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.
Spiritual Pursuit
The Knack Lyrics
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I've been tryin' for so many years
To find a meaning in this vale of tears
Sometimes it's lonely sometimes it's tough
Sometimes I wonder if I'm strong enough
But I'll keep on holding on
Gonna find the answers that you can't refute
Gonna live my live in a spiritual pursuit
Met a girl in gorman and it lit the torch
So we read the bible on her dad's front porch
All my prayers were answered as the flame was burnt
If her daddy finds out I'm gonna wish they weren't
But I'll keep on rollin' on
No I'm never gonna stop until they carry me home
Sometimes temptation is blonde and cute
You meet all kinds in this spiritual pursuit
Tryin' to get to heaven takes a piece of discipline that I lack
It's long tough ride when you gotta decide on the keys to the kingdom or a shiny cadillac
As the days grow shorter and the lights grow dim
Will I see St. Peter wave a welcome in
Will I go to heaven only time will tell
But from now 'til then I'm gonna raise some hell
And I'll keep on rollin' on
No I'm never gonna stop until they carry me home
From here to heaven is a long commute
Gonna take my time in this spiritual pursuit
The Knack's song "Spiritual Pursuit" features lyrics that touch on themes of personal struggle, perseverance, and the pursuit of a deeper understanding of spirituality. Lead singer Doug Fieger explores the notion of trying to find meaning in a world that can often feel lonely and difficult to navigate. He admits that he wonders at times if he's strong enough to handle life's challenges.
Despite these doubts, Fieger asserts his determination to keep pushing forward and seeking answers to life's big questions. This drive takes on a spiritual dimension, as he avows his commitment to living a life of spiritual pursuit. Along the way, he encounters various temptations and obstacles, such as a girl he meets in Gorman who he is afraid might cause trouble with her father. However, Fieger is resolute in his desire to keep moving forward and not give up on his spiritual exploration.
Overall, "Spiritual Pursuit" is a heartfelt and introspective exploration of the human condition, as well as a testament to the power of perseverance and spiritual seeking. The lyrics are delivered with earnestness and passion, making for a powerful listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been tryin' for so many years
For years, I have been attempting to discover the purpose and significance of existence
To find a meaning in this vale of tears
To find meaning in a world full of sorrow and suffering
Sometimes it's lonely sometimes it's tough
Occasionally, the journey feels isolating and arduous
Sometimes I wonder if I'm strong enough
At times, I question whether I possess the strength to persevere
But I'll keep on holding on
Despite the challenges, I will persist
Gonna squeeze this life 'til the juice is gone
I will live every moment to its fullest potential
Gonna find the answers that you can't refute
I will discover truth that cannot be denied
Gonna live my live in a spiritual pursuit
I will dedicate my life to spiritual growth and understanding
Met a girl in gorman and it lit the torch
I met a girl and it sparked my spiritual journey
So we read the bible on her dad's front porch
Together, we read the Bible as a means of seeking truth
All my prayers were answered as the flame was burnt
My prayers were answered as my spiritual passion grew
If her daddy finds out I'm gonna wish they weren't
If her father discovers our spiritual exploration, there may be consequences
But I'll keep on rollin' on
Despite potential obstacles, I will continue to move forward
No I'm never gonna stop until they carry me home
I will persist in my spiritual journey until my life's end
Sometimes temptation is blonde and cute
Occasionally, temptation presents itself in the form of an attractive woman
You meet all kinds in this spiritual pursuit
In the pursuit of spiritual growth, one encounters a diverse array of individuals
Tryin' to get to heaven takes a piece of discipline that I lack
Achieving salvation requires a level of self-discipline that I struggle to attain
It's long tough ride when you gotta decide on the keys to the kingdom or a shiny cadillac
The journey to salvation is challenging when faced with the decision between eternal peace and material possessions
As the days grow shorter and the lights grow dim
As my life nears its end
Will I see St. Peter wave a welcome in
I wonder if I will be welcomed into heaven
Will I go to heaven only time will tell
Whether I will be saved is unknown
But from now 'til then I'm gonna raise some hell
Until that time comes, I will live life to the fullest
From here to heaven is a long commute
The distance between life on earth and eternal peace is great
Gonna take my time in this spiritual pursuit
I will not rush my spiritual growth, but instead embrace the journey
Contributed by Anthony L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.