What It Takes cover

What It Takes

Aerosmith · 1989

7 min · 2 tracks · hard rock · heavy metal · rock & roll

Aerosmith blends raw emotion with polished rock production, creating anthemic and heartfelt ballads.

What It Takes is a single by Aerosmith, released in 1989. Aerosmith blends raw emotion with polished rock production, creating anthemic and heartfelt ballads. 'What It Takes' became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, illustrating Aerosmith's enduring appeal in the late 80s. The song’s success was indicative of the band's ability to blend hard rock with mainstream pop sensibilities, influencing countless rock artists who followed. Here's what makes it worth your time and what to listen to next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does What It Takes sound like?

Aerosmith blends raw emotion with polished rock production, creating anthemic and heartfelt ballads. Rooted in hard rock and heavy metal.

What makes What It Takes by Aerosmith notable?

'What It Takes' became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, illustrating Aerosmith's enduring appeal in the late 80s. The song’s success was indicative of the band's ability to blend hard rock with mainstream pop sensibilities, influencing countless rock artists who followed. Released in December 1989, 'What It Takes' marked a significant moment for Aerosmith as they were experiencing a commercial resurgence after the success of their previous album, 'Permanent Vacation'. This single showcased their ability to evolve their sound while maintaining the grit that defined their earlier work, helping cement their status in rock music during this period.

How many songs are on What It Takes?

What It Takes has 2 tracks, running approximately 7 minutes.

Tracklist

2 tracks·7:58

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 What It Takes (CHR remix/edit) Standout 4:02
  • 2 Monkey on My Back Standout 3:56

Release Date

December 19, 1989

Genre

hard rock, heavy metal

More albums in hard rock

Artist Origin

United States

Runtime

7 min 58 sec