Let’s be honest. If you close your eyes and think about the early 1980s, you probably hear a very specific synthesizer sound. It’s that chirpy, rhythmic pulse that defines New Wave. And right at the center of that neon-soaked musical map sits The Cars Shake It Up.
It’s a weird song when you actually look at it. Ric Ocasek, the lanky, enigmatic frontman of The Cars, was known for writing lyrics that felt like cryptic crossword puzzles. He usually gave us lines about "moving in stereo" or "candy-o" musings that felt detached and cool. Then, in 1981, he hands over a track that basically tells everyone to get on the dance floor and, well, shake it up.
Some fans at the time felt like the band was selling out. They’d gone from the edgy, art-rock vibes of their debut album to something that felt dangerously close to a disco floor filler. But here’s the thing: it worked. It didn’t just work; it became their first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four.
The Secret History of a "Simple" Dance Track
You might think "Shake It Up" was a quick cash-grab written to capitalize on the dance craze of the era. You’d be wrong. Ric Ocasek actually had the bones of this song sitting in a drawer for years. It was written long before the 1981 album Shake It Up was even a concept.
The band had tried to record it earlier, but it never felt right. It was too simple. Too straightforward. The Cars prided themselves on being the "smart" guys of the Boston scene. They liked layers. They liked irony.
It wasn't until producer Roy Thomas Baker—the same guy who worked on Queen’s "Bohemian Rhapsody"—pushed them to lean into the pop sensibilities that the song finally clicked. They stopped trying to make it complicated and just let it be a bop.
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Why the British Hated It (At First)
While America was falling in love with the catchy hook, the UK press was having a bit of a meltdown. Over there, The Cars were seen as these cool, intellectual icons of the "New Wave" movement. When "Shake It Up" dropped, British critics felt betrayed. They saw a song about dancing and "whirling your hair" as a retreat from the band's artistic peaks.
Honestly? They were overthinking it.
Bassist Benjamin Orr once mentioned in an interview that beneath the surface, the song was about making your mark on the world. It wasn't just about the dance floor; it was about the existential need to be noticed. "Let them know what you really mean," the lyrics say. That’s not just a party line. That’s a manifesto.
Breaking Down the Sound: More Than Just Synths
If you listen to the track today, the first thing that hits you is Greg Hawkes’ keyboard work. It’s bubbly. It’s infectious. But don’t ignore Elliot Easton’s guitar solo.
Easton is one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history. In "Shake It Up," he manages to cram a perfect, melodic, and technically proficient solo into a tiny window without ever stepping on the song's pop toes. It’s a masterclass in "playing for the song."
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- The Drum Beat: David Robinson used a mix of live drums and electronic triggers, creating a hybrid sound that felt futuristic in '81.
- The Vocals: Ric Ocasek’s delivery is famously deadpan. He’s singing about a wild party, but he sounds like he’s reading a grocery list. That contrast is exactly why it works. It’s "cool" personified.
- The Production: It was the last album Roy Thomas Baker produced for the band. He went out with a bang, creating a polished, "expensive" sound that jumped out of car radios.
The Cars Shake It Up in Modern Pop Culture
It’s funny how names repeat in history. If you’re a parent or a Gen Z reader, you might hear "Shake It Up" and think of the Disney Channel show starring Zendaya and Bella Thorne.
Believe it or not, there’s a weird bit of connective tissue there. Back in 2011, Disney used the stars of the Shake It Up TV show to promote the Pixar movie Cars 2. They did these "sneak peek" segments where the girls would talk about the movie. It’s a total coincidence of branding, but for a certain generation, the words "Cars" and "Shake It Up" are forever linked to a yellow McQueen and a dance studio in Chicago.
But the original song has a much longer tail. It shows up in movies like The Last American Virgin and continues to be a staple on classic rock radio and "80s Night" playlists at every bar from Boston to Berlin.
The Album That Changed Everything
The album itself wasn't just a one-trick pony. While the title track got all the glory, the record featured "Since You're Gone," which is arguably one of the best break-up songs of the decade. It also had "I'm Not the One," a moody, synth-heavy ballad that showed the band hadn't lost their soul.
The Shake It Up era represented the moment The Cars transitioned from being a "cool band from Boston" to being global superstars. They moved into their own studio, Syncro Sound, and started calling the shots.
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What You Can Learn From The Cars Today
There’s a lesson in the success of "Shake It Up" for anyone in a creative field. Sometimes, you have to stop over-editing your work.
The band sat on that song for years because they thought it was "too simple." If they had never released it, they might never have reached the heights of Heartbeat City a few years later. They needed that pop breakthrough to buy them the freedom to experiment later.
Actionable Next Steps for Music Fans:
- Listen to the 1981 original: Put on a pair of good headphones and focus on the panning of the synthesizers. It’s a 20th-century production marvel.
- Watch the music video: It’s a classic 80s time capsule featuring the band in a "nightclub" that looks suspiciously like a soundstage, complete with quirky characters and neon lights.
- Check out the B-sides: Look for the track "Cruiser." It’s a darker, more aggressive song sung by Benjamin Orr that shows the "other side" of the Shake It Up recording sessions.
- Explore the legacy: If you like this sound, check out modern bands like The Killers or The Strokes. You can hear the DNA of Ric Ocasek’s songwriting in almost everything they do.
The Cars didn't just write a dance song. They wrote a blueprint for how to be popular without losing your dignity. They proved that you can "shake it up" and still be the coolest guys in the room.