It mentions "rolling over Beethoven," a clear reference to both the Chuck Berry classic and ELO's own 1973 hit cover of "Roll Over Beethoven".
"Rock 'n' Roll Is King" was one of ELO's last major hits during their original run:
It reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1983.
is an upbeat, high-energy track by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) , released in June 1983 as the lead single from their eleventh studio album, Secret Messages . The song is widely recognized as a joyous tribute to the roots of the genre, marking a stylistic shift back to traditional rock and roll during an era dominated by synthesizers. Recording and Production
Lyrically, the song is a "love letter" to rock and roll. It contains several self-referential and genre-specific nods:
The song features a prominent electric violin solo by Mik Kaminski, a nod to the band's classical-rock fusion origins.
It peaked at No. 13 on the Official Singles Chart and remains the band's last song to reach the UK Top 20.
The song remains a fan favorite and a frequent closer for Jeff Lynne's live performances, including his massive 2014 Hyde Park concert .
