"Shake It Up" by The Cars

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0830
Date:  11/21/1981
Debut:  76
Peak:  4
Weeks:  22
Genre:  Rock, New Wave



Pop Bits:  The Cars took a bit of a hit with their experimental third album "Panorama." It only produced one minor chart entry with "Touch and Go" (#37) and it sold less than their previous discs. The band followed it up with "Shake It Up," a more focused effort that incorporated a straight-ahead pop sound. The change in style was welcomed by radio listeners as this title-track single became their first Top 10 hit.

ReduxReview:  This was the first Cars song that I liked and today it is still my favorite of theirs. It's a blissfully silly party jam that is perky and fun. I was never a big fan of the group but this is their one song that I'll crank up if it comes on.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  Although the song first appeared on the "Shake It Up" album, it was written years before by member Ric Ocasek. They had tried a few attempts to record the song but it just was not coming together. Finally, they tossed out everything they had done previously and started the song again from scratch. This approach worked and it lead to their first Top 10 single.

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