1. The Knack was an American new wave/power pop band from Detroit, Michigan, based in Los Angeles. They rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", which was an international hit in 1979. The power pop of "My Sharona", coupled with the band's retro 60s look, earned the band comparisons to The Beatles (though the band members themselves viewed the 'New Beatles' label as tongue-in-cheek). Many music critics hated disco, which dominated the music industry at the time, and were, at best, coolly receptive to other developing trends like punk, electronica, and heavy metal.
The Knack's hard rock influences earned them some critical credibility and massive commercial success with their debut album, 1979's 'Get The Knack'. The band had formed in May 1978, known at first as '20/20', and, after shopping their demo tape to various record labels without success, they began playing the local club circuit. Quickly gaining a following as musicians such as Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen praised them, they finally signed with Capitol Records in January 1979. Reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, 'Get The Knack' has earned praise for decades, with Kurt Cobain in particular claiming it as one of his top fifty albums of all time.
While fans praised their new wave and power pop fueled sound, many critics still found issues with the group's in-your-face image in their lyrics, with accusations of misogyny popping up. After subsequent releases, the social backlash against the Knack (similar to that of The Monkees a generation earlier) was strong. Dave Marsh of 'Rolling Stone' in particular wrote, "In Fieger's lyrics, women are literally commodities whose chief purpose is to be brutalized." A 'Knuke the Knack' campaign emerged based on that as well as the perceived corporate-based over-hype. With their second album, '...But the Little Girls Understand', getting less commercial success (doing well, but not up to expectations), the band broke up mid-tour on New Year’s Day 1982. Besides the turmoil around the group, they also faced near total burnout among themselves, particularly given Fieger's drugs-heavy lifestyle, and the band members reportedly hadn't the energy to do much of anything after their third album, 'Round Trip', came out.
They re-united sporadically several years later and released a new album on January 16, 1991, titled 'Serious Fun'. A comeback accompanied by a public reunion and tour, it failed to reach either commercial or critical success but resulted in the hit single "Rocket O' Love", which reached #9 in Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart. They continued playing through the 90s and into the new millennium, with 2003's 'Re-Zoom' (or 'Zoom') being their last studio album. Commercial airplay mostly eluded the group over the 90s, but a generation of new fans who loved 80s-era new wave music provided a devoted cult following. Lead singer and main songwriter Doug Fieger was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. Fieger battled the disease until his death on Valentine's Day 2010.
Fieger, a native of Detroit, Michigan, had previously played in a country rock band called Sky. Of the three other original members of the Knack (Berton Averre - Guitar, Prescott Niles - Bass, and Bruce Gary - Drums), Averre and Niles remained with the group as it ended. Gary died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2006. Several drummers had played for the group over the years, including Billy Ward (Serious Fun album), Terry Bozzio (Zoom album), and David Henderson as 'Holmes Jones' (Normal as the Next Guy and Live at the Rock N Roll Funhouse albums). Pat Torpey (Mr. Big) played the drums for the group right before they ended.
There are other artists with the same name:
2. The Knack was a short-lived 1960s American psych/garage band from Los Angeles, CA. They recorded for Capitol Records. Formed in 1965, the band comprising Mike Chain (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dink Kaplan (lead guitar, backing vocals), Larry Gould (bass, backing vocals) and Pug Baker (drums), formally débuted at The Ice House in October 1966 and released four singles in total, of which Time Waits For No One was the best-seller. They toured throughout the U.S. but worked most frequently in Hollywood.
3. The Knack was a mid-60's British band originally known as The Londoners, a moniker they adopted whilst paying their beat group dues in the clubs of Germany in the early 60s. Upon returning to the UK in 1965 and changing their name to the rather hipper The Knack (after the recently released Richard Lester film), they recorded half a dozen singles for Decca and Piccadilly including the mod R&B ravers "She Ain't No Good", "Time Time Time" and "Stop!". Their final single, "(Man From The) Marriage Guidance And Advice Bureau", featured a more mature acoustic sound, which nodded towards both The Kinks and the impending psychedelic explosion. They broke up in 1967 and leader Paul Gurvitz formed the band The Gun.
