The Big Beat

Get down to "The Big Beat"! Experience Billy Squier's powerful 1980 rock anthem, the explosive opening track from his solo album Tale of the Tape. Famous for its massive, influential drum sound, this song delivers pure hard rock energy and attitude.

Featured on the 1980 album Tale of the Tape, "The Big Beat" immediately established Billy Squier's powerful rock credentials. Driven by Bobby Chouinard's thunderous drumming – a beat later sampled countless times in hip hop – the track provides a raw, energetic foundation for Squier's guitar and vocals.

This classic 1980 rock track is all about the power of rhythm. Its heavy groove, straightforward hard rock structure, and simple, direct lyrics celebrating the beat make "The Big Beat" a foundational song in Billy Squier's catalog and an influential piece of rock history.

SONG MEANING: The song serves primarily as a celebration of a powerful, driving drum rhythm – "the big beat." The minimal lyrics focus on urging the listener to "get down" and feel the energy created by the heavy beat, emphasizing the primal power of rock and roll rhythm.