You Are the Girl

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"You Are the Girl"
Cover to You Are the Girl by The Cars.jpg
Single by the Cars
from the album Door to Door
B-side "Ta Ta Wayo Wayo"
ReleasedAugust 1987 (1987-08)
Genre
Length3:52
Label Elektra 69446
Songwriter(s) Ric Ocasek
Producer(s) Ric Ocasek
The Cars singles chronology
"I'm Not the One"
(1986)		"You Are the Girl"
(1987)		"Strap Me In"
(1987)

"You Are the Girl" is a 1987 song by the Cars, from their album Door to Door . It was released as a single in August 1987, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. [1] It also reached number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart. [2] It was the Cars' 13th and final Top 40 hit. [1]

Contents

Background

Rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter Ric Ocasek shares lead vocals with bassist Benjamin Orr on "You Are the Girl". [3] Both singers had recently cracked the Top 40 with solo hits, Ocasek with 1986's "Emotion in Motion" and Orr with 1987's "Stay the Night". "You Are the Girl" was the Cars' first—and last—Top 40 hit after their 1987 regrouping following the band members' three-year hiatus to focus on solo work. [1] [4] It also became the second (and last) single after "Since I Held You" from "Candy-O" in which both singers shared vocals on a song.

The lyrics for the song are about an ex; [5] the music video, directed by cult filmmaker John Waters, has been described as "alien-populated". [4] In 1987, the Cars performed "You Are the Girl" and "Double Trouble" (another track from Door to Door) at the MTV Video Music Awards. [6]

Cash Box called it a "likeable pop tune" with "slick production values." [7]

Aftermath

The song was recorded for what would be the band's final studio album for the next 25 years, and last with its five original members, 1987's Door to Door. It was recorded at a time of personal conflict between the band members that led to their eventual disbanding. [8] Following the release of the album, there was public speculation that the band was breaking up, and within a year the Cars announced that they had disbanded. [9]

Although "You Are the Girl" was the Cars' last Top 40 hit, two more singles released from Door to Door did reach the Top 100: 1987's "Strap Me In" (number 85) and 1988's "Coming Up You" (number 74). [2]

Charts

Chart performance for "You Are the Girl"
Chart (1987)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [10] 69
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [11] 33
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [12] 30
US Billboard Hot 100 [13] 17
US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) [14] 12
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [15] 2
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles [16] 17

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cars</span> American pop-rock band

The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes (keyboards), and David Robinson (drums). Ocasek and Orr shared lead vocals, and Ocasek was the band's principal songwriter and leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ric Ocasek</span> American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer (1944–2019)

Richard Theodore Otcasek, known as Ric Ocasek, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the primary vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the American new wave band the Cars. In addition to his work with the Cars, Ocasek recorded seven solo albums, and his song "Emotion in Motion" was a top 20 hit in the United States in 1986.

<i>Door to Door</i> (album) 1987 studio album by the Cars

Door to Door is the sixth studio album by American new wave band the Cars, released on August 25, 1987, by Elektra Records. The album was produced by frontman Ric Ocasek, with additional production by keyboardist Greg Hawkes. Three singles were released from the album, though only "You Are the Girl" reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 17. Door to Door became the Cars' lowest-charting studio album, peaking at number 26 on the Billboard 200, and within a year of its release the band would break up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Orr</span> American musician (1947–2000)

Benjamin Orr was an American musician, bassist, co-lead vocalist, and co-founder of the band the Cars. He sang lead vocals on several of their hits, including "Just What I Needed", "Let's Go", "Moving in Stereo", and "Drive". He also had a moderate solo hit with "Stay the Night".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just What I Needed</span> 1978 single by The Cars

"Just What I Needed" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their self-titled debut album (1978). The song, which first achieved radio success as a demo, took inspiration from the Ohio Express and the Velvet Underground. The song is sung by bass player Benjamin Orr and was written by Ric Ocasek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drive (The Cars song)</span> 1984 single by the Cars

