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"My Sharona" is the debut single by the Knack. The song was written by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger, and released in 1979 from their album Get the Knack. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart where it remained for 6 weeks, and was No. 1 on its 1979 Top Pop Singles year-end chart.[1] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and was Capitol Records' fastest gold status debut single since the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964.[2]
Inspiration
The characteristic riff of "My Sharona" was written by the band's guitarist, Berton Averre, years before he joined the Knack. He had played the riff as well as a drum groove for Doug Fieger, the group's lead singer and rhythm guitarist, who loved it and promised to make it a song, although he did not have any ideas for the lyrics.Vorlage:Citation needed
When Fieger was 25, he met 17-year-old Sharona Alperin,[3] who inspired a two-month-long run of songwriting, as well as becoming Fieger's girlfriend for the next four years. Fieger recounted that "It was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat; I fell in love with her instantly. And when that happened, it sparked something and I started writing a lot of songs feverishly in a short amount of time." Fieger and of Averre worked out the structure and melody of the song. Averre was originally averse to using Alperin's name in the song, but Fieger wanted it to be a direct expression of his feelings; Averre ultimately relented.[4] Fieger claimed that "My Sharona" was written in 15 minutes.[5]
Music and lyrics
The music of the song echoes elements of songs from the 1960s. According to a Trouser Press reviewer, the song's main melodic hook is "an inversion of the signature riff" from "Gimme Some Lovin'," a 1967 song by the Spencer Davis Group.[6] Fieger has acknowledged that the song's tom-tom drum rhythm is "just a rewrite" of "Going to a Go-Go," a song from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965.[6]
In an interview with The Washington Post, Fieger noted that the song was written from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy.[3]
The song's stuttering vocal effect of the repeated "muh muh muh my Sharona" phrase is reminiscent of the Roger Daltrey's vocals in the 1965 song "My Generation" by the Who.[6]
Artwork
In addition to being the inspiration for the song, Sharona Alperin posed for the single's picture sleeve. She holds a copy of their album Get the Knack.[7]
Reception
The song's clean production sound was also reminiscent of the sound of the 1960s British Invasion.[6] Dick Nusser of Billboard Magazine remarked on the song's "catchy, deliberately awkward, stop-go drum and guitar breaks," its "quirky lyrics" and "suggestive tone," and that the song will "make you ready, willing and able to hum the refrain at the right moment."[8] Chris Woodstra of Allmusic referred to the song as an "unforgettable hit."[9] The New Rolling Stone Album Guide claimed that the song "was a hit for a good reason. The beat is urgent, the chorus calls out for drunken shouting along and the guitar solo is a firecracker flash."[10]
Legacy
The New York Times called the song "an emblem of the new wave era in rock and a prime example of the brevity of pop fame."[5]
In 1990, on the TV series Full House episode “One Last Kiss”, Jesse Katsopolis and his band play the song at their high school reunion.[11]
In 1994, "My Sharona" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 91,[12] when it was released as a single from the Reality Bites soundtrack album. In the film itself, the characters dance to the song at a convenience store.[13]
In 2005, the song gained some attention when it appeared on the playlist of U.S. President George W. Bush's iPod.[14]
In 2008, "My Sharona" was ranked in two Billboard 50th anniversary charts. It ranked 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs[15] and 16 on the Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs.[16][17]
In video games, "My Sharona" is featured as a downloadable content single for the Rock Band series. On 1 March 2011, an updated version of the cover song was made available to download for use in Rock Band 3 in PRO mode which takes advantage of the use of a real guitar / bass guitar, along with standard MIDI-compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to up to three-part harmony vocals.[18] The original version of the song, along with its music video, is featured on Lips: Party Classics on Xbox 360.
In films, the song was heard in the 1997 Disney film RocketMan,[19] the trailer for Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle,[20] and in J.J. Abrams' Super 8.[21]
The song was heard in the TV series The Wires season two opening episode "Ebb Tide" when Nick and Ziggy return from the Greek's.
Vorlage:Vanchor, who was the inspiration for the hit, had been a major booster for the band, and brought many girls to their early shows.[4] She has since become a real estate agent in the Los Angeles area,[3][22][23] and uses the domain name mysharona.com for her business.[24]
Charts and certifications
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Chart performance
| Chart (1979-1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[25] | 1 |
| Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[26] | 12 |
| Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[27] | 1 |
| France (SNEP)[28] | 3 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[29] | 14 |
| Italy (FIMI)[30] | 1 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 1 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles | 1 |
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 91 |
Sales and certifications
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Cover-versions/multiple-renditions
With both the notoriety gained from being an international hit, and its distinctive rock guitar riff, "My Sharona" has been the subject of parodies, samples, and covers, which include:
Parodies
- "My Bologna" by "Weird Al" Yankovic - The 1979 song kickstarted Yankovic's career in song parody.[31][32] The Knack approved of the parody and even had Yankovic inked to a one-off deal with their label, Capitol Records. A re-recorded version appeared on his eponymous debut album.
