Uploaded by StrapOnBanana on Apr 19, 2011
Although much was made of their sense of new wave cool during their heyday, the real reason that the Cars' recorded work holds up so well is that it is built on solid pop songwriting. For proof, a listener need look no further than "My Best Friend's Girl." The Cars' recorded version has an unmistakably new wave feel but a look at its components as a song reveal it is pure pop through and through. The lyrics, which depict a man's frustrated desire for the charms of a girl who is dating his best friend, are the kind of classic pop-song scenario that has been utilized by everyone from Elvis Presley ("The Girl of My Best Friend") to Rick Springfield ("Jessie's Girl"). However, lyricist Ric Ocasek adds his own nifty twist the story with the lines "She's my best friend's girl/But she used to be mine." The music also stays firmly in a pop vein by crafting a melody with a solid verse-chorus pop structure and layering its verses with singalong counterpoint lines to the main vocal melody. The Cars' recording pushes the song into new wave territory with a musical blend of sharp-edged guitar riffs, glacial synthesizer lines, and the irony-drenched vocal delivery of Ocasek. Just the same, it retains its pop center with elements like handclaps and the call-and-response interplay between Ocasek and the background vocals. This tension between crowd-pleasing pop hooks and new wave irony made "My Best Friend's Girl" stand out from the pack and it became a Top 40 hit as a result. It remains a favorite new wave oldie for radio programmers and one of the classics of the Cars' catalog.
- allmusic.com
Top Comments
All Comments (34)
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@JPRibner lmfao.
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if that's the girl then your best friend just did you a favor!
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NOOBanism, who the fuck is StrapOnBanana? must be a "bannister slider"(lesbo.) not unless its a back-man, one or the other it is funny.lol.
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@JPRibner totally american psycho has a youtube channel!
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1 person got rejected by his best friends xgf
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The Cars are one of the MOST underrated bands of all time
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great moment on 70's - late 90's in this song
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Does anyone else think the name of this guys youtube is funny as hell.... (StrapOnBanana) XD
3 weeks ago 3
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Genius Ric Ocasek
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Great Memories!!! Still stoned @45!! xoxo
1 month ago 2
- 88 videosYouTube Mix for The Cars
- 3:32
The CARS - Let's go!(1979)by Slance1630,104 views
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- 3:31
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- 4:14
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- 3:43
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- 4:52
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- 3:58
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- 2:37
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- 3:30
The Cars - My best friends girl (1978)by dboetful3,071 views
- 2:58
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- 5:00
The Knack - My Sharona (2005)by larryvgs46,818 views
- 4:45
Peter Frampton- Baby I Love Your Wayby smartguy86641,968,781 views
Is it just me, or does it seem as though Patrick Bateman wrote the description for this video?
JPRibner 6 months ago 47
@hchavis62797 Technically, that's a Buddy Holly song. Both versions of that song and this song are all fuck amazing.
MrFrankCalzone 3 months ago 10