"My Sharona"
US variant of the standard artwork
Single by the Knack
from the album Get the Knack
B-side"Let Me Out"
ReleasedJune 18, 1979[1]
RecordedApril 1979
Genre
Length3:58 (single edit)
4:52 (album version)
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Doug Fieger, Berton Averre
Producer(s)Mike Chapman
The Knack singles chronology
"My Sharona"
(1979)		 "Good Girls Don't"
(1979)
Music video
The Knack – "My Sharona" on YouTube

"My Sharona" (/ʃəˈroʊnə/) is the debut single by the Knack. The song was written by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger, and it was released in 1979 from their debut album, Get the Knack. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, where it remained for six weeks, and was number one on Billboard's 1979 Top Pop Singles year-end chart.

It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing 500,000 copies sold,[5] and was Capitol Records' fastest gold status debut single since the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964.[6] It has since gone on to sell more than 10 million copies as of 2010.[7][8]

Inspiration

When Doug Fieger was 25 years old, he met 17-year-old Sharona Alperin,[9] who inspired a two-month-long run of songwriting, as well as eventually becoming his 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 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.[10] Fieger claimed that "My Sharona" was written in 15 minutes;[11] moreover, it was purportedly mixed in an additional 15 minutes after the recording of the song was made in a single take (not including background vocals).[12]

Fieger and Alperin were engaged at one point but never married.[9] In a 2005 interview, Fieger said that they remained "great friends";[9] additionally, she would visit him frequently as Fieger was dying of cancer. Alperin went on to have a successful career as a realtor in Los Angeles.[13][14]

Music and lyrics

The music of the song echoes many 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 1966 song by the Spencer Davis Group.[15] Fieger 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.[15] Drummer Bruce Gary has stated that although he did not particularly like the song when Fieger introduced it to the band, he came up with the stuttering beat for the song similar to a surf stomp, with just tom-tom and snare.[16] He also decided to incorporate a flam, in which two drum strokes are staggered, creating a fuller sound, which Gary considered to be crucial to the song's success.[16]

In an interview with The Washington Post, Fieger claimed that the song was written from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy.[9]

The song's stuttering vocal effect of the repeated "muh muh muh my Sharona" phrase is reminiscent of Roger Daltrey's vocals in the 1965 song "My Generation" by the Who.[15]

Music video

The music video features the band performing the song in a white room.[17] Another music video features clips from the film Reality Bites, concert footage and Another Lousy Day in Paradise music video.

Artwork

In addition to being the inspiration for the song, Sharona Alperin posed for the single's picture sleeve holding a copy of the Knack's debut studio album Get the Knack.[13]

Reception

Produced by Mike Chapman, the song's clean sound was also reminiscent of the sound of the 1960s British Invasion.[15] Billboard Magazine described "My Sharona" as "an energetic raker with a subtle melody."[18] Dick Nusser of Billboard 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."[19] Cash Box said it begins with "slamming drums and rock steady, building guitar work."[20] In the Pazz & Jop 1979 Critic's Poll, "My Sharona" and Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" were tied for sixth place in the list of top singles of the year.[21]

Chris Woodstra of AllMusic has subsequently referred to the song as an "unforgettable hit."[22] 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."[23]

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."[11]

During the making of Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album, producer Quincy Jones aspired to include a rock-and-roll-inspired song in the vein of "My Sharona." Jackson subsequently wrote "Beat It".[24]

In 2008, "My Sharona" was ranked in two Billboard 50th anniversary charts. It ranked 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs[25] and 16 on the Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs.[26][27]

In 1994, "My Sharona" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 91,[28] when it was released as part of the Reality Bites soundtrack album.[29][30] In the film itself, the characters dance to the song at a convenience store.[31] This version was remixed by Dave Jerden and features, among other changes, a much more prominent drum sound.[32]

In 2005, the song gained some attention when it appeared on the playlist of U.S. President George W. Bush's iPod.[33]

"Girl U Want" by Devo, from the album Freedom of Choice, was allegedly inspired by "My Sharona", although Devo's Gerald Casale has denied this.[34]

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Averre, together with The Knack bassist Prescott Niles released a guitar solo instruction video, in response to the many parodies of the song which had appeared during the pandemic.[35]

In 2023, Berton Averre calculated to receive between $100,000 and $300,000 annually from his royalties for the song.[36]

Personnel

Taken from the Get The Knack liner notes[37]

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[58] Platinum 150,000^
Italy (FIMI)[59] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[61] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers, parodies, and samples

Covers

Parodies

Audio samples

"Let Me Out"

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.[77] Averre has stated that the song is "absurdly fast."[77] 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."[77] 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."[77]

Billboard 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.[19] Superchunk and The Mountain Goats drummer Jon Wurster commented on the "full force" of Gary's drumming on "Let Me Out."[78] Ira Robbins and Michael Sandlin of Trouser Press described the song as "tight guitar pop."[79] Author John Borack described the song as "a damn fine pop tune."[80] Audio magazine called it a "basher" with "plenty of style."[81] AllMusic critic Mark Deming stated that the live version of "Let Me Out" has "a joyous force nearly any act would envy."[82] Dave Swanson of Ultimate Classic Rock called it "one of the most powerful album openers ever."[83] Classic Rock History critic Skip Anderson called it a "smoking track" and rated it as the Knack's 10th best song.[84]

A 1979 live performance of "Let Me Out" from Carnegie Hall was included on the laser disc of Live at Carnegie Hall.[85] The song was included on their compilation album, Premium Gold Collection.[86] 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.[82][87]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.superseventies.com/1979_1singles.html
  2. ↑
    • Bonomo, Joe (2007). Sweat: The Story of the Fleshtones, America's Garage Band. Continuum. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-8264-2846-2. Wexler's goal seemed to be replicating the Knack's "My Sharona," the cleanly recorded power-pop classic
    • Perrone, Pierre (March 5, 2010). "Doug Fieger: Leader of The Knack who co-wrote the worldwide hit 'My Sharona'". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ Nytimes.com "'My Sharona' has become an emblem of the new wave era in rock"
  4. ↑ Breihan, Tom (February 26, 2020). "The Number Ones: M's "Pop Muzik"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 13, 2023. ...and "My Sharona" is retro-minded garage rock, British Invasion pastiche.
  5. ↑ "My Sharona Gold Certifiction". RIAA. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Atkinson, Terry (October 18, 1979). "The Knack: yesterday ... and today". Rolling Stone: 32.
  7. ↑ "Who was My Sharona?". February 17, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  8. ↑ "A one-hit wonder but it was hardly for want of trying". The Sydney Morning Herald. February 18, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Lieby, Richard (April 17, 2005). "'My Sharona,' Revealing a Knack for Current Affairs?". The Washington Post. p. D3.
  10. ↑ Liner notes, 2002 "Get the Knack" digitally remastered re-issue.
  11. 1 2 Sisario, Ben (February 15, 2010). "Doug Fieger Dies at 57, Singer of 'My Sharona'". New York Times. New York (published February 16, 2010). p. A25.
  12. ↑ Staff, A. O. L. "'My Sharona' co-writer shares on his rock star riches". www.aol.com. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Campos, Susan (June 11, 2019). "In 1979 a Hit Song Made This Future L.A. Real Estate Agent a Pop Culture Icon". LAmag.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  14. ↑ Lazo, Alejandro (February 18, 2010). "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". Los Angeles Times.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Cateforis, Theodore (2011). Are We Not New Wave? : Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s. University of Michigan Press. pp. 123–127. ISBN 978-0-472-03470-3.
  16. 1 2 Kelly, J. (August 26, 2006). "Knack Drummer's Beat Burrows into the Brain". Toledo Blade. pp. D3, D7.
  17. ↑ The Knack - My Sharona (Official Video), retrieved June 3, 2020
  18. ↑ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. June 23, 1979. p. 69. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  19. 1 2 Nusser, Dick (July 28, 1979). "Closeup: Get The Knack". Billboard Magazine: 52, 66. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  20. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 23, 1979. p. 18. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Pazz & Jop 1979: Critics Poll". Robert Christgau. January 28, 1980. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  22. ↑ Woodstra, Chris. "Get the Knack review at Allmusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  23. ↑ Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard, ed. (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 462. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
  24. ↑ Ditzian, Eric. "Quincy Jones Blogs About Working With Michael Jackson". MTV News.
  25. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  26. ↑ "It's Only Rock & Roll: Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Year". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  28. 1 2 3 "The Knack awards on Allmusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  29. ↑ Editors Rolling Stone (November 8, 2001). Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll: Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Touchstone. p. 536. ISBN 978-0-7432-0120-9. In 1994 the Knack began touring again after "My Sharona" found a new audience through its inclusion in the Reality Bites soundtrack. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  30. ↑ "Talk About Coming From Nowhere". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 59. EGM Media, LLC. June 1994. p. 212.
  31. ↑ Woo, Kelly (June 25, 2010). "Scenes We Love: Reality Bites – The Moviefone Blog". News.moviefone.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Reality Bites: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Discogs. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  33. ↑ Wilkinson, Peter (April 13, 2005). "Bush bares soul with 'iPod One'". CNN.com. Cable News Network LP, LLLP. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
  34. ↑ Ivan, DJ (July 2005). "Interview with Gerald Casale of DEVO (6-12-05)". Earcandymag.com.
  35. ↑ "The Knack 'My Sharona' = 'Bye, Corona,' by Berton Averre & Prescott Niles".
  36. ↑ Crockett, Zachary (February 5, 2023). "The Economics of Everyday Things: "My Sharona"". Freakonomics. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  37. ↑ The Knack - Get The Knack, 1979, retrieved November 26, 2023
