Shake It Up (The Cars song)

"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.^[1][2]

"Shake It Up"
Single by the Cars
from the album Shake It Up
B-side	"Cruiser"
Released	November 9, 1981 (1981-11-09)
Recorded	1981
Studio	Syncro Sound (Boston)
Genre	New wave dance-rock
Length	3:32
Label	Elektra
Songwriter(s)	Ric Ocasek
Producer(s)	Roy Thomas Baker
The Cars singles chronology
"Gimme Some Slack" (1981) "Shake It Up" (1981) "Since You're Gone" (1982)
Shake It Up track listing
9 tracks Side one "Since You're Gone" "Shake It Up" "I'm Not the One" "Victim of Love" "Cruiser" Side two "A Dream Away" "This Could Be Love" "Think It Over" "Maybe Baby"
Music video
"Shake It Up" on YouTube

Background

The song is primarily reliant on dance-pop as its main genre, with pop rock elements audible. Ocasek referred to the song as "the big return to pop" after the more art rock style of the preceding album, Panorama.^[3] Add to these keyboardist Greg Hawkes' synthesizer lines, the associated instrument of bands labeled "new wave" at the time, and it is a prime example of The Cars' genre blending.

Drummer David Robinson said at first, he did not even want to record the song, as it was "kicking around for years. It never sounded good. We recorded it a couple of times in the studio and dumped it, and we were going to try it one more time, and I was fighting everybody . . . So we thought, let's start all over again, like we've never even heard it—completely change every part—and we did. Then, when it was through and all put back together, it was like a brand-new song."^[4]

Guitarist Elliot Easton said he wanted his solo to sound like "two guys trading off". He first plays a Fender Telecaster, in a style skewing country, then midway through the solo switches to a Gibson guitar for a heavier rock sound.^[5]

Billboard said that "Ric Ocasek's vocals are surrounded by a steady guitar/keyboard beat that has a mesmerizing effect."^[6] Record World said that "A rapid-pulse rhythm supports melodic keyboard enchantment, stinging guitars and an undeniable chorus hook."^[7]

Lyrics

The song references dance moves, hair styles and having fun. However, bassist and singer Benjamin Orr has stated the song tells the story of how important it is to make a mark in life, to "let them know what you really mean".^[8] Thus, the song has an existential element as well as a simple message.

Ocasek has since dismissed the song's lyrics, saying, "I'm not proud of the lyrics to 'Shake It Up.'"^[9]

Cover versions

Chilean band Los Prisioneros did an interpolation of the song "Shake It Up" called "Pa Pa Pa" on their album La cultura de la basura.

Charts

Weekly charts 1982 weekly chart performance for "Shake It Up" Chart (1982) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 10 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 7 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[12] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 48 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 26 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 4 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[2] with "Cruiser" 14 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] 2 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[17] 3 2019 weekly chart performance for "Shake It Up" Chart (2019) Peak position US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[18] 21

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Shake It Up" Chart (1982) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 71 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 56 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 23 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[22] 23

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-8982-0156-7.
2. "The Cars Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
3. Dolan, Jon; Doyle, Patrick; Hiatt, Brian; Hoard, Christian; Leight, Elias; Sheffield, Rob; Schteamer, Hank (September 15, 2019). "The Cars' Ric Ocasek: 17 Essential Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
4. Goldstein, Toby (1985). Frozen Fire: The Story of The Cars. Chicago: Contemporary Books. ISBN 0-8092-5257-0.
5. Rock Solid Podcast 7/31/2014
6. "Top Single Picks". Billboard. November 21, 1981. p. 95. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
7. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 28, 1981. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
8. "The Cars | New Music And Songs". MTV. October 3, 2000. Archived from the original on December 7, 2005. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
9. Spitz, Mark (May 5, 2011). "Q&A: Ric Ocasek of the Cars". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
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 0452." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
12. "The Cars – Shake It Up" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
13. "The Cars – Shake It Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
14. "The Cars – Shake It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
15. "The Cars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
16. "The Cars Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
17. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending March 6, 1982". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
18. "The Cars Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
19. "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. No. 445. January 3, 1983 – via Imgur.
20. "Top 100 Singles of 82". RPM. Vol. 37, no. 19. December 25, 1982. p. 17. ISSN 0033-7064 – via Library and Archives Canada.
21. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
22. "The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1982 – Top 100 Pop Singles". Cash Box. December 25, 1982. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2015.