You're overthinking their gender. The answer is in the first 30 seconds of the video: "You ready, Steve? Andy? Mick? All right, fellas...."

The young people of today think Harry Styles & Co are something new and revolutionary. Me a a 60 year old starts laughing: Look at The Sweet, Bavid Bowie, Elton John and others from the 70s - THAT was new!

Being of that era, I didn't know anyone who was confused. We all knew they were blokes, and us girls loved them.

Connolly died in 1997, Tucker in 2002 and Priest in 2020. Andy Scott is still active with his version of the band. Sweet have sold over 35 million albums worldwide.

This was part of the "Glam Rock" music style. It's theatrical metal from the '70's. People you will have heard of who went through Glam Rock are David Bowie, Queen, Slade, and Marc Bolan and T-Rex. It was a lot of glitter, long hair and makeup. However, while acting androgynous, they were mostly treated like sex idols from women at the time. The majority of them were straight. (Ziggy Stardust was Bowie's Glam Phase.)

Androgyny was the flavor of the day in the early 70s

They were not ahead of their time, they were of their time. The early 70's was when bands were experimenting with the fluidity of gender stereotypes. Bowie, T Rex and many others were doing the same thing. It was the genre of "Glam Rock" and it gave birth to the Rocky Horror Show. You can hear it in the music. Their look was never pushed down anyone's throat in a demand for recognition, it was fun and they were accepted just the way they were. Some were gay, most were straight, some, like Bowie, swung both ways, sometimes only temporarily. It's all become so much more aggressive now but there's nothing new under the sun, we've seen it all before. We were more advanced in the 70's, the attitude was "live, and let live.

It is 1975, I am 12 years old, I am in Year 8 (first year of High School). My bestie (Elise) and I have on our glitter eyeshadow in shades to match our eyes (green for me, blue for her). Sweet are playing at the Embassy Ballroom in Perth, Western Australia. It was my very first music concert and I thought it was the coolest thing EVER! To this very day (and I am 61 now), Ballroom Blitz is played regularly by DJs in pub gigs and parties and NOTHING will get me on the dance floor faster!

Just four straight guys in a "Glam-Rock" band. The costumes and makeup were simply show business props for that era. The hair?... well, it was the early 70s

This was fire in the 70's, this was fire in the 80's, this was fire in the 90's and it's still fire today ! One of the greatest party songs of all time !

The lead singer Brian Connelly was not wearing a wig. And he had a tragic life from childhood to his early death from alcoholism. He was known to be a humble, gentle soul.

Your reaction made me laugh so much, thank you. The song is about what happened on January 27, 1973, The Sweet were playing at the Grand Hall (Kilmarnock, Scotland), and were driven offstage by a “bottling,” as angry fans began to throw things onto the stage. Don't feel too bad about not knowing they were guys, I can still remember my dad asking "what are they", when I first saw them on 'Countdown' (an Aussie pop show. Ahh, good old Glam Rock, confusing parents everywhere, which is why we always cranked up the sound. ;) This was always played as the second last song at the roller skating rink, I can remember as a beginner quickly getting off the rink, and letting the 'pros' handle it, there were injuries due to the fast pace. 🤣 We all quickly got back onto the rink for the final song, 'Nutbush City Limits', such fun, great times. 🤩 Cheers, from Australia 🐨🦘

My mother's favorite song. Put this on and the last 50 years just disappears and she dances like a 15 year old again.

We did the whole AMAZING glam rock thing, with men in make up, glitter and long hair, while STILL knowing exactly what a women is. And NOBODY had a problem with it. Definitely put this on to get the party started 🤩🤩🤩

I am just glad I lived through the 60's & 70's 2 of the most creative musical decades ever.

I'm a 70yr old Brit, I loved this band, They were one of the Original Glam Rock groups(before your American Prog Rock)The idea about are they aren't they, was to mess with your parents heads, a rebel song, @ about 5yrs later their was a Brit Disco song called, "somebodies going to get, their head kicked in tonight"

Back in the 70s here in the UK, we called this genre Glam Rock. Next banger by sweet "Blockbuster"

The guitarist, Andy, is the only surviving one now. Thanks for the great music boys. RIP Brian, Mick and Steve. ❤

They're guys. It 's glam rock,BP. Don't overthink it, just go with and enjoy it. Sweet is pure 70's glam rock. They are 🔥.

Im British.. this was the70’s .. a game changer when boys started wearing makeup, it was rock n roll on a different level.. people where free to express themselves..think u need to understand what the word blitz means, they smashed it!!😊😊💕

This era was full of flamboyant androgynous British glam rockers like Queen, David Bowie, even Elton John.

The judgments and racism of today's era were non existent in the70's. We had FUN with our music, loving, laughing, crying, dying, daydreaming... you name it and there was a song for it.

This music makes me think where did music go wrong. There will never be music like we had in the 70's and 80's.

It’s called Glam Rock! It’s a genre from the 70s. Outrageous Costumes, makeup, and theatrics are what it’s about … there’s also Glam Metal…such as Twisted Sister

70s glam rock! No one blinked an eye at the look/vibe - it was normal then :) It's interesting that 50 years later it's remarked on more. :)

"Ballroom Blitz" was inspired by an incident at a concert in Scotland when the band was booed and pelted with bottles, and reached the top of the charts in Canada and Australia, and the top five in the UK and the US.

I was a little girl in England when Glam Rock was at its height. The Sweet and Slade were household names along with David Bowie, Mud etc. fire 🔥

He doesn't sound like a female, he sounds like a young man.

I'm a 70s kid. This is THE song that epitomizes my youth. Saturday morning bowling alley, jukebox, billiard room and wall of pinball machines. This song blaring from the jukebox. Yes!

Little Willie , Action and Love is Like Oxygen are also worth a listen. They dressed for entertainment. RIP Brian.

This song has every bit of rock and roll that can be crammed into a single song. Everything!! Its the perfect rock song! Everything is there!!

The Musicstyle of Sweet ist called "Glam Rock" !!! They played together since the early 70'Years!!!

Rocky Horror Picture Show vibes for me! Always loved this song! ❤️‍🔥✌🏻🫶🏻

So glad I grew up with the 60 and 70's music. It was all pure talent. You just don't get this level of talent with today's music.

My dad used to be a bodyguard for The Sweet and other British bands back in the 70s and 80s. Got loads of cool photos and stories from The Sweet, Phil Collins, Mud, you name it. Crazy days back then. This was called The Glam Rock era btw. 70s.

The guy you saw in the thumbnail at the end is the guitarist, Andy Scott - the last surviving member of the band, and still keeping the band, and their music alive. Loved these guys for over 50 years, now!

…….that’s why the 70’s were the best generation for creative music all played on the same radio stations (all genres) ❤️🎸🔥

I remember the old wooden floored skating rink in the '70s. Someone would play this song on the jukebox and suddenly everyone in the place was on their feet and skating/dancing around the room.

*SWEET* KINGS OF THE *GLAM ROCK* ERA. BIG FIRE IN THE U.K IN THE SEVENTIES🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥MUCH MORE TO CHECK

Here I am again. The same 66 year old black female enjoying the reaction to yet another group who’s music I LOVE! Thnx for the reaction.

Sweet were a working class band. They were navvies and factory workers and, despite the glam rock androgeny, these were the guys that the young men in the clubs were getting together to mosh pit and headbang to. They certainly weren't Prog. The Prog snobs at the time were turning up their noses at these guys. They were pretty unique in their way. Suzie Quatro had similar energy and maybe Mark Bolan and T-Rex. Glam rock was a wildly creative genre.

This song became popular again in the movie with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey ,Wayne’s World a classic!

Prof of Rock knows his shit. He's a legend rock historian! Yes, the lead singer was attacked and he never recovered. It damaged his vocals and his mental state. It was so sad.

This was the Glam Rock era of the 70's Nobody questioned gender at any stage. Sweet along with T. Rex, Mud, Bowie & The Glitter Band were all front runners in Glam Rock. Make-up, costumes were all part of it. Brian ( lead singer ) introduces the band at the start of the song 'Are you ready Steve, ( bass ) Andy, ( lead guitar ) Mick ( drums ). Don't over think the song. Just appreciate it for what it is. A banger !

I was born in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock where the Ballroom Blitz took place. It really happened and the boys took their bottle pelted selves back south to London and wrote this song. Killie takes no prisoners.

They had about 4 hits, the biggest one being "Fox on the run". They also have the songs,"Little Willie" and," love is like oxygen "

This was the 70s its called glam rock the Sweet were one of the best groups around. We no longer have Brian the singer Mick the drummer and Steve the guitar player waring the big collar with us Andy playing the other guitar is now 75 years old and still playing gigs with his new band still called the Sweet, who I am going to see in concert again in Dec 2024.

Having grown up in the 70's, you need to listen to more in this era especially in 1977 to 1980.😊

They're glam rock. It came out of the UK in the 70s. They are all men. Think early David Bowie, Queen, T Rex, Mott the Hoople and even Kiss fall into that genre. All great bands. I'm not sure if you've watched any early stuff from those bands but you need to. Lol

Aah yes Glam , never mind the crimes against fashion, the music was banging ❤

The sound of my youth, we had so much music in the 70’s it was a great time to be alive ❤🎶

I grew up in the era of The Sweet. Such an underrated band. Because of crappy management, they never got to play big arenas, only small pub gigs, even though their songs charted.

The song was inspired by an incident in Jan 1973. Sweet was performing at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock,Scotland. The band was driven offstage by what's called "bottling" or when the audience is so angry they throw things at the stage.

I'm 66 and Sweet was one of my top 5 favorite bands back in the early 70's. I think they've stood the test of time pretty damn good.

GLAM ROCK.. Everyone had long hair in the 70's (myself included).. GOTTA check out "Love is Like Oxygen".. "Action".. "Fox on the Run".. Ballroom Blitz was HUGE HIT in 70's.. Luvit!

Sweet were regarded as "Glam", along with acts such as Slade, T-Rex, Roxy Music, Gary Glitter, Mud etc. They played some of the best pop/rock of the day and their hits were extensive. Do more Sweet.

1970’s glam rock, A lot of rock bands were wearing makeup during the 70’s, Rolling Stones,David Bowie,Kiss, etc

It's an energy song. Whether you need a boost when you're tired, depressed, partying, exercising...this kind of song is what you play. What they look like doesn't matter. What the song means doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is the energy. Some songs are like that.

It’s strangely gratifying to hear someone reacting so positively to a song which was perhaps the biggest ‘banger’ (we didn’t use that term back in ‘73) of my Australian high school years. Every time I hear it I’m straight back in a portable classroom at recess listening to a transistor radio with my classmates as we jump up and down on the desks and sing our lungs out. “All right fellas, let’s go!!!!” BTW It was called ‘glam rock’.

As Bob sings, "Most time you can't hear 'em talk, other times you can. All the same old cliches, is that a woman or a man."

This is what gave rise to the glam metal of the 80s. Steve Priest, the bassist, was a badass and the drummer, Mick Tucker was killing it. The ladies loved The Sweet in the day. I like their song Blockbuster, and also Love Is Like Oxygen. Fox on the Run is pretty wild. All four of them are amazing singers.

I am sooooo thankful that I grew up in the same era as Sweet, and others like them. The 70s were the best.

Sweet wrote so many classics, one of my favourite bands of the seventies

If you're my age (almost 60) & from the UK, this song (& Sweet generally) is pretty much inseperable from memories of your childhood. For some of us the best examples of glam rock were what prepared our ears for punk when it arrived a few years later. It was pretty much punk, punk & more punk for me from 1977 to 1980, but I never forgot those early 70s glam jukebox singles. I still have all of them. Tangible memories of childhood that you can hold in your hand & let them take you back. Over 50 years ago now. The oldest things I own.

Sweet, was right out there in the 70s. Sad ending for the singer Brian Connolly. R.I.P. Brian.🙏🎸

The start of Glam Rock in the UK 1971/72 Sweet, T Rex etc. Mick Tucker the Drummer was very underated. I was around 11/12 when this came out.

I am this old: I was the winner of that Sweet vinyl album. I called into a radio station and was the winner! Love this reaction - it brought back some great memories. The 70s were a different animal, that's for sure.

I grew up in the 70s and 80's. Sweet were an absolute blast! Still love them.

In America, "Ballroom Blitz" was the second hit for Sweet, following "Little Willy." They had more success and notoriety in their native UK, where their outlandish lyrics caused some controversy. In America they were more of a curiosity, delivering fun, relatively mindless entertainment. The band members do a roll call at the beginning of Ballroom Blitz, which is a great way to introduce themselves to listeners. Lead singer Brian Connolly asks: Are you ready Steve? (bass player Steve Priest), Andy? (guitarist Andy Scott), Mick? (drummer Mick Tucker).

Wow trip down memory lane. Myself along with 1000's of females had such a crush on Brian. the 70's was just a revoluntionary era of music.

This is an absolute classic - you must have heard of it! 😲 You actually looked scared! 😂

This was the beginning of an era when the guys in band had better hair than the gals in the audience. 😘

This song came out around 1973/4. We didn't use the terminology "fire" back then, but it really was. And no they were not crossdressers. They were part of the rock genre known as Glam Rock, mostly started by David Bowie and Marc Bolin (T. Rex) and others. Sweet has had a good many great songs before and after this great big hit. Songs to consider checking out include "Little Willy", "Wig Wam Bam", "Fox On The Run" and "Love Is Like Oxygen".

Glam Rock was big in the U.K. and crossed the Atlantic too. Queen, David Bowie, T-Rex, Slade, they were good! My fave Sweet songs were Action and Love is like Oxygen.

In 1974, The lead singer Brian Connolly was badly beaten after leaving a nightclub in Staines where he received several kicks to his throat resulting in him being unable to sing for some time and permanently losing some of his previously wide vocal range. You're right BP hate always has something to do with it. Is it really that much better today? Sadly, It really depends on who you ask.

