Cars

Gary Numan

About Cars

"Cars" is a song by English musician Gary Numan. His debut single, it was released as the lead single from his debut studio album, The Pleasure Principle (1979), on 21 August 1979. It reached the top of the charts in several countries, and today is considered a new wave staple. The song was the first release credited solely to Gary Numan after he dropped the band name Tubeway Army, under which name he had released four singles and two LPs, including the number one UK hit "Are 'Friends' Electric?", and its parent album, Replicas. Musically, the new song was somewhat lighter and more pop-oriented than its predecessors, Numan later conceding that he had chart success in mind: "This was the first time I had written a song with the intention of 'maybe it could be a hit single'; I was writing this before 'Are "Friends" Electric?' happened." He has since described "Cars" as "a pretty average song". In the UK charts, it reached number 1 in 1979, and in 1980 hit number 1 in Canada two weeks running on the RPM national singles chart (29 weeks in the top 100). It was his only single to chart there. It rose to number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Though Numan had a string of hits in the UK, "Cars" was his only song in the US Hot 100. It debuted on the American Top 40 on 29 March 1980 and spent a total of 17 weeks in the AT40, peaking at #9. 


Year:
2007
3:37
56 

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Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It's the only way to live in cars.

Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days in cars.

Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please
If I open my door in cars

Here in my car
You know I've started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right in cars.

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Gary Numan

Gary Numan (born Gary Anthony James Webb on 8 March 1958) is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" (as Tubeway Army) and "Cars". His signature sound consists of heavy synthesiser hooks fed through guitar effects pedals. more »

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Written by: Gary Anthony James Webb

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Creation
Gary Numan wrote the lyrics for "Cars" in his living room in London in just 10 minutes. It's the result of an incident when he found himself in danger from an aggressive drivers' gang.
Release Date
The song was released in August 1979 and is from the album "The Pleasure Principle".
Chart Performance
"Cars" was a huge commercial success. It hit number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and held that position for four weeks. In the United States, it reached Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
International Success
Besides UK and US, the song also charted highly in Canada and Australia, making it a worldwide hit.
Iconic Synth Riff
The song is known for its iconic synthesizer hook, which was produced using a Minimoog synthesizer. This sound became a signature of new wave music.
Prominent Style
"Cars" was one of the earliest and most significant "synth-pop" songs, marking a shift away from traditional rock instrumentation.
Music Video
The music video for "Cars" was notable for its heavy use of special effects, which was unusual at the time. It featured Numan appearing to be in a futuristic car.
Covers and Samples
This song has been covered by several artists and sampled in numerous songs including "Here in My Car" by Armand Van Helden, and Fear Factory’s version which featured Gary Numan himself.
Commercial Use
"Cars" has been used in many commercials over the years, including advertisements for Nissan, Oldsmobile, and DieHard batteries.
Live Performances
During live performances, Gary Numan often sat in a prop car on stage, which was a nod to the song's theme.
Legacy
Despite its age, "Cars" continues to receive airplay on radio and in clubs. The song's influence can be heard in the work of many electronic artists who followed Gary Numan. Its reach and recognition arguably make it Numan's signature song.

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    Cars

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1980

    Billboard #9


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