- "Ayatollah" by Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl - The song covered current events related to the Iranian Revolution of 1979.[32]
- "Pull My Strings" by The Dead Kennedys - The 1980 song used the guitar riff and changed the phrease from "My Sharona" as "My Payola" to satirize the music industry.
- "Girl U Want" by Devo, from the album Freedom of Choice, was heavily inspired by "My Sharona".
- "My Scrotum" by Cheech Marin - The song was featured in the 1980 film Cheech & Chong's Next Movie.[32]
- "9 Coronas" by John Mammoser. - Originally recorded in 1987 with release in 1995, and with two followup versions ("10 Coronas" in 1996, and "9 Coronas ('99 version')" in 1999) that were showcased on the Dr. Demento radio programs.[33]
- "Babylona" by Christian parody band ApologetiX - In 2001, this song was on their Keep the Change album.
- "Comme des Connards" ("Like Jerks") by the French comedian Michaël Youn - A parody for the 2004 film Les 11 commandements.
- "My Menorah" by American Comedy Network - a Flash parody in 2004 with singing candles.[32][34][35]
- "My Toyota" by radio personality Bob Rivers - This was a video spoof of the Toyota Recall events in 2010.[36]
The song has also been featured in several commercials including "My Chalupa" (Taco Bell), "My Toyota" (Toyota), "My Mohegan" (Mohegan Sun)
Audio samples
- Run–D.M.C. used an unauthorized audio sample from the song in their 1986 hit "It's Tricky". In 2006, Berton Averre and Doug Fieger filed suit against Apple, Run DMC and others for electronically redistributing the work. The case was settled in 2009.[37]
- Rogue Traders used re-recorded elements of the riff in their 2006 hit "Watching You".
- Madonna mixes instrumental elements of the song on her Sticky & Sweet Tour with her own song "Dress You Up".
- Hip hop artists Everlast and DJ Lethal sampled the song for the track "I Got the Knack", which first appeared in the 1990 Everlast album Forever Everlasting.
- British girl group Girls Aloud incorporated parts of the song for the track "No Good Advice".[38]
Cover versions
This is a list of notable "My Sharona" covers and the albums on which they can be found:
- Alvin and the Chipmunks – Chipmunk Punk (1980)[39]
- Nirvana[40] – only live at Salle Omnisports, Rennes, France (1994)
- Veruca Salt – B-side to "Victrola" (1995)[39]
- Eldritch – Reverse (2001)[41]
- Cactus Jack – DisCover (2002)[32]
- Polysics – For Young Electric Pop (2002)[42][43]
- Pink Cream 69 – Thunderdome (2004)[44]
- The Dandy Warhols – All Money or Simple Life Honey, video pt. 2 (2005)[38] - spoken word rendition
- Pearl Jam – Arena di Verona (2006)[39]
- Yo La Tengo – Yo La Tengo Is Murdering The Classics (2006)[39]
- Leningrad Cowboys – Zombies Paradise (2006) - this was a cover album[38]
- The Urge – Live at Mingara (2009)[32]
- Destruction – Cracked Brain (1990)[45]
Hammerfall - No Sacrifice, No Victory (2009)
In The Simpsons episode, "Marge's Son Poisoning", Jimbo, Dolph and Kearney sing "My Sharona" outside the house. The song also plays during the closing credits.(2009
"Let Me Out"
Vorlage:About The B-side of the "My Sharona" single was "Let Me Out". It was written by Fieger and Averre to fill the band's need for a strong opening track for concerts and later for their Get the Knack album.[46] Averre has stated that the song is "absurdly fast."[46] Drummer Bruce Gary felt that the words of "Let Me Out" helped make the song a perfect opener since the band wanted to "let out," and bassist Prescott Niles noted that, with the song, the band was all of a sudden "out of the box."[46] Gary has also claimed that the song was "me trying to be Buddy Rich in a rock 'n' roll band. It was just full on."[46]
Billboard Magazine described "Let Me Out" as "a teen anthem delivered at full throttle" and praised the song's "delightful" harmonies, "slapping" guitars and "perfectly tuned" drumming.[8] Superchunk and The Mountain Goats drummer Jon Wurster commented on the "full force" of Gary's drumming on "Let Me Out."[47] Ira Robbins and Michael Sandlin of Trouser Press described the song as "tight guitar pop."[48] Author John Borack described the song as "a damn fine pop tune."[49] Audio magazine called it a "basher" with "plenty of style."[50] Allmusic critic Mark Deming stated that the live version of "Let Me Out" has "a joyous force nearly any act would envy."[51]
A 1979 live performance of "Let Me Out" from Carnegie Hall was included on the laser disc of Live at Carnegie Hall.[52] The song was included on their compilation album, Premium Gold Collection.[53] A 2012 vinyl EP for Record Store Day includes 1978 live performances of "Let Me Out" and "My Sharona" from Los Angeles and two other songs. The two performances are also included on the live CD of the entire 1978 Los Angeles concert Havin' a Rave-Up.[51][54]
"Let Me Out" was covered by The Dickies on their 1998 album Dogs from the Hare That Bit Us.[55]
References
External links
- BBC News: Who was My Sharona?
