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.
I Knew the Bride
The Knack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well the bride looks a picture in the gown that her mama wore
When she was married herself nearly 27 years before
They had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
Stayed up all night but thet got it finished just in time
(Now on the arm of her daddy she's walkin' down the isle)
(I see her catch my eye and give me a secret smile)
(Oh but the way that she looks today) she never could have then
(Well I could see her now in her tight blue jeans)
(Pumping all her money in the record machine)
(Spinnin' like a top, you should have seen her go)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
Well a proud daddy only wanna give his little girl the best
So he put down a grand on a coze little lovers nest
You could have called the reception an unqualified success
Had a flash hotel for 150 guests
(Well take a look at the bridegroom smilin' pleased as pie)
(Shakin' hands all around with a glassy look it his eye)
(He got a real good job and his shirt and tie is nice)
(But I remember a time when she never would have looked at him twice)
(Well I can see her now, drinkin' with the boys)
(Breakin' their hearts like playin' with toys)
(She used to do the pony, used to do the stroll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(harmonica solo)
(Well I can see her now with her walkman on)
(Jumpin' up and down to her favorite song)
(I still remember when she used to want to make a lot of noise)
(Hopin' and a-boppin' with the street corner boys)
(She used to wanna party, she used to wanna go)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride) when she used to do the pony
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
(I knew the bride) when she used to wanna party
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The Knack's "I Knew the Bride" is a nostalgic tune that tells the story of a bride-to-be who is walking down the aisle with her father, wearing the same wedding gown that her mother wore decades before. Although they were close friends before, the groom is now just an acquaintance to the singer, who looks back at a time when the bride used to "rock and roll." The song reminisces about the bride's past, when she used to be carefree and wild, and how much she's changed since then, settling down into a more traditional life.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a time long gone, when the bride used to dance in tight blue jeans and stakes all her money on the record machine. The groom is a successful businessman, while the bride used to hang out with the boys and break their hearts. Despite her transformation, the singer still has fond memories of her wild days and her desire to make a lot of noise. The song is ultimately a celebration of the girl that once was, and her transformation into a wife and mother.
Overall, "I Knew the Bride" is a wistful song that celebrates the past and mourns its loss. It's a catchy tune that is sure to get stuck in your head and make you wish for simpler times.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the bride looks a picture in the gown that her mama wore
The bride looks beautiful in the dress that her mother wore on her wedding day.
When she was married herself nearly 27 years before
The mother wore the dress nearly 27 years ago when she got married to the father.
They had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
The dress had to be altered to fit the modern style but it still looked good.
Stayed up all night but thet got it finished just in time
They worked hard all night to finish the dress before the wedding.
(Now on the arm of her daddy she's walkin' down the isle)
The bride is walking down the aisle with her father by her side.
(I see her catch my eye and give me a secret smile)
The singer sees the bride smile at him secretly.
(Maybe it's too old fashioned but a-we once were close friends)
The singer feels that it might be old-fashioned to feel something for an old friend.
(Oh but the way that she looks today) she never could have then
The artist thinks that the bride looks beautiful today and never looked like this before.
(Well I could see her now in her tight blue jeans)
The artist remembers seeing the bride in her tight blue jeans.
(Pumping all her money in the record machine)
The bride spent all her money playing music on the jukebox.
(Spinnin' like a top, you should have seen her go)
The bride danced energetically like a spinning top.
(Well a proud daddy only wanna give his little girl the best)
The father of the bride wants to give the best to his daughter on her wedding day.
(So he put down a grand on a coze little lovers nest)
The father spent a lot of money on a comfortable hotel room for the newlyweds.
(You could have called the reception an unqualified success)
The reception was a huge success and everyone enjoyed it.
(Had a flash hotel for 150 guests)
The reception was held in an expensive hotel with room for 150 guests.
(Well take a look at the bridegroom smilin' pleased as pie)
The groom is happy and smiling widely at the reception.
(Shakin' hands all around with a glassy look it his eye)
The groom is shaking hands with everyone but seems a bit drunk.
(He got a real good job and his shirt and tie is nice)
The groom has a good job and is well-dressed in a nice shirt and tie.
(But I remember a time when she never would have looked at him twice)
The singer remembers a time when the bride wouldn't have paid attention to the groom.
(Well I can see her now, drinkin' with the boys)
The artist remembers seeing the bride drinking and having fun with her male friends.
(Breakin' their hearts like playin' with toys)
The bride used to break hearts like playing with toys.
(She used to do the pony, used to do the stroll)
The bride used to dance the Pony and the Stroll.
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
The singer knew the bride when she used to dance and party.
(Well I can see her now with her walkman on)
The artist remembers seeing the bride listening to music on her Walkman.
(Jumpin' up and down to her favorite song)
The bride was happily jumping up and down to her favorite song.
(I still remember when she used to want to make a lot of noise)
The singer remembers when the bride used to want to make a lot of noise and have fun.
(Hopin' and a-boppin' with the street corner boys)
The bride used to hang out with the street corner boys and dance with them.
(She used to wanna party, she used to wanna go)
The bride used to love partying and going out.
(I knew the bride) when she used to do the pony
The artist remembers the bride dancing the Pony.
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
The singer knew the bride when she used to dance and party.
(I knew the bride) when she used to wanna party
The singer remembers the bride loving to party.
(I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll)
The artist knew the bride when she used to dance and party.
Contributed by Camilla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.