I met the sweet many many years ago I’m 72 but if you like this I recommend you listen to Suzi Quattro she was an American singer songwriter she had a lot of hits early 70s here in the UK she’s fire 🔥 also .

They were part of the Glam Rock movement of the 70s. It was all about being androgynous. David Bowie is probably the best known for it during the 70s . LOVE this song...so fun.

This is a genre known as "Glam Rock" and The Sweet were one of the frontrunners of the genre! The "Ballroom Blitz" is based on events at two separate shows in Scotland that The Sweet performed at! At one, a fight broke out and at the other one, the band was mobbed by groups of girls and had to flee the arena. The "man in the back" is the one who started the fight, and the "girl in the corner" was a particular girl during their show nearly choked out one of the band members hugging them. Check out "Fox On The Run", "Love Is Like Oxygen", "Little Willy", "Action" and "Block Buster"! They had an incredibly unique sound! For more of this type of style, check out T. Rex, starting with "Bang A Gong (Get It On)"

It's the glam rock era dude. They all had long hair and glam outfits. It was such a fun time for music 👍

😂I lived through this Era. I can still see my father shaking his head when this came on the TV in the UK.

"The Ballroom Blitz" (often called "Ballroom Blitz") is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The song reached number one in Canada, number two in the UK Singles Chart and the Australian Chart, and number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. "The Ballroom Blitz" was inspired by an incident on 27 January 1973 when the band were performing at the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and were driven offstage by a bottling. Brian Connolly - lead vocals Steve Priest - bass guitar, backing vocals Andy Scott - guitar, backing vocals Mick Tucker - drums, backing vocals Year-end charts Chart (1973) Rank UK 17 Chart (1974) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report) 9 Chart (1975) Rank Canada 22 US Billboard Hot 100 16

I grew up with this music - what a great reaction to a 50 year old song glad you liked it 👍

I'd forgotten just how much The Rocky Horror Picture Show owed to The Sweet...

Tell me you've never seen "Wayne's World," without telling me you've never seen "Wayne's World."

So loved this group in the 70s. They were glam rock. You can't sit still, listening to this group. 1970s. The lead singer died not long ago. Amazing time in the UK.

In the UK the biggest music show on TV was "Top of the Pops" on the BBC. The show had an all girl dance troupe called "Pans People" who were the height of glamour. Apparently, their dressing room in the TV studio was behind the make up room for the artists, therefore the longer you sat in the makeup chair, the more opportunities you had to "get off with" one of Pan's People. This is supposedly the origin of "Glam rock" in the early '70's

A lot of the guys wore makeup in the 70's. I was lucky to have my teens in the 70's and the music from then is still great.

The Sweet were part of the Glam Rock movement, other bands also part of Glam rock: T-Rex, New York Dolls, David Bowie.

Sadly, they are all gone now, except Andy. They were the glam rock kings, and lots of fun.

Glamorock! David Bowie, Mick Jagger, KISS,Poison,Van Halen and on and on - big hair/hairspray, makeup, tight tight lycra,spandex,metallic, leather - all man/sorta! It was a look - it was an era!

One of the best and catchiest songs ever recorded.

“In 1974, Connolly was badly beaten after leaving a nightclub in Staines where he received several kicks to his throat resulting in his being unable to sing for some time and permanently losing some of his previously wide vocal range.”

The Sweet were Glam Rockers. Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by male musicians who wore flamboyant and feminine clothing, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter, and female musicians who wore masculine clothing.

Theyre just from the glam rock era - all blokes that liked females, byt made great music. Andy iSvott is 75 years old, still tours and continues to write music. All other original members are deceased with bassist (Steve) dying g in 2020. The drummer and vocalis d ied many years earlier. In Australia, we had a Melbiurne band named Skyhooks, who were also a glam band and dressed and used make-up similarly......just an era that lasted only a short time.

Oh the rabbit holes you're tumbling down and watching your reactions is fantabulous.

Don't worry about those haters! Some people are JUST ANGRY ALL the time!!! But yes!!! This is a BANGER!!

Sweet were part of the Glam Rock movement which was extremely important in Britain. So many great bands and icons emerged during this period eg Roxy Music. Marc Bolan and T Rex were amazing before his very sad passing 😢 Slade and Wizard are still permanent fixtures at Christmas. There was someone else who was very popular too but we don't mention his name now after his horrible crimes ✖️

This is called "Glam Rock" 😙 I love Sweet's energy!

I saw the Sweet circa 1984. Mick Tucker's (the drummer) mic wasn't working for the first half of their first song and you could really tell... The harmonies are integral, Also Andy (The Guitarist) had broken his arm, and put it in an ice bucket between songs.... Fucking Amazing!

Little Willy, Fox on the Run, Love is Like Oxygen, The Six Teens- these are all bangers from Sweet