77 (Billy Idol song)
{{Infobox song
| name = 77
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Billy Idol featuring Avril Lavigne
| album = Dream Into It
| B-side = Still Dancing
| released = 22 April 2025
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Pop-punk
| length = 2:54
| label = BFI Records
| writer = *Billy Idol, Steve Stevens, Tommy English, Nick Long
| producer = Tommy English
| chronology = Billy Idol
| prev_title = Still Dancing
| prev_year = 2025
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Avril Lavigne
| type = singles
| prev_title = Can You Die from a Broken Heart
| prev_year = 2024
| title = 77
| year = 2025
| next_title = Young & Dumb
| next_year = 2025
}}
}}
"77" is a song by English rock musician Billy Idol featuring Canadian pop-punk musician Avril Lavigne, released in 2025 as the second single from his ninth studio album Dream Into It. The two performed the song on the April 28th episode of ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!.{{Cite web |last=Mensah |first=Jenny |date=April 30, 2025 |title=Watch Billy Idol and Avril Lavigne perform their collab 77 on Jimmy Kimmel |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/news/music/billy-idol-avril-lavigne-perform-77-jimmy-kimmel/ |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=Radio X |language=en}}
Composition and lyrics
"77", a duet with Avril Lavigne, sounding more like one of her songs than Idol's, was described as a "textbook, Disney Channel pop-punk banger" by Blabbermouth.net,{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Dom |date=April 23, 2025 |title=Reviews - Dream Into It |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/dream-into-it |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=Blabbermouth.net |language=en}} and a "hooky pop" song by Ultimate Classic Rock.{{Cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |date=April 22, 2025 |title=Billy Idol, 'Dream Into It': Album Review |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-idol-dream-into-it-album-review/ |access-date=April 24, 2025 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}} Critics have noted the song merges the raw punk energy emblematic of Billy Idol’s 1970s roots with the catchy, mall-punk sensibility that defined Lavigne’s early 2000s style.{{cite web |last1=Garro |first1=Adrian |title=Billy Idol and Avril Lavigne Join Forces on New Song "77" |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/billy-idol-and-avril-lavigne-new-song-77-listen-dream-into-it-album-2025/ |website=Rock Cellar Magazine |access-date=28 April 2025 |language=en |date=22 April 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Rapp |first1=Allison|title=Listen to Billy Idol's New Song With Avril Lavigne, '77' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-idol-avril-lavigne-77/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=28 April 2025 |language=en |date=22 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Avril Lavigne and Billy Idol fight back on new song '77' |url=https://www.wrmf.com/hear-avril-lavigne-and-billy-idol-fight-back-on-new-song-77/ |website=97.9 WRMF |access-date=28 April 2025 |date=22 April 2025}}
1977 is a famous year for punk and of significance for Idol, because he was part of the Bromley Contingent, a group of fans that followed the Sex Pistols around from show to show. He was also the frontman of punk rock band Generation X, but they wouldn’t release their self-titled debut until the next year.{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=April 22, 2025 |title=Billy Idol & Avril Lavigne Team Up On New Song "77": Listen |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2305198/billy-idol-77-feat-avril-lavigne/music/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=Stereogum |language=en}} Idol, in a video posted on his social media page, explains to Lavigne the circumstances that led to punk rock. Both the USA and UK were in depressions at the time, so societal outcasts expressed themselves in the form of music. He then explained to Lavigne that he considered the song’s middle part to be "a reflection on both of us," noting, "I could join together … what we felt like in the past with the people today. It’s not so different."{{Cite web |last=Friedlander |first=Matt |date=April 29, 2025 |title=Watch Billy Idol and Avril Lavigne Team Up on 'Kimmel' for a Perfect Pop-Punk Performance of Their New Duet “77” |url=https://americansongwriter.com/watch-billy-idol-and-avril-lavigne-team-up-on-kimmel-for-a-perfect-pop-punk-performance-of-their-new-duet-77/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}
Critical reception
Idol, himself, was proud of how the song turned out, saying "It came out really fantastic," earlier in 2025. He adds that Avril Lavigne is "incredible, and the song just came alive. It was already good with me on it, but it got three times better with her on it."{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2025 |title=Billy Idol Teams Up With Avril Lavigne On New Single '77' |url=https://www.rttnews.com/3531897/billy-idol-teams-up-with-avril-lavigne-on-new-single-77.aspx |access-date=April 29, 2025 |website=RTTNews |language=en}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = 77
| note1 = featuring Avril Lavigne
| length1 = 2:54
| writer1 = {{hlist|Billy Idol|Tommy English|Nick Long|Steven Stevens}}
| title2 = Still Dancing
| writer2 = {{hlist|Idol|English|Joe Janiak|Stevens}}
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |date=25 April 2025 |title=Dream Into It / Billy Idol / Credits |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/420093297/credits |access-date=21 April 2025 |publisher=Tidal}}
- Billy Idol – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Tommy English – backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer
- Chris Chaney – bass
- Steve Stevens – guitar
- Josh Freese – drums
- Avril Lavigne – featured vocals
Release history
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Billy Idol}}
{{Avril Lavigne}}
Category:Male–female vocal duets
Category:Songs written by Billy Idol
Category:Songs written by Nick Long
Category:Songs written by Steve Stevens
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