Get ready to rewind to the '80s with The Cars' quirky and unforgettable hit, "Tonight She Comes."
The Song
"Tonight She Comes" is a quintessential New Wave track by American rock band The Cars, released as a single in October 1985. It was the lead single from their Greatest Hits album and was one of two new songs featured on the compilation, alongside a remixed version of "I'm Not the One". Written by lead singer and guitarist Ric Ocasek, the song showcases The Cars' signature blend of catchy pop hooks, polished production, and a driving rock rhythm.
The song is characterized by its straightforward F major diatonic structure and features a memorable guitar solo by Elliot Easton. Easton's solo was so notable that it was transcribed by Steve Vai in the February 1986 issue of Guitar Player magazine, where Easton discussed the custom-made Kramer guitar he used for it. AllMusic critic Greg Prato described the track as "playful," while Tim Sendra called it "definitely essential."
The Artist
The Cars formed in Boston in 1976 and quickly became pioneers of the New Wave movement, effectively blending 70s guitar rock with the emerging synth-pop sounds of the early 80s. The band's classic lineup consisted of Ric Ocasek (vocals, rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), and David Robinson (drums). Their distinctive sound, marked by Ocasek's often deadpan vocals and Orr's ethereal harmonies, set them apart.
Throughout their career, The Cars achieved significant commercial and critical success, including being named "Best New Artist" in the 1978 Rolling Stone Readers' Poll. They were known for their ability to craft infectious melodies and sharp guitar riffs, producing numerous hits that became staples on both rock radio and MTV. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Chart Performance
"Tonight She Comes" was a significant commercial success for The Cars, becoming their fourth and final Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It debuted on the US Billboard charts in December 1985 and ultimately peaked at number 7 in January 1986.
The song also achieved widespread acclaim on rock radio, hitting number one on the Top Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for three weeks. Internationally, the single performed well, reaching number 16 in Australia and number 20 in New Zealand.
Cultural Impact
The music video for "Tonight She Comes" played a crucial role in the song's popularity, receiving heavy rotation on MTV. The video, directed by Jeff Stein, is notable for its playful and quirky visuals, contributing to The Cars' established reputation for innovative and engaging music videos. Its success further solidified the band's status as MTV darlings, following their "Video of the Year" win for "You Might Think" at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984.
Lyrically, the song features a classic Ric Ocasek double entendre, with the title open to interpretation. As Elliot Easton famously quipped, "It doesn't actually say that she reaches orgasm. It could mean that tonight she's coming over to make popcorn." This subtle suggestiveness, combined with the band's distinctive new wave and pop rock sound, cemented "Tonight She Comes" as a memorable track of the mid-1980s.
Fun Facts
- Ric Ocasek originally intended to save "Tonight She Comes" for a solo album but instead brought it to The Cars as a standalone single.
- The elaborate guitar solo by Elliot Easton took four weeks to compose and record, allowing him ample time to craft its "dense" sound.
- The music video for "Tonight She Comes" was directed by Jeff Stein, who also directed Huey Lewis and the News' video for "Doing It All for My Baby" and Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More".
- The model in the video, Tara Shannon, was cast through her modeling agency, Elite, and stated that "rock wasn't my genre of music," preferring R&B instead.
- During the video shoot, a cameraman reportedly lost his lunch on the half-moon railroad track used for panning shots of the band.