"Drive" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on July 23, 1984, as the album's third single. Written by Ric Ocasek, the track was sung by bassist Benjamin Orr and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange with the band. Upon its release, "Drive" became the Cars' highest-charting single in most territories. In the United States, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart. It reached number five in the United Kingdom, number four in West Germany, number six in Canada and number three in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shake It Up (The Cars song)</span> 1981 single by the Cars

"Shake It Up" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fourth studio album of the same name (1981). It was released on November 9, 1981, as the album's lead single. Although appearing for the first time in 1981, it was actually written years earlier by the band's songwriter and lead singer Ric Ocasek. The song became one of the Cars' most popular songs, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Billboard Top Tracks chart in early 1982. With the track "Cruiser" as its B-side, it reached number 14 on the Billboard Disco Top 80 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go (The Cars song)</span> 1979 single by the Cars

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Might Think</span> 1984 single by the Cars

"You Might Think" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). The track was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Mutt Lange and the Cars, with Ocasek also providing the lead vocals.

The discography of the American rock band the Cars includes seven studio albums, eight compilation albums, four video albums and 26 singles. Originating in Boston in 1976, the band consisted of singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson. The Cars sold over 23 million albums in the United States and had 13 singles that reached the Top 40. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Times Roll</span> 1979 single by the Cars

"Good Times Roll" is a song by American rock band the Cars released as the first track from their 1978 debut album The Cars. Written by Ric Ocasek as a sarcastic comment on rock's idea of good times, the song features layered harmonies courtesy of producer Roy Thomas Baker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Best Friend's Girl (song)</span> 1978 single by the Cars

"My Best Friend's Girl" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their 1978 self-titled debut album on Elektra Records, released on June 6 of that year. Written by Ocasek as a song about something that "probably ... happened to a lot of people," the track found radio success as a demo in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's All I Can Do</span> 1979 single by the Cars

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay the Night (Benjamin Orr song)</span> 1986 single by Benjamin Orr

"Stay the Night" is the debut solo single by the Cars co-lead vocalist and bassist Benjamin Orr, released in late 1986 from his debut solo album The Lace. The song reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, as well as #2 Adult Contemporary, in early 1987, becoming Orr's only top 40 hit as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emotion in Motion (song)</span> 1986 single by Ric Ocasek

"Emotion in Motion" is a song by Ric Ocasek, the main songwriter and lead vocalist for The Cars. It was featured on his second solo album, This Side of Paradise, and released as a single in late 1986. The tune topped the Album Rock Tracks chart and reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song features Tears For Fears' frontman Roland Orzabal as a guest musician. It was Ocasek's only top 40 hit as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonight She Comes</span> 1985 single by the Cars

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not the One</span> 1986 single by the Cars

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why Can't I Have You</span> 1985 single by the Cars

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strap Me In</span> 1987 single by the Cars

"Strap Me In" is a 1987 song by the Cars, appearing on their sixth studio album Door to Door.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coming Up You</span> Single by The Cars

"Coming Up You" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their sixth studio album, Door to Door (1987). It was written by Ric Ocasek and sung by Benjamin Orr.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 109. ISBN   0-8230-7499-4.
  2. 1 2 "The Cars: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". AllMusic . Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  3. ↑ Door to Door (Media notes). The Cars. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. 1 2 Gundersen, Edna (October 19, 1987). "Ric Ocasek opens a new 'Door' with the Cars". USA Today .
  5. ↑ Pareles, Jon (September 9, 1987). "The Pop Life". The New York Times . Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  6. ↑ "MTV Video Music Awards: Show Highlights, Winners, Performers, Hosts and More From Past Video Music Awards". MTV.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. August 22, 1987. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  8. ↑ "The Cars". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  9. ↑ "The Cars: Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  10. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0893." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ "The Cars – You Are the Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  13. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  15. ↑ "The Cars Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending October 31, 1987". Cash Box . Retrieved May 22, 2021.
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