Whatever You Want by Status Quo

Air guitars at the ready: today’s song is a stone-cold rock institution. “Whatever You Want”, released in 1979, is the sound of Status Quo firing on all cylinders. That slow-building intro, the palm-muted riff sneaking in, and then the full band crashing down into that huge, driving groove — it’s the soundtrack to every festival field, pub jukebox, and classic rock countdown you can think of.

By the time they released “Whatever You Want,” Status Quo were already veterans. Formed in the early 1960s, the group evolved from beat and psychedelia into a lean, hard-edged boogie rock machine. Built around the core of Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, they carved out a reputation as a relentless touring band with a seemingly endless supply of riffs and no-nonsense rock anthems. They may never have been the trendiest act, but they’ve been one of the most enduring.

“Whatever you want, whatever you like / Whatever you say, you pay your money, you take your choice…”

It’s a lyric that feels almost tossed off, but that’s part of the charm: Status Quo’s brilliance is in the way they make something this tight, this propulsive, feel completely effortless. This isn’t just a song; it’s a rite of passage for every imaginary guitarist jumping off the sofa in their living room.

Turn it up, grab your air guitar, and let that opening chord ring out. Listen now to our song of the day and show your love for music by sharing justadailysong.com with your friends.