One of the best known American power pop bands, the group's biggest hits over the years include "I Want You to Want Me", "Surrender", "Dream Police", "Don't Be Cruel" (a cover of Elvis Presley's hit), and "The Flame". Their most recent release, The Latest, has gained critical acclaim. They also wrote and performed the theme song for "The Colbert Report" as well as "That 70s Show", both tunes being fan favorites.
Nielsen and Petersson originally formed the group as Fuse in 1967, with Carlos joining the group several years later; however, when Zander joined as vocalist in 1972, the group was renamed Cheap Trick. Zander is considered one of the best hard rock vocalists of his era. For their part, Tom Petersson has been known for playing custom made 8, 12, and even a 18 string custom bass made by Modulus for Tom in 1981 and Rick Nielsen also has a penchant for unusual instruments. He owns and plays a five-necked solidbody electric guitar (it can be seen in the video for the song "She's Tight" among others).
Studio Albums
(1977) Cheap Trick [a.k.a Cheap Trick (1997)]
(1977) In Color
(1978) Heaven Tonight
(1979) Dream Police
(1980) All Shook Up
(1980) Found All The Parts
(1982) One on One
(1983) Next Position Please
(1985) Standing on the Edge
(1986) The Doctor
(1988) Lap of Luxury
(1990) Busted
(1994) Woke Up With A Monster
(1997) Cheap Trick [a.k.a Cheap Trick (1997)]
(2003) Special One
(2006) Rockford
(2009) The Latest
(2016) Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello
(2017) We're All Alright!
(2021) In Another World
[Live Albums]
(1978) At Budokan
(1978) Budokan II
(1998) At Budokan: the Complete Concert
(1999) Music for Hangovers
(2001) Silver
Oh Claire
Cheap Trick Lyrics
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Whoa, oh, konnichiwa
Oh, oh, konnichiwa
Konnichiwa
The opening lines of Cheap Trick's song "Oh Claire" might seem nonsensical at first glance, but they actually serve as a playful nod to the band's Japanese audience. "Konnichiwa" is a common Japanese greeting that translates to "hello" in English, and the repeated use of the phrase underscores the band's appreciation for their international fan base. The song itself is a simple but heart-wrenching ballad about unrequited love, with lyrics that describe the singer's intense longing for a woman named Claire who seems oblivious to his feelings. The verses are full of vivid imagery that conveys the singer's turbulent emotions, and the chorus features a haunting refrain that underscores the song's melancholic tone.
One of the most interesting aspects of "Oh Claire" is the story behind its creation. The song was actually written by Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson as a tribute to his wife, Alison "Claire" Petersson. According to Petersson, he wrote the song during a particularly difficult time in his marriage, when he was struggling to express his feelings to his wife. The song's lyrics served as a kind of love letter to her, and its success helped to repair their relationship. The song has since become a fan favorite, and has been covered by a number of other artists over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa, oh, konnichiwa
Greetings! We would like to acknowledge and show respect to the Japanese culture by using their traditional greeting 'konnichiwa' or 'hello' in English.
Oh, oh, konnichiwa
We continue to acknowledge the Japanese culture and pay homage to their greeting.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BUN E CARLOS, RICK NIELSEN, ROBIN W ZANDER, TOM PETERSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind