Just What I Needed

I'm going to cheat a bit here with "Just What I Needed" by the Cars.  The song was released in 1978, so it is shy of the '80s by just 2 years.  It has that distinctive Cars sound, though, and they were pretty popular in the '80s.  So, I think it's okay.  I've heard this song many times on "Nights with Alice Cooper," and it always cheers me up.  I hate to say it is "cheery" or "cheerful" because it is a rock song after all, but...  Well, it's just what I needed -- especially after a bad day.  This song should make everyone feel recharged and rejuvenated with its kickin' guitar lines and totally "new wave" keyboard licks.  Funny to think that I was kind of scared of the Cars when they came out with videos, but this song is a classic, and I am perfectly happy listening to it on the radio.

I had forgotten that a while back I read about the song being sampled in "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne.  That song really cracks me up -- although it does have some enviable harmonies.  The video is hysterical and has bits of '80s pop culture -- namely the "fantasy scene" at the end which is reminiscent of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."  If you have never seen that movie, check it out.  If you have -- go watch it again!  Kudos to Rachel Hunter, too, because she does look pretty amazing in this video.  To think she had all those kids with Rod Stewart and still looks great -- wow.  Okay, it's actually only two children.  Guess he just has tons with a few different ladies.  No problem -- he's Rod Stewart, so he can have as many kids as he likes in my opinion.  He's a winner with the ladies.  Anyway, I digress.  I hope you'll enjoy both of these songs.  I'm not sure exactly what all the lyrics in "Just What I Needed" mean -- especially in the chorus when they sing "I needed someone to bleed."  Yeah, I have no idea.  But I do like the line "you look so fancy I can tell."  Pretty awesome.  Gotta look fancy!  Enjoy!