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.
How Can Love Hurt So Much
The Knack Lyrics
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But nothing I say can make it true
How can love hurt so much
How can love make you cry
When we hunger for love's touch
Why do we even try
How can love cause such pain
Why do tears fill your eyes
Love is trust love's not a game
Love is life with a sigh (ah)
Why do I believe in
Dreams that don't come true
When the magic's over
What can you do
Why do I have to love her
Why can't it be another
Would it be easier with you
Tell me
The Knack's song "How Can Love Hurt So Much" expresses the conflicting emotions of someone who is trying to convince themselves that they don't want their lover anymore but are unable to let go of their love. The main idea conveyed in this song is about the pain and sorrow that love can bring to one's life even though everyone craves and yearns for it. The lyrics suggest that despite the lover's attempts to deny their feelings or suppress them, they are unable to do so. The chorus questions why love causes so much hurt and pain despite being something that people desire and try to pursue. The singer is pleading with his lover, asking for answers to the meaning of love, and how it can bring so much pain and heartache.
The Knack's "How Can Love Hurt So Much" provides a meaningful insight into the universal human experience of love and its complexities. The song describes the painful process of trying to let go of a loved one while still experiencing the intense feelings of love. It highlights the confusion and disillusionment that people feel when they find themselves caught in the trap of love. The singer questions the nature of love and its role in our lives, asking why it has the power to cause so much suffering and yet remain something that we constantly seek.
Line by Line Meaning
Convincing myself I don't want you
I try to tell myself that I don't want you in my life
But nothing I say can make it true
Despite all the words that come out of my mouth, none of it changes the fact that I do want you
How can love hurt so much
I don't understand how such a beautiful thing as love can cause so much pain
How can love make you cry
The thought of losing someone you love can make you cry
When we hunger for love's touch
We crave affection and to be loved by someone
Why do we even try
I wonder why we even bother trying to find love if it can bring so much pain
Please tell me
I'm asking for an explanation
How can love cause such pain
I want to know how love can cause so much hurt
Why do tears fill your eyes
When you love someone, the thought of losing them can make you cry
Love is trust love's not a game
Love is a bond built on trust and commitment, not a game to be played
Love is life with a sigh (ah)
Love is an integral part of life that makes us feel content and fulfilled
Why do I believe in
I question why I still believe
Dreams that don't come true
I hold on to dreams that may never become a reality
When the magic's over
Once the special feeling fades away
What can you do
There's nothing you can do to bring it back or make it last longer
Why do I have to love her
I wonder why I have to love her and why love can be so complicated
Why can't it be another
I wonder why I can't just love someone else instead
Would it be easier with you
I wonder if things would be easier if we were together
Tell me
I'm asking for an answer or an explanation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOUGLAS LARS FIEGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind