{{Short description|1986 single by Judas Priest}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Use British English|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox song | name = Turbo Lover | cover = Turbo_Lover.jpg | caption = Cover for the 7" single | alt = | type = single | artist = Judas Priest | album = Turbo | B-side = Hot for Love | released = 7 April 1986<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1986/Music-Week-1986-04-05.pdf|title=Music Week|page=39}}</ref> | format = | recorded = 1985 | studio = | venue = | genre = {{flatlist| * Glam metal<ref>{{cite web|last=Begrand|first=Adrien|date=5 April 2017|title=36 Essential '80s Pop Metal Tracks|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1922586/36-essential-80s-pop-metal-tracks/lists/ultimate-playlist/|access-date= 21 June 2021|website=Stereogum}}</ref> * synth-metal<ref>{{cite web|last=Hartmann|first=Graham|date=20 May 2013|title=Judas Priest, 'Turbo Lover' (Live) – Exclusive Video Premiere From 'Epitaph' DVD + Blu-ray|url=https://loudwire.com/judas-priest-turbo-lover-exclusive-video-premiere-epitaph-dvd-blu-ray/|access-date=21 June 2021|website=Loudwire}}</ref> }} | length = 5:33 | label = Columbia | writer = {{hlist|Rob Halford|K. K. Downing|Glenn Tipton}} | producer = Tom Allom | prev_title = Some Heads Are Gonna Roll | prev_year = 1984 | next_title = Locked In | next_year = 1986 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|aqtmv-OxUI4|"Turbo Lover"}} }} }}
"'''Turbo Lover'''" is a song by the British heavy metal group Judas Priest that the band released as a single from their album ''Turbo''. Both came out in 1986. Unlike the album, which reviewed mixed and often critical responses, most of the reception for this song has been positive, and it has been praised as a Judas Priest classic by music journalists.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bowar|first=Chad|date=19 January 2017|title=Judas Priest Unveil Live Version of 'Locked In'|url=https://loudwire.com/judas-priest-live-version-locked-in-turbo-30th-anniversary-edition/|accessdate=16 December 2024|website=Loudwire.com}}</ref><ref name="Graham"/><ref name="Huey"/>
The song's lyrics allude to motorcycle riding, and it broadly features an aggressive, sexual tone, with frontman Rob Halford having described the single as embodying "escapism".<ref name="Interviews"/> Musically, it incorporates a synthesizer-based sound into the band's traditional type of heavy metal music.<ref name="Huey"/> One music magazine has compared the particular style of "Turbo Lover" to that of Kraftwerk.<ref name="Adrian"/>
==Lyrics== The song's lyrics have been described as being about "auto"-eroticism.<ref>{{cite web|last=Begrand|first=Adrien|date=20 June 2002|title=Judas Priest: Turbo / Priest . . . Live!|url=https://www.popmatters.com/judaspriest-turbo-2495953217.html|access-date=21 June 2021|website=PopMatters}}</ref> An article by the musical publication ''Loudwire'' remarked that the track succeeded by "[c]elebrating the band's connection with motorcycle culture and everything leather".<ref name="Graham"/>
Frontman Rob Halford has said: "I just liked the analogy of the motorcycle as a euphemism for love. And 'I'm your turbo lover, Tell me there's no other.' It's got kind of a sexual undertone to it – which is fine. It's been done many times in rock n' roll: to use a machine, car, or motorcycle. It's just a fun bit of escapism more than anything else."<ref name="Interviews">{{cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/rob-halford-of-judas-priest|title=Rob Halford of Judas Priest: Songwriter Interviews|last=Prato|first=Greg|website=Songfacts.com|date=5 November 2020|accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref>
==Reception== The music journalist Steve Huey, writing for the service AllMusic, praised the track as "a successful reimagining of the Priest formula" and otherwise stated in his review of the song's parent album, ''Turbo'', that he viewed it "easily the best song on the record".<ref name="Huey">{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Turbo - Judas Priest|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/turbo-mw0000190570|accessdate=16 December 2024|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> Mike DeGagne for AllMusic wrote: "[...] although it still has ample amounts of Priests' heavy metal gusto, it doesn't wander into the chasms of the ferociously boisterous like most of their '70s material."<ref name="DeGagne">{{cite web |last1=DeGagne |first1=Mike |title=Turbo Lover Review by Mike DeGagne |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/turbo-lover-mt0039575206#review |website=AllMusic |access-date=1 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930103754/https://www.allmusic.com/song/turbo-lover-mt0039575206#review |archive-date=30 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> A piece published by ''Decibel Magazine'' described the single as "one of the classiest songs in [Judas Priest's discography]".<ref name="Adrian">{{cite web|last=Begrand|first=Adrien|date=29 December 2010|title=Justify Your Shitty Taste: Judas Priest's "Turbo"|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2010/12/29/justify-your-shitty-taste-judas-priest-s-turbo/|accessdate=17 December 2024|website=Decibel Magazine}}</ref> As well, the musical publication ''Loudwire'' ranked the song at number ten on its list of the "10 Best Judas Priest Songs".<ref name="Graham">{{cite web|last=Hartmann|first=Graham|date=24 August 2012|title=10 Best Judas Priest Songs|url=https://loudwire.com/best-judas-priest-songs/|accessdate=16 December 2024|website=Loudwire.com}}</ref>
==Track listing== ;7" single {{track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = Turbo Lover | length1 = 4:39 }} {{track listing | headline = Side B | title1 = Hot for Love | length1 = 4:12 }}
;European 12" single {{track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = Turbo Lover | note1 = Extended Version | length1 = 5:33 }} {{track listing | headline = Side B | title1 = Hot for Love | length1 = 4:12 }}
;US 12" single {{track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = Turbo Lover | note1 = Hi-Octane Mix; Long Version | length1 = 7:24 }} {{track listing | headline = Side B | title1 = Turbo Lover | note1 = Hi-Octane Mix; Short Version | length1 = 3:59 }}
==Personnel== Personnel taken from ''Turbo'' liner notes.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Turbo |others=Judas Priest |date=1986 |type=Album liner notes}}</ref>
*Rob Halford – vocals *Glenn Tipton – lead guitar, guitar synthesiser *K. K. Downing – rhythm guitar, guitar synthesiser *Ian Hill – bass *Dave Holland – drums
==Charts== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1986) !Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Billboardmainstreamrock|artist=Judas Priest|44|rowheader=true|access-date=20 September 2022}} |}
==See also== {{Portal|1980s|United Kingdom}} *1986 in British music *Heavy metal music *Judas Priest discography
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Judas Priest}}
Category:1985 songs Category:1986 singles Category:Columbia Records singles Category:Judas Priest songs Category:Songs written by K. K. Downing Category:Songs written by Rob Halford Category:Songs written by Glenn Tipton Category:Music videos directed by Wayne Isham Category:Glam metal songs