It starts with that Rickenbacker. Two quick, crunchy chords. Then the drums kick in with a beat so simple a toddler could clap along, but so urgent it feels like a physical shove toward the dance floor. If you've spent more than five minutes at a wedding reception, a dive bar, or a baseball game in the last forty years, you know exactly what’s happening. What I Like About You by The Romantics isn't just a song anymore. It’s a permanent fixture of the atmosphere, like oxygen or cheap beer.
Funny thing is, it wasn't even a massive hit when it dropped in late 1979. It peaked at 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. Honestly, that’s kind of a failure by industry standards. But songs have lives of their own, and this one decided it was going to live forever in commercials, movies, and every "Greatest Hits" compilation ever pressed to vinyl.
The Detroit Power Pop Magic
The Romantics came out of Detroit, a city known for Motown and heavy rock like MC5. They didn't really fit either mold perfectly. They wore those red leather suits—which, let's be real, probably smelled terrible under stage lights—and channeled the British Invasion. Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, Rich Cole, and Jimmy Marinos weren't trying to reinvent the wheel. They just wanted to spin it faster.
When they recorded the self-titled album at Natty国内 Recording Studio, they captured something raw. Most people don't realize that the drummer, Jimmy Marinos, is actually the one singing lead on What I Like About You. Usually, the guy behind the kit is just keeping time. Here, he’s screaming with this raspy, frantic energy that makes the lyrics about "whispering in my ear" sound less like a romance novel and more like a high-speed chase.
The structure is basically a circle. It’s a three-chord wonder. E, A, and D. That’s it. You can learn to play it in about ten minutes if you have a guitar and a functioning index finger. But the simplicity is the point. It’s power pop in its purest form—high energy, short duration, and a hook that sticks to your brain like gum on a shoe.
Why the 80s Couldn't Kill It
By 1983, The Romantics had a much bigger radio hit with "Talking in Your Sleep." That song reached number three. It had the synthesizers and the polished production that defined the decade. Yet, if you ask a random person on the street to hum a Romantics tune, they aren't going to start humming the synth line from "Talking in Your Sleep." They’re going to mimic that harmonica solo from What I Like About You.
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The 1980s were full of overproduced tracks that sound dated now. This song escaped that trap because it was essentially a 60s garage rock song recorded with 80s clarity. It feels timeless. It’s been used in ads for everything from Budweiser to Barbie. Every time a marketing executive needs to signal "fun" or "youthful energy" without being too edgy, they reach for this track.
The Anatomy of a Hook
What makes it work? It’s the "Hey!"
Seriously. The backing vocals are doing a lot of heavy lifting. The "Tell me that I'm the only one / To keep me coming on" lines are fine, but the call-and-response bits are what get people shouting along in their cars. It creates a community. You aren't just listening to a song; you're participating in a three-minute party.
Then there’s the harmonica. It shows up late in the game. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s not a polite blues lick; it’s a piercing, joyful noise that signals the final sprint to the finish line. Most pop songs today are so quantized and corrected that they lose their soul. What I Like About You sounds like four guys in a room having a blast, and that’s a vibe you can't fake with software.
Misconceptions About the Lyrics
People think it’s a love song. Is it? Sorta.
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"Keep on whispering in my ear / Tell me all the things that I wanna hear / Cause that's what I like about you."
If you actually look at the words, it’s pretty superficial. It’s about the "whispering" and the "way you hold me tight." There’s no deep emotional resonance here. It’s about the physical rush of a new crush. It’s the sonic equivalent of a first date that goes really well. And honestly, that’s why it works at parties. Nobody wants to ponder the complexities of long-term commitment while they’re trying to do the Gator on a beer-slicked floor. They just want to feel the beat.
The Legal Drama You Didn't Know About
Success usually brings lawyers. In the mid-2000s, the song became the center of a pretty significant legal battle. The Romantics actually sued Activision over Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s. The game featured a cover version of What I Like About You that sounded almost exactly like the original.
The band wasn't happy. They argued that the cover was too close to their actual performance, potentially confusing fans into thinking the band had endorsed the game. They lost. The court basically said that since Activision had secured the rights to the song's composition, and the cover was clearly labeled, there was no infringement. It was a landmark moment for the gaming industry and music rights, proving that a "sound-alike" is legal as long as the paperwork is in order.
It’s a bit depressing, actually. It shows how the song has become a commodity. It’s a "brand" as much as it is a piece of art. But even that couldn't kill the song's spirit.
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Cultural Impact Beyond the Radio
- The Covers: Everyone from Poison to 5 Seconds of Summer has covered this song. The 5SOS version brought it to a whole new generation of teenagers in 2014, proving the melody is indestructible.
- The Movies: It’s been in Shrek 2, 13 Going on 30, and countless others. It’s the go-to "montage" song.
- The Stadiums: It is a staple of the "Jumbotron" era. When there’s a break in the action at a hockey game, this is what they play to keep the energy from dipping.
Real Talk: Is it "Good" Music?
Music critics sometimes turn their noses up at power pop. They want complex time signatures or brooding lyrics about the human condition. They want Radiohead. But there is a specific kind of genius in writing a song that is impossible to hate.
What I Like About You is a masterclass in economy. No wasted notes. No self-indulgent bridge. Just a relentless drive forward. If the goal of music is to evoke an immediate emotional response, then The Romantics succeeded more than almost any "serious" band of their era. They captured lightning in a bottle. They made a song that feels like a Saturday night, even if you're listening to it on a Tuesday morning in traffic.
It’s about the tension. The way the guitar stops for a split second before the "Hey!"—that’s classic songwriting. It builds a tiny bit of anticipation and then rewards the listener immediately. We're wired to like that. Our brains crave that resolution.
How to Listen Now
If you want to actually hear the song again—not just hear it in the background of a grocery store—put on some good headphones. Ignore the "greatest hits" version for a second and find the original 1979 album cut.
Listen to the bass line. It’s surprisingly busy. Rich Cole is doing a lot of melodic work under those chunky chords. Notice how thin the guitars actually sound; they aren't the wall-of-sound distortion you get in modern rock. They’re "jangly," a term people use to describe that 60s-inspired brightness. That’s the secret sauce. It leaves room for the vocals to breathe.
Actionable Takeaways for the Modern Listener
The song isn't just a relic. It’s a lesson in how to create something that lasts.
- Embrace Simplicity: If you’re a creator, remember that you don't need to be complicated to be effective. Three chords and a "Hey" can change your life.
- Energy Trumps Perfection: The recording has flaws. The vocals are a bit strained. The harmonica is chaotic. But the energy is 10/10, and that’s what people remember.
- Check Out the Genre: If you love this track, dive into "The Knack," "Cheap Trick," or "The Raspberries." This was a golden era of music where melody was king.
- Watch the Live Clips: Search for 1980-era live performances of The Romantics. Watching Jimmy Marinos sing while drumming at that tempo is a legitimate feat of athleticism.
The legacy of What I Like About You is simple: it’s the song that refuses to grow up. It stays nineteen years old forever. It’s sweaty, loud, and slightly obnoxious, which is exactly why we still love it. Next time it comes on, don't roll your eyes. Just lean into the "Hey!" and appreciate the fact that some things actually do stay fun.