awesome. I didn't buy it then, or ever, for some reason. But the charm has worn off, with canned FM playing Billy right alongside Toto and the Eagles. That really takes the rebel yell out of a punk.
For manufactured angst, this holds up surprisingly well.
{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Drummer}   {#Motor}
I love how Bill likes the Billy Idol.  Miley Cyrus also does a mean lip curl thing.
Billy Idol is now 60 years old.  My-oh-my!
 maboleth wrote:
What's wrong, RP elitists? Too soft, cheesy for you? Don't worry, they also play Beatles & Radiohead quite often.

 
 chasech5 wrote:

Not the Beatles and Radiohead songs played on Clear Channel stations. Find me a deep album cut from a B.I. album and I'll think about it.

 
RP does play plenty of Clear Channel staples by The Beatles, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Petty, and many others.  I guess it could be tiresome to some folks but it's not a crime.
 melzabutch wrote:
Image result for fool billy idol lip

 
Kiddo, that is one great picture! I could not help but laugh out loud! 

Yep, the mouth "I am ever so dangerous watch out" and then a song like "White Wedding"??

Already in the 80ties I was wondering about him, I find soooo  ridiculous!!!

IF there ever was a cheesy song, it must be this one!
 maboleth wrote:
What's wrong, RP elitists? Too soft, cheesy for you? Don't worry, they also play Beatles & Radiohead quite often.

 
Not the Beatles and Radiohead songs played on Clear Channel stations. Find me a deep album cut from a B.I. album and I'll think about it.


The great guitar work saves it from a 1.

But really, if I wanted Clear Channel music, I'd just turn on Clear Channel stations.
 AhhtheMusic wrote:
It's Steve Steven's guitar work that really makes this most excellent.  Billy is good, but he couldn't have made it without Steve's amazing prowess!

 
Absolutely. For another example, listen to the solo in Rebel Yell. That's some virtuoso stuff.
Image result for fool billy idol lip
What's wrong, RP elitists? Too soft, cheesy for you? Don't worry, they also play Beatles & Radiohead quite often.
OMG, it's a young Der Trump. Sneer and everything. 
Can't control my face... it keeps breaking into a sneer.
The high point of the video was the bride dancing in the kitchen while the appliances exploded.
First heard this in the basement of Leopold's Records in Berkeley. Thought it was awesome; filed it away to maybe buy next trip to Telegraph. 3 days later I was sick of it
 AhhtheMusic wrote:
It's Steve Steven's guitar work that really makes this most excellent.  Billy is good, but he couldn't have made it without Steve's amazing prowess!

 
Absolutely! Like Mike Campbell or Brian May, the singer is great, but what a guitarist!

I heard this on the radio yesterday too and the theme of the lyrics finally hit me: his sister has made some major mistakes but START AGAIN! Wanting to be innocent (hey little sister, what have you done?) let's have a white wedding. Who's her Superman?
 
"Permanently engraved in your brain" by MTV. Ain't that the truth! And, really, it is just an okay song. Not great. But it got played so often we kind of assume it is great.
It's Steve Steven's guitar work that really makes this most excellent.  Billy is good, but he couldn't have made it without Steve's amazing prowess!
Guilty pleasure, this one.  Surprised to hear it on RP, but ok by me
 
Classic Idol!! Great tune to 'circuit train' to, especially 12" version, gets you sweating... {#Bananasplit} {#Bananajumprope}  {#Dancingbanana}
This song ROCKS!!! Always has....8!!!
Screw the genre and era, this is a great rock'n'roll song.
Ha! This caught me off guard, it made me laugh and tap my foot along with it... in spite of cheese factor! I'm with an earlier commenter... a great voice that should have had better material.
our Rimbaud

