artists: Nickelback

songwriters: Elton John and Bernie Taupin

date released: 1973 by Elton John. re-released by Nickelback in 2007

So what does a boy do on Saturday night when his date doesn't show up? He calls up his friends to get a belly full of beer and watch Hockey Night in Canada at 7:00 either at home in front of a tv or at an arena.  If a hockey fight breaks out on the ice, all the better. It sets the night alight. Better yet if the boys can get a hold of a bottle of "jack" --- Jack Daniels Whiskey to fuel up further.  Although many fans consider hockey a noble sport, Nickelback doesn't miss a trick here in portraying the rowdy side of hockey culture in Canada.

Nickelback's "Saturday Night" cover can be heard as the opening tease of Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts. Although Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to describe the raucous atmosphere in a local pub, the lyrics certainly apply to NHL hockey games where fights are common.  The line,  "get about as oiled as a diesel train" is British slang for a lively night on the town.  Remember that Britons Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote this song probably for the football fans there. 

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Hanna, Alberta, is the hometown of the grunge-rock band, Nickelback. The band members are Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and drummer Daniel Adair. The name, "Nickelback" originated in a Starbucks job Mike had. When he gave change to customers, he said, "Here's your nickel back." Well, Mike Kroeger has come a long way from working at Starbucks!

In December 2009, Nickelback was named group of the decade by the prestigious Billboard magazine. The magazine praised the band by saying, "The bulletproof Nickelback provides affordable fun that promises good returns in hard times." In 2001, Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" soared to Number One on U.S. record charts.

Nickelback's "Saturday Night" cover can be heard as the opening tease of Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts. Although Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics to describe the raucous atmosphere in a local pub, the lyrics certainly apply to NHL hockey games where fights are common. The line, "get about as oiled as a diesel train" is British slang for a lively night on the town.  Remember that Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote this original song.