- Classic Tracks: The Knack 'My Sharona'
- NPR: The Woman Behind 'My Sharona'
- Sharona Alperin's Web site
- Vorlage:MetroLyrics song
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Vorlage:Billboard Year-End number one singles 1960–1979 Vorlage:The Knack
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Year-End_number-one_singles_and_albums
- ↑ Atkinson, Terry. "The Knack: yesterday...and today" Rolling Stone October 18, 1979: 32, 35-37
- ↑ a b c Richard Lieby: 'My Sharona,' Revealing a Knack for Current Affairs? In: The Washington Post. 17. April 2005, S. D3.
- ↑ a b Liner notes, 2002 "Get the Knack" digitally remastered re-issue.
- ↑ a b Ben Sisario: Doug Fieger Dies at 57, Singer of ‘My Sharona’ In: New York Times, Nytimes.com, 15 February 2011. Abgerufen im 19 April 2012
- ↑ a b c d Theodore Cateforis: Are We Not New Wave? : Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s. University of Michigan Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0-472-03470-3, S. 123–127.
- ↑ Women Behind the Songs: 'My Sharona'. In: Spinner.com. Abgerufen am 11. Januar 2013.
- ↑ a b Dick Nusser: Closeup: Get The Knack, Billboard Magazine, 28 July 1979, S. 52, 66. Abgerufen im 14 July 2011
- ↑ Chris Woodstra: Get the Knack review at Allmusic. In: Allmusic. Rovi Corporation, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013.
- ↑ Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard (Hrsg.): The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. 4th Auflage. Simon & Schuster, 2004, ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8, S. 462.
- ↑ Full House: The Complete Fourth Season: John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Mary Kate Olsen: Movies & TV. Amazon.com, abgerufen am 20. September 2013.
- ↑ a b c The Knack awards on Allmusic. In: Allmusic. Rovi Corporation, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013.
- ↑ Kelly Woo: Scenes We Love: Reality Bites - The Moviefone Blog. In: News.moviefone.com. 25. Juni 2010, abgerufen am 20. September 2013.
- ↑ Peter Wilkinson: Bush bares soul with 'iPod One' ( des vom 21 December 2008 auf WebCite) In: CNN.com, Cable News Network LP, LLLP., 13 April 2005. Abgerufen im 21 December 2008
- ↑ Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary. Abgerufen am 15. Februar 2010.
- ↑ It's Only Rock & Roll: Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs. Billboard Magazine, abgerufen am 11. August 2011.
- ↑ Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Year. Billboard Magazine, abgerufen am 11. August 2011.
- ↑ Kyle Gaddo: Eleven Legacy Rock Band Tracks Getting PRO Upgrades On Monday. The Gaming Vault, 25. Februar 2011, abgerufen am 8. November 2012.
- ↑ Keith Simanton: Entertainment & the Arts – `Rocketman' Is Hardly A Stellar Disney Movie – Seattle Times Newspaper. In: The Seattle Times. 10. Oktober 1997, abgerufen am 20. September 2013.
- ↑ Steve Head: The New Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Trailer. IGN, 16. April 2003, abgerufen am 20. September 2013.
- ↑ Lynn Barker: "Super8"'s New Star Joel Courtney. In: TeenHollywood.com. 6. Juni 2011, abgerufen am 20. September 2013.
- ↑ Alejandro Lazo: M-m-m-my career in real estate: Sharona Alperin, who at 17 was the real-life inspiration for the 1979 Knack megahit, now sells high-end homes to celebrities. In: Los Angeles Times. 18. Februar 2010.
