Tragedy (Hanoi Rocks song)

For the Bee Gees song, see Tragedy (Bee Gees song).
For the song by The Fleetwoods and Thomas Wayne, see Tragedy (Thomas Wayne song).
"Tragedy"
Single by Hanoi Rocks
from the album Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
B-side "Café Avenue", "Don't Never Leave Me"
Released February 1981 (Finland, Sweden), April 1982 (Japan)
Format 7" single
Recorded February 1981
Genre Rock, hard rock, glam punk, glam metal
Length 4:05
Label Johanna Kustannus, Tandan, Nippon Phonogram
Writer(s) Andy McCoy
Producer(s) The Muddy Twins (Andy McCoy and Michael Monroe)
Hanoi Rocks singles chronology
"I Want You"
(1980)
"Tragedy"
(1981)
"Desperados"
(1981)

"Tragedy" is a single by the Finnish glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, from the album Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks, but "Tragedy" was released a little before the release of the album. "Tragedy" and its B-side, "Café Avenue", are the most well-known songs from Hanoi Rocks' early career.

"Tragedy" was written by the band's guitarist Andy McCoy when he was 15 or 16. The lyrics basically deal with a typical teen story of a first love and how one imagines it will last forever. At some point it all collapses and it feels that the world is breaking. The result is a "tragedy" and tears. The song is very energetic and has a fast tempo. It is also melodic, even though the guitar parts are a punk style. "Tragedy" was recorded at Park Studios outside Stockholm at the Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks recordings.

"Café Avenue" talks about Hanoi Rocks' individualist-attitude and how it doesn't matter how you look and who you are. The song also features a story told from the point of view of a character who lives a rough, young and wild life, but eventually has to turn to prostitution to earn money. The story is largely inspired by Hanoi Rocks' own life on the streets of Stockholm, where people thought the band were homosexual prostitutes because of their glam rock-look. This song was also recorded at Park Studios outside Stockholm at the Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks recordings. "Café Avenue" wasn't released on an album until 1982's Self Destruction Blues.

On the Japanese single, the song "Don't Never Leave Me" was used as the B-side. The song was later reworked in to a hit-version titled "Don't You Ever Leave Me", which is featured on the album Two Steps from the Move.

Track listing

Johanna and Tandan version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tragedy"  Andy McCoy4:05
2."Café Avenue"  Andy McCoy3:26
Nippon Phonogram version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tragedy"  Andy McCoy4:05
2."Don't Never Leave Me"  Andy McCoy3:57

Personnel

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