You Are the Girl
Encyclopedia
"You Are the Girl" is a 1987 song by The Cars
, from their album Door to Door. It was released as a single in August 1987, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
It also reached number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
chart, and number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
It was The Cars' 13th and (as of 2011) last Top 40 hit.
shares lead vocals with bassist Benjamin Orr
on "You Are the Girl".
Both singers had recently cracked the Top 40 with solo hits, Ocasek with 1986's "Emotion in Motion
" and Orr with 1987's "Stay the Night
". "You Are the Girl" was The Cars' first — and last — Top 40 hit after their 1987 regrouping following the band members' three-year hiatus to focus on solo work.
The lyrics for the song are about an ex;
the music video, directed by cult film maker John Waters
, has been described as "alien-populated".
In 1987, The Cars performed "You Are the Girl" and "Double Trouble" (another track from Door to Door) at the MTV Video Music Awards
.
The song was recorded for the band's final studio album, 1987's Door to Door, during a time of personal conflict between the band members.
Following the release of the album, there was public speculation that the band was breaking up, and within a year The Cars announced that they had disbanded.
Although "You Are the Girl" was The Cars' last Top 40 hit, two more singles released from Door to Door did reach the Top 100: 1987's "Strap Me In" (number 85) and 1988's "Coming Up You" (number 74).
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
, from their album Door to Door. It was released as a single in August 1987, reaching number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
It also reached number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart, and number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
It was The Cars' 13th and (as of 2011) last Top 40 hit.
Details
Rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter Ric OcasekRic Ocasek
Ric Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He is best known as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the rock band, The Cars....
shares lead vocals with bassist Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orr was an American rock musician best known as the bassist and vocalist for the Boston based rock band, The Cars....
on "You Are the Girl".
Both singers had recently cracked the Top 40 with solo hits, Ocasek with 1986's "Emotion in Motion
Emotion in Motion (song)
"Emotion in Motion" is a song by Ric Ocasek, the songwriter and lead vocalist of The Cars. It was included in his second solo album, This Side of Paradise, and released as a single in late 1986. The single reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Album Rock Tracks chart...
" and Orr with 1987's "Stay the Night
Stay the Night (Benjamin Orr song)
"Stay The Night" is a song by The Cars vocalist and bassist Benjamin Orr. It was included in his 1986 solo debut album The Lace, and released as a single in late 1986...
". "You Are the Girl" was The Cars' first — and last — Top 40 hit after their 1987 regrouping following the band members' three-year hiatus to focus on solo work.
The lyrics for the song are about an ex;
the music video, directed by cult film maker John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
, has been described as "alien-populated".
In 1987, The Cars performed "You Are the Girl" and "Double Trouble" (another track from Door to Door) at the MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
.
The song was recorded for the band's final studio album, 1987's Door to Door, during a time of personal conflict between the band members.
Following the release of the album, there was public speculation that the band was breaking up, and within a year The Cars announced that they had disbanded.
Although "You Are the Girl" was The Cars' last Top 40 hit, two more singles released from Door to Door did reach the Top 100: 1987's "Strap Me In" (number 85) and 1988's "Coming Up You" (number 74).