 
The sneer
 
Happy 2015 Rockers!!! (gimmee another shot babe and peel off that short skirt now, atta girrrrl!  YaaaaHaaaaa!!!)
And in the unlikely pairing category: Billy Idol is touring with Cat Power.
I drove my buddy to his wedding in my 69 Opel GT with this on repeat, over and over again at volume setting 11. It's was a nice day to start again!
Not my favorite Idol song but a good '80s classic. {#Drummer}   "Eyes Without A Face" - love it!
shock to the system.... please
Wow- that was odd. Thanks for waking me up!
'there nothing sure in this world, there is nothing pure in the world/' Billy the sneering poet
Billy Idol has always been something of a disappointment to me. A voice like that shouldn't have been wasted on poppy 80's dance music.
How... very..... unexpected on so many levels....
"Shotgun"...."C-mown"
Rate the music - 5 Rate the sneer - 12
Are you kidding me? This on RP? MUTE thatisall.
siandbeth wrote:
But Billy Idol was so cool in Generation X. Tell me that wasn't punk. and let's not get into a "what's punk" deal, because it's Pabst Blue Ribbon under the bridge.
Yep. The old discussion about 'what is punk' has never had any meaning due to different circumstances in Europe and USA. Btw: To mention 'Gen. X' pulls me on your side.
The song is good, but I agree, pairing it w/the Reverend Green is an insult. C'mon Bill, fix the lineup please... Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
Oh......... And he paired them twice. OK, what have you done with Bill G, podcreature? ed: Back to back again. Buzzkill
bigtwistee wrote:
His facial expression looks like he's thinking "Who farted?"
Have you ever noticed what he's been able to do with this face during his videos?
C'mon this song is awesome.
All I can picture is the coffin nails hit to the beat of the song in the video. Do 13 year old kids see MTV as cool now as I did back in 1984? Another 80's guilty pleasure for me.
His facial expression looks like he's thinking "Who farted?"
1982 @ The Capitol Theatre Passiac NJ Still great music! Brings back fun times.....Yeah Man!
All that bleach is terrible for the scalp
prickelpit96 wrote:
Bill's never been a Punk.... His behaviour was just a ridiculous show. Though the song still rocks.
But Billy Idol was so cool in Generation X. Tell me that wasn't punk. and let's not get into a "what's punk" deal, because it's Pabst Blue Ribbon under the bridge.
mmmm... not so much...
What have I done to offend the RP gods?
Bill's never been a Punk.... His behaviour was just a ridiculous show. Though the song still rocks.
Billy in his prime. Props to Steve Stevens - killer riffs.
Zep wrote:
1. Pairing this song with Al Green "Love and Happiness" is an insult.
Oh......... And he paired them twice. OK, what have you done with Bill G, podcreature? ed: Back to back again. Buzzkill
Oh! I remember hitchiking in France 10 years a go, when my girlfriend and I got a ride from a lady who was driving from the south of France back to Paris. Her relationship just ended, her tiny car was filled with goods, there was hardly any place for us and the radio was playing this song.. It was indeed a nice day to start again.
federico wrote:
ok, it's 80's trash but one thing you have to concede: there is no electronic keyboard
Right. Also no xylophone or euphonium.
ok, it's 80's trash but one thing you have to concede: there is no electronic keyboard
bokey wrote:
I like this song and I don't care who knows it.
Me and you, bokey
YES! I wish he was touring again this summer. :-(
1.
Why? Why this? Ugh... Oh yeah, God is not running RP, only mere mortals. All is forgiven.
Another GREAT song of the 80's!
YES
Ack!! I had to check if I was still tuned to RP. No one (or no radio station) is perfect, I guess.
Personally, I think for the most part the 80's should stay there along with the cornballs who made it all so forgettable like this dude.
I give this song a higher rating for bringing back the memories of watching videos with my brothers when MTV was cool.
F***ing Rock out!
You know, he stole his look from Spike (That being said, I adore this song.)
I think that the "spaghetti western" guitar makes this tune. Thanks Steve.
I like this song and I don't care who knows it.
The first time I heard this was as an aerobics tune. It still makes ya' move!
jubilantme wrote:
"see billy idol gets it, i don't know why she doesn't."
"The Wedding Singer" rules! So does this song.
NewFee wrote:
In homage to all things 80's, I've taught my eight year old son to do a passable "Take me back home - mrarnh!"
Excellent!
Eyes like pissholes in the snow... rock on, Billy!
Was a true rebel...would give the bird to anyone he wanted. Mr Stevens on guitar was awesome.