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.
Hold On Tight And Don't Let Go
The Knack Lyrics
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you gotta rock me give me shivers tonight
you gotta hold on tight and don't let go
treat a me real nice
you gotta kiss me when you turn out the lights
you gotta hold on tight and don't let go
don't leave don't make me lonely
if you don't love a me only
our love will die
say that say that you love me
tell me you're mine
i pray to heaven above me
true love will shine
The Knack's song Hold On Tight And Don't Let Go is a romantic yet upbeat track, with lyrics that implore a lover to make the singer feel alive and hold on tight to keep their love. The song talks about the various ways a person can express love in a relationship, such as treating them nice, kissing them goodnight, and making them feel special. The lyrics emphasize the importance of physical touch and emotional connection to keep a relationship strong. The chorus, "you gotta hold on tight and don't let go," acts as a refrain, underscoring the message of the song.
The lyrics also speak to the fear of being left alone or abandoned in a relationship. The fear of loneliness is evident when the singer says, "don't leave, don't make me lonely," and "if you don't love me only, our love will die." This fear of abandonment is something that many people feel in relationships, and the song expresses this sentiment in a relatable and heartfelt way.
In conclusion, the song Hold On Tight And Don't Let Go is a joyful celebration of love, touching on the many ways that a person can express affection and connection with their significant other. The singer encourages their lover to hold on tight and never let go, underscoring the importance of physical and emotional intimacy in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
make a me feel right
To make me feel good and happy
you gotta rock me give me shivers tonight
You have to excite me and give me goosebumps tonight with your love and affection
you gotta hold on tight and don't let go
You must grip me tightly and never let go of me
treat a me real nice
You must treat me well and with respect
you gotta kiss me when you turn out the lights
You have to give me a goodnight kiss and show me how much you love me before we go to bed
you gotta hold on tight and don't let go
You must grip me tightly and never let go of me
don't leave don't make me lonely
Please don't abandon me and leave me feeling sad and desolate
don't say goodbye
Don't bid farewell and leave me behind
if you don't love a me only
If you don't love, cherish, and respect only me
our love will die
Our love will gradually diminish and decay
say that say that you love me
Tell me that you love me and show me how much you love me every day
tell me you're mine
Confirm that you are mine and no one else's
i pray to heaven above me
I beseech the divine powers above me for a happy and long-lasting relationship
true love will shine
Genuine love will always shine bright and outlast any obstacles or hardships
Contributed by Benjamin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.