Guns N’ Roses gave us one of their most memorable and emotional songs with “Sweet Child O’ Mine” in 1988, and the world hasn’t stopped listening ever since. Over three decades later, this song reached one billion views on YouTube, becoming the first track from the ‘80s to do so.
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” was one of the first songs that put this legendary band on the map. It was featured on their debut album Appetite for Destruction, alongside hit singles “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City”, but it resonated better with the audience.
Guns N’ Roses dropped many hit tracks in the years to come, but none of them really echoed its success. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” managed to top Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming band’s one and only single to reach this coveted spot.
Axl Rose discussed its backstory in the book The Girl in the Song: The Real Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics, and explained how it revealed the band’s sensitive side.
“A lot of rock bands are too wimpy to have any sentiment or any emotion in any of their stuff unless they are in pain. ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ is the first positive love song I’ve ever written, but I never had anyone to write anything about before,” said Rose of the song.