Baby Talks Dirty
The Knack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you know my baby she say hurt me hurt me
aw aw aw
aw aw aw
uh uh my honey's not a sweet thing
no no my sweetie loves a real neat beating
aw aw aw
aw aw aw
she got to be in trouble all night
when she say do it to it do it to it do it to it yeah uh
you know my baby walks nasty
she take it slow but she's a a fasty
aw aw aw
aw aw aw
my little lady like a licky
she do it good she make it oh so sticky
aw aw aw
aw aw aw
she wanna keep our love a secret
i got to tame her make her my pet
when she say do it to it do it to it do it to it yeah uh
oh she got the savage soul
oh it's only rock and roll
you know my baby just too cool
my little lady hated high-yi-yi school
aw aw aw
aw aw aw
my little pretty one is so fine
she got the mouth and she got the time
aw aw aw
aw aw aw
you know she's even got a girlfriend
but i'm her loving backdoor man
when she say do it to it do it to it do it to it yeah
oh i got the whole control
oh she got the savage soul
oh it's only rock and roll
The Knack's song Baby Talks Dirty is a classic example of 80s rock n roll. The lyrics are straightforward and risque, telling the story of a dominant/submissive relationship between the singer and his partner. It is said that the song was written by the lead singer, Doug Fieger, in just 15 minutes while sitting in a bathtub.
The song describes the lead singer's desire for a partner who enjoys being dominated and hurt during sex. The repeated "aw aw aw" and "uh uh" throughout the song add to the overall excitement and energy of the track. The lyrics also describe the singer's admiration for his partner's "savage soul" and her cool demeanor. The chorus of "do it to it" can be seen as a call to action, encouraging the partner to continue indulging in their shared desire.
Overall, Baby Talks Dirty is a catchy, playful song that epitomizes the 80s rock n roll genre. It explores themes of dominance and submission, while also celebrating the excitement and passion of a sexual relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
you know my baby talks dirty
My significant other is not afraid to use explicit language in conversation.
you know my baby she say hurt me hurt me
My significant other enjoys pain during physical intimacy and requests it.
uh uh my honey's not a sweet thing
My significant other is not like other girls who are considered 'sweet' due to her sexual preferences.
no no my sweetie loves a real neat beating
My significant other enjoys receiving physical force and violence during intimacy to induce pleasure.
i got to do it to her just right
I have to perform specific actions to satisfy my partner's sexual preferences.
she got to be in trouble all night
My partner wants to be in a state of danger or harm throughout the night during sexual encounters.
when she say do it to it do it to it do it to it yeah uh
My partner commands me to perform specific actions during sexual encounters.
you know my baby walks nasty
My significant other has a suggestive walk that implies sexual attraction and desire.
she take it slow but she's a a fasty
My partner enjoys engaging in sexual activities for long periods of time, despite a slow start.
my little lady like a licky
My significant other enjoys and is skilled at oral sex.
she do it good she make it oh so sticky
My partner is skilled at inducing orgasms and creates a mess during sexual activities.
she wanna keep our love a secret
My significant other wants our relationship to remain hidden or private from others.
i got to tame her make her my pet
I must establish dominance and control over my partner in order for our relationship to work.
you know my baby just too cool
My significant other is fashionable and possesses a 'cool' persona.
my little lady hated high-yi-yi school
My partner did not enjoy traditional education and found it unfulfilling.
my little pretty one is so fine
My partner is physically attractive.
she got the mouth and she got the time
My partner is skilled in oral sex and has plenty of time available for intimacy.
you know she's even got a girlfriend
My partner engages in romantic relationships with both men and women.
but i'm her loving backdoor man
I am her passionate and secret lover.
oh i got the whole control
I have complete control over my partner due to the nature of our sexual relationship.
oh she got the savage soul
My partner is passionate and wild in both personality and sexuality.
oh it's only rock and roll
Our sexual relationship is purely physical and not meant to be taken seriously by outsiders.
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NoPawn
One of the most underrated bands of all time. RIP Doug Feiger
Toyota Kawasaki
What makes you believe they're underrated?
Lukifer Gaming 05
@Toyota Kawasaki the rock and roll hall of fame is one of them and when the band was at their peak they overplayed My Sharona and never gave their other songs any attention
Davey Givens
@Toyota Kawasaki If they were appreciated as they should be, they'd be in the conversation with the Police, Motorhead, Van Halen, ...
StrimbuLand
Hahahahaha
Abe Lincoln
Let's see... they sold 10 million copies of Get the Knack. Hardly call that underrated.
Mrs LLP143
Who's listening in 2020? Never gets old....RIP Doug and Bruce
Craig Cricket
Graduated 1979. 2023 still listening
James Levens
I'm still listening in 2023!
Mrs LLP143
@Craig Cricket same