A haunting melody and poignant lyrics made "Drive" more than just a hit; it became the soundtrack to a global moment of empathy.
The Song
"Drive" is a melancholic ballad by American rock band The Cars, released on July 23, 1984, as the third single from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (released March 12, 1984). Written by frontman Ric Ocasek, the song notably features bassist Benjamin Orr on lead vocals, a departure from Ocasek's usual vocal duties. Ocasek specifically chose Orr for the track, believing his smoother, more vulnerable voice was better suited to convey the song's emotional depth, which deals with themes of concern for someone in personal decline.
The production, helmed by Robert John "Mutt" Lange alongside The Cars, gave "Drive" its distinctive polished, synth-driven sound, characterized by multi-layered synthesizers and programmed drums that create an atmospheric and almost dreamlike quality. Its minimalist instrumentation puts Orr's emotive vocal delivery at the forefront, amplifying the poignancy of lyrics like "Who's gonna pick you up when you fall?" and "Who's gonna drive you home tonight?".
The Artist
The Cars emerged from Boston in the late 1970s, quickly becoming pioneers of the new wave sound. Comprised of Ric Ocasek (vocals, guitar), Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass), Elliot Easton (guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), and David Robinson (drums), the band skillfully blended punk minimalism with pop melodies and synth-rock elements. Their self-titled debut album in 1978 established their unique style and garnered early hits like "Just What I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl".
While Ocasek was the primary songwriter, Benjamin Orr's vocals were integral to many of their hits, including "Just What I Needed," "Let's Go," and "Drive." Orr's warm and earnest vocal style provided a compelling counterpoint to Ocasek's more detached delivery, adding another dimension to the band's dynamic. "Drive" showcases Orr's vocal talent, which is often considered one of his signature performances.
Chart Performance
"Drive" was a massive commercial success for The Cars, becoming their highest-charting single in most territories. In the United States, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and impressively topped the Adult Contemporary chart in September 1984. The song spent 19 weeks on the Hot 100, solidifying its place as one of the defining ballads of the era.
Internationally, the song also performed exceptionally well. It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart upon its initial release in 1984. Following its poignant use at Live Aid in 1985, "Drive" re-entered the UK chart, climbing to an even higher peak of number four in August of that year. It also achieved top ten positions in other countries, reaching number four in West Germany, number six in Canada, and number three in Ireland.
Cultural Impact
The cultural impact of "Drive" was significantly amplified by its association with the Live Aid concert on July 13, 1985. While The Cars performed the song live at the Philadelphia event, it was its use as the soundtrack to a harrowing montage of footage depicting the Ethiopian famine, introduced by David Bowie during the London broadcast, that cemented its iconic status. This powerful visual pairing deeply moved viewers worldwide, prompting a significant surge in donations to famine relief.
The song's melancholic tone and questioning lyrics, such as "Who's gonna drive you home tonight?", resonated deeply with the images of human suffering, turning "Drive" into a symbol of compassion and global awareness. Proceeds from its re-release in the UK after Live Aid, which re-entered the charts at number four, were donated to the Band Aid Trust, raising approximately £160,000 for the charity. This moment ensured "Drive" transcended its pop hit status to become an enduring anthem of humanitarian concern.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "Drive" was directed by actor Timothy Hutton, who had won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Ordinary People (1980) just a few years prior. Hutton, a neighbor of The Cars' manager, expressed his admiration for the song and was subsequently asked to direct the video.
- The video features then-19-year-old Czech-American model Paulina Porizkova as an emotionally distraught woman, whose scenes alternate with those of Benjamin Orr in a disused nightclub.
- Paulina Porizkova met Ric Ocasek during the filming of the "Drive" video in 1984. They later married in 1989 and remained together until Ocasek's death in 2019.
- The raw footage used for the Live Aid famine montage, set to "Drive," was edited by a CBC videotape editor while listening to the song on a Sony Walkman.
- David Bowie was so moved by the Ethiopian famine footage that he offered to cut one of his own songs from his Live Aid set to ensure the "Drive" montage would be shown during the broadcast.
- Paul McCartney cited "Drive" as an influence on the sound he was aiming for on his 1986 album, Press to Play.