In 1979, The Knack performed one of their hit singles “My Sharona” in front of a packed house. This song represented the alternative/pop rock genre, and was considered a major hit in the late 1970s. As a child, I remember hearing the song on the radio and I enjoyed the catchy and memorable tune. Although I did not quite understand the lyrics at the time, my dad listened to it often when he worked in the garage. This essay will first describe a variety of important musical characteristics that are displayed within the performance.
Next, it will discuss how this song was a launchpad for a future song that became just as popular a few years later. Lastly, before providing my own personal critique, I will discuss how the song assisted The Knack with getting back together nearly 20 years later. Please click the following link to view the concert performance: https:// www. youtube. com/watch? v=r5yWDPGfbUc As with all songs, there are certain elements that make each one unique from another.
In the performance by The Knack, they used a variety of instruments to help make their song a success. A majority of these instruments are still used today and they include the lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums. One thing I believe that makes the song catchy is its upbeat tempo and rhythm throughout. Also, with the addition of the drums and the movement by the lead singer, this encourages audience members to sing along and dance as they performed. Another important element which needs to be discussed is the songs form.
Overall, for the most part the band used the same rhythm and beat throughout the entire song. One thing that did change however was the lyrics used in between verses. When a song is played like this, it is often referred to as the strophic form. During the concert, the band was also able to extend the length of the recorded version by adding a variety of solos to their performance. By doing so, this allowed audience members to enjoy the song for a longer period of time, and even allowed the band members to throw in a few extra dance moves.
When examining specific songs such as “My Sharona,” it is important to look at how songs such as these helped create other songs in the future. George Nelson, who wrote a biography about the musical career of Michael Jackson in 2010, discussed the impact of the song and how it helped influence a future song which became known as “Beat It” just a few years later. The song “Beat It” was produced and created by Jackson and Quincy in 1982. According to the biography, Quincy who is the investigator of the song was inspired by the 1979 hit “My Sharona” to help create the song.
The biography continues on by saying that “The Knack was at one-album wonder roundly disliked by most rock critics, and the era abounded with countless other pop rock hits from which to draw” (p. 1). With the help of Michael Jackson’s voice, as well as Quincy’s musical expertise, they were able to create the song together. When Jackson released the demo, no guitars or other instruments were used. The only thing available to attract listeners was the sound of Jackson’s unique voice.
Although the two songs are very different, it is interesting to look at how one song highly affected and launched the career of a major pop singer. As The Knack’s popularity boosted in the late 1970s, the band quickly fell apart by the early 1980s. The group broke up after they released their single “Round Trip. ” The song was released in 1981 and barely scratch the surface of the top 100, which increased tension and frustrated band members. The band’s lead singer Doug Fieger fell into a depression and struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction for the next few years.
After finally being able to leave rehab, in 1991, the band was able to reform after they once again saw a popularity increase from their music. In an article written by G. A. in the Rolling Stone in 2010, the author interviewed Adam Schlesinger who was a member of the Fountains of Wayne. In the article, Schlesinger highlighted how The Knack influenced pop bands during the 1990s I say “The idea that a two-and-a-half-minute song about a girl can be an artistic achievement was just beyond people back in 1979” (p. 2).
Although the band was only able to perform for a short period of time, they definitely left their mark on the rock ‘n roll industry by producing one of the most popular songs of the late 1970s. In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about The Knack. I am amazed at how bands can be changed after becoming famous. The highly sexualized lyrics of the song boosted the popularity, and the band even helped inspired one of the most popular singers in the decade to follow In addition, I also enjoyed how the band members interacted with the audience by making eye contact and hand gestures throughout their performance.
This allowed them to make an emotional connection with their audience as the singers danced and played their instruments around the stage. By learning more about this band, I will definitely have an interesting topic of conversation to discuss in the future. Although I will not probably not listen to their music, I had fun learning more about a band that was at the peak of their careers in the late 1970s.