Stiff Competition
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| "Stiff Competition" | |
|---|---|
 Label to UK single release as B-side of "California Man" | |
| Single by Cheap Trick | |
| from the album Heaven Tonight | |
| A-side | "California Man" (UK) |
| Released | 1978 |
| Recorded | 1977 |
| Genre | Rock, power pop |
| Length | 3:40 |
| Label | Epic 6427 |
| Songwriter(s) | Rick Nielsen |
| Producer(s) | Tom Werman |
"Stiff Competition" is a song written by Rick Nielsen that first appeared on Cheap Trick's 1978 album Heaven Tonight. It is famous for the sexual double entendres in the lyrics, and subsequently appeared on live and compilation albums. In the UK, "Stiff Competition" was the B-side to Cheap Trick's second single from Heaven Tonight, "California Man."
Some of the lyrics to "Stiff Competition" express standard love song sentiments such as looking hard in the loved one's eyes.[1][2] However, many of the lyrics are double and even triple entendres involving genitalia.[2][3] Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider describes the song as "phallocentric," citing lyrics such as "The bigger they are — the harder they fall."[4] Writer Rick Nielsen described it as an "erotic fantasy" stating:
- "I see it as male and female genitals marching like whole armies and whole corps of these going around and talking with each other. So the male says to the female 'I look hard in your eyes' and all that stuff, it was love at first sight' - I mean maybe these appendages, or lack of appendages, depending on what your gender is, maybe they have these sort of feelings, maybe there is a little brain under yonder! So I try to put myself in that position..."[2]
On another occasion, Nielsen stated that the song could have been called "The War Song of the Marching Penises," and noted that people come up with even more meanings after analyzing the song.[1]
Musically, the guitar riff is based on that of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again."[3][4] In turn, the riff from "Stiff Competition" was the basis for that on The Beastie Boys' single "She's on It."[2] Rolling Stone critic Mitchell Schneider also sees a resemblance between the harmonies on "Stiff Competition" and those on The Beatles' "I Feel Fine."[4]
Producer Tom Werman claimed that he did little with the song in preparing the recording.[2]