Of the many glam-rock bands that emerged from Los Angeles in the 1980s, Poison distinguished themselves with a vibrant image and significant commercial success. Known for their Aqua Net-fueled hairstyles, glittery scarves, and striking makeup, the band, featuring singer Bret Michaels, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett, quickly rose from the Sunset Strip to international fame. According to their official website, Poison has sold over 40 million records globally.
The band’s signature sound, prominent in late-80s hits like “Talk Dirty to Me” and “Unskinny Bop,” was characterized by pop-metal party anthems filled with suggestive lyrics, catchy guitar riffs, straightforward drum rhythms, and Bret Michaels’s playful vocals. However, by their third album, 1990’s Flesh & Blood, their sound began to evolve. Later guitarists Richie Kotzen and Blues Saraceno, who substituted for DeVille after his departure in 1991, brought blues influences to albums like Native Tongue and Crack a Smile… and More! Despite these later explorations, Poison’s initial two albums, 1986’s Look What the Cat Dragged In and 1988’s Open Up and Say… Ahh!, remain their most iconic and appealing work. The original lineup has reunited several times, most recently for a North American tour with Def Leppard.
Here are ten Poison songs that showcase their range and enduring appeal:
10. Poison – “SexyBack”
After their top 10 Billboard Hot 100 success in 1989 with a cover of Loggins & Messina’s “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” Poison released Poison’d, an album of covers, in 2007. Their rendition of Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Nate “Danja” Hills’ hit “SexyBack” was an unexpected choice that surprisingly complemented their style. DeVille’s guitar effectively replaces the original robotic synths, incorporating a possible nod to cowbell, while the original chorus’s call-and-response structure is preserved, resulting in an engaging and unique cover.
9. Poison – “Nothin’ but a Good Time”
This track is Poison’s anthem for the working class, a simple yet accurate portrayal of blue-collar life. The music video depicts a hardworking dishwasher, highlighting the song’s theme: the desire for escape through music, drinks, and female companionship is as much about survival as it is about indulgence. Bret Michaels sings, “I raise a toast to all of us/Who are breakin’ our backs every day,” and declares, “If wanting the good life is such a crime/Lord, then put me away,” capturing the yearning for a break from daily grind.
8. Poison – “I Won’t Forget You”
As the obligatory ballad from Look What the Cat Dragged In, “I Won’t Forget You” stands apart from the album’s typically celebratory sleaze. Driven by acoustic guitar, the song, while lyrically simple, sincerely conveys the sentiment that amidst fleeting encounters, the band members still remember a special girl back home – at least when they happen to think of her. It’s a classic power ballad that resonated with fans and showcased a softer side of Poison.
7. Poison – “Fallen Angel”
“Fallen Angel” serves as a cautionary tale, narrating the story of a young woman who loses her innocence while pursuing fame in Los Angeles. This narrative was likely inspired by Poison’s own experiences witnessing countless women flocking to LA in hopes of becoming part of the glam metal scene. Despite its somber theme about the pitfalls of fast living, the song maintains an upbeat tempo and is infused with Poison’s signature cheerful gang vocals, creating a paradoxical yet catchy tune.
6. Poison – “Your Mama Don’t Dance”
Poison revitalized this Loggins & Messina hit on Open Up and Say… Ahh!, transforming the original rebel sock-hop tune into a high-energy rock anthem. The original song, lamenting being caught while trying to get intimate at a drive-in, is amplified by Poison’s faster tempo and electric guitar embellishments. Recorded live, the track effectively captures Poison’s enthusiastic performance and their ability to inject new life into classic songs.
5. Poison – “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” another ballad, demonstrated Poison’s growth in songwriting and achieved even greater chart success than “I Won’t Forget You.” This genuinely melancholic song about heartbreak, featured on Open Up and Say… Ahh!, became Poison’s only Hot 100 number one single. More authentic in its emotion than “Forget,” it subtly hints at deeper pain beneath the surface, a theme further explored in another of their ballads.
4. Poison – “Something to Believe In”
This piano-driven ballad from Flesh and Blood delves into a crisis of faith. Bret Michaels addresses personal and global tragedies, including traumatized Vietnam veterans, social inequality, and the sudden loss of his bodyguard on Christmas Eve. The song also features one of C.C. DeVille’s most emotionally charged guitar solos. “Something to Believe In” reached number 4 on the Hot 100, showcasing Poison’s capacity for more profound and reflective songwriting.
3. Poison – “What I Like About You”
The lead single from Poison’d is a faithful, energetic cover of The Romantics’ 1980 pop-rock hit, complete with the harmonica solo and lively handclaps. This track ranks highly because it reveals Poison’s core musical competence. Stripped of the typical 80s production excesses of their earlier work, “What I Like About You” highlights Poison’s strength as a solid, good-time rock and roll band.
2. Poison – “Look What the Cat Dragged In”
The title track of Poison’s debut album is a direct narrative of constant partying and hedonism. Bret Michaels sings, “I went to bed too late and got up too soon/My poor head’s still spinning from too much booze,” attributing his condition partly to the “two ladies who are in his ‘no-tell, hotel, motel bed’.” The song’s fast tempo emphasizes the relentless cycle of living a life filled with “sin after sin,” perfectly capturing the band’s early party-hard image.
1. Poison – “Talk Dirty to Me”
“C.C., pick up that guitar and talk to me!” No other Poison song embodies youthful exuberance and lustful confidence as effectively as “Talk Dirty to Me,” and none sound quite as irresistibly fun. The song resonates with every adolescent’s pursuit of forbidden romance, involving clandestine encounters in basements, bushes, and car backseats. “Talk Dirty to Me” is the quintessential glam-rock guilty pleasure, culminating in Michaels’ iconic “Whoooooo!” at the song’s end, solidifying its place as the top Poison band song.