- ↑ Gustavo Turner: Real-Life 'My Sharona' Inspiration Cashes In On Knack Singer's Death - Los Angeles - Music - West Coast Sound. In: Blogs.laweekly.com. 17. Februar 2010, abgerufen am 11. Januar 2013.
- ↑ Sharona Alperin. Abgerufen am 11. Januar 2013.
- ↑ Australia n°1 Hits - 70's. Worldcharts.co.uk, abgerufen am 10. Juni 2013.
- ↑ My Sharona - THE KNACK. In: VRT. Top30-2.radio2.be, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013 (niederländisch). Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 12
- ↑ Top Singles - Volume 31, No. 24, September 08 1979. Library and Archives Canada, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013.
- ↑ InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste. In: Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc. InfoDisc.fr, 27. Juli 2013, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013 (französisch). You have to use the index at the top of the page and search "Knack"
- ↑ The Irish Charts - All there is to know. IRMA, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013. Only one result when searching "My Sharona"
- ↑ My Sharona. In: HitParadeItalia. Creative Commons, abgerufen am 27. Juli 2013 (italienisch).
- ↑ Iain Ellis: Rebels Wit Attitude: Subversive Rock Humorists. Counterpoint Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-59376-206-3, S. 205.
- ↑ a b c d e f Tom Szaroleta: a.m. stir: The many faces of 'My Sharona'. In: Jacksonville.com. 12. Februar 2012, abgerufen am 11. Januar 2013.
- ↑ Jeff Morris: details for 9 Coronas - John Mammoser. In: Dmdb.org. Abgerufen am 10. Januar 2013.
- ↑ Israel and Jewish Videos - My Menorah Spoof Animation. WeJew.com, abgerufen am 11. Januar 2013.
- ↑ ACN :: My Menorah. Americancomedynetwork.com, 13. November 2006, abgerufen am 11. Januar 2013.
- ↑ TheBobRiversShow: Bob Rivers Twisted Tune: "My Toyota". Hrsg.: YouTube. 3. März 2010 (youtube.com [abgerufen am 10. Januar 2013]).
- ↑ Steve Bryant: 'My Sharona' Creators Sue Yahoo, Apple, Amazon and Run DMC for Copyright Infringement. In: eWeek.com. QuinStreet Inc., 4. Oktober 2006, abgerufen am 15. Februar 2012.
- ↑ a b c Alan Connor: Who was My Sharona? In: News.bbc.co.uk, BBC News, 17 February 2010. Abgerufen im 30 August 2010
- ↑ a b c d Steve Baltlin: A Look Back at the Knack's 'My Sharona'. In: Spinner.com. 15. Februar 2010.
- ↑ Jason Schreurs: The Knack Singer Doug Fieger Dies at 57. In: Exclaim! 15. Februar 2010.
- ↑ Alexander Melzer: In: Metal-observer.com.
- ↑ Adam Moerder: Polysics: Polysics or Die!!! In: Pitchfork. 18. April 2005.
- ↑ Caren Scott: Concert Review: The Polysics/Jaguar Love/Black Gold. In: Spectrum Culture. 25. November 2008.
- ↑ Grigoris Chronis: Pink Cream 69 - Thunderdome (CD) review. In: Metal-Temple.com. 26. Januar 2004.
- ↑ Pink Cream 69 - Thunderdome (CD) review. In: Metal-archives.com. Abgerufen am 12. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ a b c d M. McLauglin, K. Sharp: Getting the Knack. Hrsg.: Passport Productions. 2004.
- ↑ Bruce Gary: Controlled Bombast with the Knack In: Modern Drummer, 1 September 2011. Abgerufen im 4 May 2012
- ↑ Ira Robbins & Michael Sandlin: The Knack. Trouser Press, abgerufen am 14. April 2012.
- ↑ John M. Borack: Shake some action: the ultimate power pop guide. Not Lame Recordings, 2007, ISBN 978-0-9797714-0-8, S. 23, 60.
- ↑ Get the Knack: The Knack, CBS Magazines, S. 104. Abgerufen im 15 April 2012
- ↑ a b Mark Deming: Havin’ a Rave-Up! Live In Los Angeles, 1978. In: Allmusic. Rovi Corporation, abgerufen am 24. April 2012.
- ↑ Live at Carnegie Hall. In: Allmusic. Rovi Corporation, abgerufen am 14. April 2012.
- ↑ Premium Gold Collection. In: Allmusic. Rovi Corporation, abgerufen am 14. April 2012.
- ↑ The Knack Takes You Back… to 1978. The Knack, abgerufen am 14. April 2012.
- ↑ Jack Rabid: Dogs from the Hare That Bit Us. In: Allmusic. Rovi Corporation, abgerufen am 14. April 2012.