It’s 11PM on a Saturday night, and I’ve just decided that it’s time I finally express my love for Foreigner 4. I could be hanging out with friends, crocheting, reading, or even sleeping for that matter. Yet, I am perched on my bed, with a computer in my lap, basking in the glory that is “Juke Box Hero.”
Released in 1981, Foreigner 4 served as their fourth studio album, and also their first release with only four band members. As a 19-year-old, I am not ashamed to say that my first significant interaction with this album was from one of Netflix’s best productions, “Stranger Things.” When Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler interact as more than friends for the first time, you can hear the synthesizer introduce Lou Gramm and Mick Jones’ beautiful ballad, “Waiting for a Girl Like You.” My ears were blessed at first listen. Before I had even heard the rest of the album, I decided that Foreigner 4 would be the first vinyl I purchased for my record player all so I could hear the synthesizer, the keyboard, and Lou Gramm’s passionate serenade. For a real treat, you should listen to any of the live versions of the song on YouTube. If there was any one performance that I could go back in time to see, it would probably be this.
Back to the rest of the album, another great hit was “Juke Box Hero.”
Just one guitar, slung way down low
Was a one way ticket, only one way to go.
Gramm describes the musical journey of a man inspired by the sound of the guitar. It sure is one relatable song. Every once in a while, when I’m feeling incredibly confident and am in need of a great humbling, I pick up a six string and attempt to play. Normally, I’m unsuccessful. But God do I wish I could be a juke box hero “with stars in [my] eyes.”
Some other high quality additions on the album are “Break It Up,” “Urgent,” and “Girl on the Moon.” I happen into these songs by accident and always end up hyper fixating on them. It’s incredible to me how “Girl on the Moon” has under 6.5 million listens on Spotify. The guitar strumming intro and Gramm’s longing for this mysterious woman make for a solid listen.
The fact that Foreigner is still touring is insanity. The fact that I missed the concert when they came to my town is even more outrageous. When they casually put out other rock masterpieces like “Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is,” how do I manage to possibly miss their concert? Granted, Lou Gramm’s vocals from the ‘80s may not sound the same today, but boy do I wish to be in his midst at least once in my life.
Iz FM 
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