85: You Really Know How to Dance

85. "What I Like About You" by the Romantics {#49; 2/80} [iTunes? Yes] {Video: What I Like About You.}

This is definitely a "what were we thinking" song. When this song was released in February of 1980, the number one song in the country was "Do That To Me One More Time" by The Captain and Tennille. Seriously. And yet, the highest that "What I Like About You" could make it on the charts is #49. Really? Really??? REALLY???

(What were we thinking?)

Of course, this song has stood the test of time a bit better than "Do That To Me One More Time." And that's probably because it is a near-perfect pop song. It is so incredible, in fact, that I think it is time for a Running Diary of What Makes This Song So Great.

For the purposes of this Running Diary of What Makes This Song So Great, I will be using the video I linked to above. The comments will be about the actual song as one would hear it on the radio, not about the video. (That said, let me just say that I was a bit surprised, and am always impressed, when it turns out the drummer is also the lead vocalist. I have a hard enough time walking and chewing gum at the same time, I can't even fathom drumming and singing simultaneously.)

So, without further ado (because there's certainly already been enough ado) here is the Running Diary of What Makes This Song So Great:

0:01-Nice guitars
0:05-Hand claps!
0:11-Hey!
0:15-Uh-huh.
0:17-Hey!
0:20-Uh-huh.
0:23-Lyrics start with the song title, are understandable, and are sing-alongable.
0:34-Yeah!
0:36-Ah-ah. (Back-up singers.)
0:42-That's what I like. (Repetitive back-up singers, singing the song title repeatedly.)
0:59-Yeah!
1:00-Ah-ah. (Back-up singers.)
1:06-That's what I like. (Repetitive back-up singers.)
1:17-SCREAM!!! (And it's a very good scream!)
1:20-Guitars.
1:30-Hey!
1:31-Harmonica solo!
2:05-Yeah!
2:07-Ah-ah. (Back-up singers.)
2:13-That's what I like. (Repetitive back-up singers.)
2:23-Exaggerated whisper!!!
2:36-Hey!
2:39-Uh-huh.
2:40-2:42-Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
2:45-Uh-huh.
2:46-Lip Blubbering!!!
2:48-Hey!
2:51-Uh-huh.
2:54-Hey!

That's some dang fine work! I've noted before that I am a big fan of hand claps, and they do a fine job of including them here. (Maybe they could have worked in one more round of hand claps? That might be asking a bit much.)

They have an excellent scream, and the multiple uses of "Hey!" are fabulous. But, I think it's the use of the exaggerated whisper and the lip blubbering that really push this song to the top. Those are two underused techniques that are very, very effective.

And then, of course, is the ending. One of the best endings of any pop and/or rock song ever. They simply give out one more yell of "Hey!", then drop the mic and walk away. Perfect!

Hey!

COMING UP NEXT: 19 Bosoms!