  38. ↑ "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 2 February 1980. p. 37.
  39. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 169. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  40. ↑ "The Knack – My Sharona" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  41. ↑ "The Knack – My Sharona" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Top Singles – Volume 31, No. 24, September 08 1979". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  43. ↑ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". Dominic DURAND / InfoDisc (in French). InfoDisc.fr. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013. – Use the index at the top of the page and search "Knack"
  44. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". IRMA. Retrieved July 27, 2013. – Search for "My Sharona" and pick the one result
  45. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Knack – My Sharona" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  46. ↑ "The Knack – My Sharona" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  47. ↑ "The Knack – My Sharona". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  48. ↑ "The Knack – My Sharona". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  50. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Knack – My Sharona" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  51. ↑ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 04 Sep 1994". ARIA. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  52. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 431. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  53. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  54. ↑ "Top 100 Singles (1979)". RPM. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  55. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  56. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  57. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – The Knack – My Sharona". Music Canada. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  59. ↑ "Italian single certifications – The Knack – My Sharona" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 7, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "My Sharona" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  60. ↑ "British single certifications – Knack – My Sharona". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  61. ↑ "American single certifications – The Knack – My Sharona". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  62. ↑ Childers, Chad (September 26, 2017). "Royal Blood Rock 'My Sharona'". Loudwire. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  63. ↑ Ellis, Iain (2008). Rebels Wit Attitude: Subversive Rock Humorists. Counterpoint Press. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-59376-206-3.
  64. 1 2 3 4 Szaroleta, Tom (February 12, 2012). "a.m. stir: The many faces of 'My Sharona'". Jacksonville.com.
  65. ↑ http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls020980.htm WLS Musicradio Survey, February 9, 1980
  66. ↑ Morris, Jeff. "details for 9 Coronas – John Mammoser". Dmdb.org. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  67. ↑ "Israel and Jewish Videos – My Menorah Spoof Animation". WeJew.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  68. ↑ "ACN: My Menorah". Americancomedynetwork.com. November 13, 2006. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  69. ↑ TheBobRiversShow (March 3, 2010). Bob Rivers Twisted Tune: "My Toyota" (YouTube). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  70. ↑ The AFL Footy Show Parody Song - My Fevola.mp4, retrieved July 13, 2022
  71. ↑ Adam, Schrader (March 3, 2020). "'Weird Al' Yankovic won't make coronavirus parody of 'My Sharona'". New York Post. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  72. ↑ Kaufman, Gil. "These 10 Coronavirus Songs Bring Some Levity to the Global Panic". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  73. ↑ Steinberg, Jessica (March 10, 2020). "Hebrew 'My Corona' spoof of The Knacks classic proves catching". The Times of Israel. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  74. ↑ Curto, Justin (March 26, 2020). "The Knack Finally Does the 'My Sharona' Parody You've Been Waiting For". Vulture.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  75. ↑ Bryant, Steve (October 4, 2006). "'My Sharona' Creators Sue Yahoo, Apple, Amazon and Run DMC for Copyright Infringement". eWeek.com. QuinStreet Inc. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  76. ↑ Connor, Alan (February 17, 2010). "Who was My Sharona?". News.bbc.co.uk. BBC News.
  77. 1 2 3 4 M. McLaughlin, K. Sharp (2004). Getting the Knack. Passport Productions.
  78. ↑ "Bruce Gary: Controlled Bombast with the Knack". Modern Drummer. September 1, 2011.
  79. ↑ Ira Robbins & Michael Sandlin. "The Knack". Trouser Press. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  80. ↑ Borack, John M. (2007). Shake some action: the ultimate power pop guide. Not Lame Recordings. pp. 23, 60. ISBN 978-0-9797714-0-8.
  81. ↑ "Get the Knack: The Knack". Audio. CBS Magazines. 1979. p. 104.
  82. 1 2 Deming, Mark. "Havin' a Rave-Up! Live In Los Angeles, 1978". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  83. ↑ Swanson, D. (June 11, 2014). "The History of 'My Sharona' – How One Song Doomed the Knack". Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  84. ↑ Anderson, Skip. "Top 10 songs from the Knack". Classic Rock History. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  85. ↑ "Live at Carnegie Hall". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  86. ↑ "Premium Gold Collection". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  87. ↑ "The Knack Takes You Back ... to 1978". The Knack. March 10, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
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