A late era salute to loyalty bursting with Slade’s grit and heart
On Slade’s 1987 album You Boyz Make Big Noize, the track “That’s What Friends Are For” stands out as a surprisingly warm, full-hearted reminder of the band’s enduring humanity beneath all the amplifiers and attitude. Released during a period when Slade were fighting to stay visible in a rapidly changing rock landscape, the song captures a sense of camaraderie that feels both hard earned and deeply sincere. Its melodic punch and emotional clarity showcase a band still capable of delivering moments of genuine connection, even in the twilight of their commercial peak.
The song’s core strength lies in its balance between Slade’s trademark grit and a more reflective emotional center. Noddy Holder’s voice, always a force of nature, brings an unmistakable rough warmth to the lyric, embodying the kind of friendship that survives chaos, distance, and time. The guitars ring with a bright, confident sheen, and the rhythm section drives the track forward with a seasoned steadiness that reflects the band’s long years on the road together. Musically, it is both polished and heartfelt, carrying the unmistakable DNA of a group that has never forgotten its working class roots.
Lyrically, “That’s What Friends Are For” plays like a reaffirmation of the bonds that hold people together when everything else feels uncertain. It speaks to loyalty that doesn’t demand perfection, love that doesn’t fade when the spotlight shifts, and the quiet, stubborn resilience found in standing by someone through every high and low. Rather than offering grand philosophical statements, the song celebrates the everyday heroism of genuine friendship, the kind built through shared history rather than easy promises.
Within You Boyz Make Big Noize, the track adds emotional depth to an album driven mostly by anthemic rockers and polished production. It gives listeners a glimpse of Slade’s softer edges without sacrificing the swagger that defined their sound. There’s a nostalgic sweetness embedded in the melody, a sense that the band is looking back on decades of shared struggle and triumph with gratitude rather than regret.
In the broader arc of Slade’s career, “That’s What Friends Are For” stands as a late era treasure, a song that radiates sincerity while still carrying the fire of their classic years. It is a reminder that beneath the glam rock theatrics and the stadium-sized choruses, Slade always understood the simple, uplifting power of human connection. And in this track, that understanding shines with a clarity that feels both comforting and timeless.