Rod Stewart Failed with ‘Young Turks’ to Go Punk

Rod Stewart attempted punk rock with “Young Turks”. No matter your perspective, “Young Turks.” is not punk. Not all legendary rock stars were genre-savvy. For instance, Rod Stewart tried punk rock with “Young Turks”. No matter your perspective, “Young Turks” is not punk.

Rod Stewart’s ‘Young Turks’ is related to ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’
Vanilla Fudge’s Carmine Appice co-wrote Stewart’s huge song “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Appice told Smashing Interviews Magazine about Stewart in 2023. “Rod Stewart was a great guy,” he said. I joined the band when my buddy Sammy Ginero auditioned for Rod and gave me the number. I phoned him and said, “Man, I’d love to play with Rod.”

Appice explained “Young Turks” formation. Rod answered, ‘I want something that’s a little punky, a bit youthful and feverish,’” he said. Duane and I tried ‘Young Turks,’ and he enjoyed it. Most of it was keyboard and drum machine. I performed hi-hat and cymbals.”

Appice thought the song was different for “Maggie May”. He said, “It was different, and that became a big one, too.” That was usually the case with Rod while I was with him. He was at his professional peak, but not monetarily since everything was cheaper. Rod can make in two days what we made on a tour.”

Why Rod Stewart failed at punk.
“Young Turks” may be Stewart’s new path. The song isn’t punk rock in any significant sense. Not at all punk. It has no guitars loud enough. Nice synth-pop tune, but not what Stewart wanted.

The word “punk” may indicate an attitude rather than a genre. Some consider everything anti-establishment and aggressive “punk”. Communism and anarchism are called “punk” because of this. No, “Young Turks” aren’t “punk”. Traditional love song for all ages. Punk like Barney the Dinosaur.

‘Young Turks’ was greater in America than the UK.
“Young Turks” was a smash in the US, making Stewart one of several 1960s performers to succeed in the 1980s. The song spent nine weeks at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was on Tonight I’m Yours. That record topped the Billboard 200 at No. 11 for 31 weeks.

“Young Turks” lasted nine weeks at No. 11 in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company. Strangely, “Young Turks” was more popular in the U.S. than Stewart’s own U.K. It charted for 20 weeks in the U.K. Tonight I’m Yours reached No. 8. Stewart tried a new genre with “Young Turks,” which did well financially.