"Club Rocker" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Inna for her second studio album, I Am the Club Rocker (2011). The song was released on 30 May 2011, as the second single from the record; a remix version featuring American rapper Flo Rida was eventually made available. It was written and produced by Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan. "Club Rocker" is a techno–influenced electropop song, with its lyrics revolving around celebrating and partying. The recording samples "Bass Atitude" (2010) by French disc jockey Seight.
The track was positively received, with music critics praising its catchiness and commercial appeal. In October 2014, "Club Rocker" was involved in a copyright infringement lawsuit, with Spanish singer Robert Ramirez Carrasco accusing Play & Win of plagiarism. To promote the recording, an accompanying music video was shot by Alex Herron and uploaded onto Inna's YouTube channel on 26 June 2011 to positive response. It was also nominated in the "Best Video" category at the 2012 Romanian Music Awards. The clip portrays Inna at an auto service center and taking part in a rally race. She further promoted the recording through live performances, including at the NRJ Music Tour and Starfloor in 2011, while appearing on several radio stations. Commercially, "Club Rocker" reached number four in Lebanon and peaked within the top 30 in multiple countries.
Background and composition
"Club Rocker" was digitally released on 30 May 2011 by Roton as the second single from Inna's second studio album I Am the Club Rocker (2011). A remix featuring American rapper Flo Rida was also eventually made available. An accompanying cover artwork was shot by Edward Aninaru, who called the session "a real deployment of forces". The track was written and produced by Romanian trio Play & Win members Sebastian Barac, Radu Bolfea and Marcel Botezan, and samples French disc jockey Seight's "Bass Attitude" (2010).
"Club Rocker" is an electropop song with "twisted techno riffs" and a "show–off production"; its "jerky" refrain is accompanied by "massive" electro beats. Lyrically, the track speaks about celebrating and partying. Jonathan Hamard from Pure Charts saw the recording as "much less stubborn" than her previous "Hot" (2008), "Amazing" (2009) and "Sun Is Up" (2010). In another article, the same editor compared "Club Rocker" to "the electro vein" of "Hot", but called it "more electric". Similarly, Jérémy B. of French website Melty wrote: "Definitely a sound for clubs [...]."
Controversy
"Club Rocker" was involved in a copyright infringement lawsuit in October 2014, with Spanish singer Robert Ramirez Carrasco accusing its composers, Play & Win, of copying the key accords of his song "A Minute of Life" (2011). He also claimed that he lost critical contacts and had suffered of depression as a result, further wanting representatives of the Uniunea Compozitorilor și Muzicologilor din România (Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania) to analyze the two recordings. Both composers Ionel Tudor and Horia Moculescu found major similarities. After reportedly failing to reach an agreement, Ramirez demanded a reported €227–300,000 in damages at the Tribunalul București (Bucharest Court). Inna's manager, Ștefan Lucian, negated the accusations: "The musical theme is not only used in several Play & Win songs, but also in other international records. Robert can not say he had copyright on this side." The singer itself also said: "Certainly the truth will be proven in court". In May 2018, after nearly four years, the court found Play & Win not liable of plagiarism and demanded fines of 91,000 lei from Ramirez.