This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Cheap Trick's "Tonight It's You"
Wednesday September 20, 2006
The difficult-to-categorize Cheap Trick, though still active more than 30 years after its founding, has always been and probably will always be recognized as a '70s rock band that uniquely combined power pop and hard rock. That's partially because the '80s were largely quite unkind to the band, through a series of spotty, uncertain records and a somewhat embarrassing though successful comeback album, 1988's Lap of Luxury. However, there is one particularly shining exception to the band's '80s struggles, and it's well worth remembering.The transcendent pop of "Tonight It's You", which is pretty much the only memorable track from 1985's forgettable Standing on the Edge, stands head and shoulders above most '80s pop rock in terms of chord progression alone. Beyond that, lead singer Robin Zander delivers a vocal performance that, like Cheap Trick's best work, bridges eras of rock music effortlessly. And most importantly, the song's chorus is simply one of the most delightful in the 40-plus years of rock music produced since the Beatles hit. This one really makes you want to extinguish "The Flame."
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Epic
Comments
LOVE that song!
I remember taping Cheap Trick when they were on the radio program Rockline and playing this song over and over. I finally got it on CD recently. Several other worthy cuts on this CD, but TIY is worthy of this praise.
Just stumbled across this . I would agree wholeheartedly , this is a gem …. and more importantly a GREAT live singalong song . To be down the front with other manic Trick fans and blasting the lines back at the band is worth whatever price paid to see the band that night .
well done for recognizing a Trick Treat
I remember when this came out. I thought it was easily the best song I heard in ‘85, despite the relatively incomprehensible video (which is where I encountered it. No radio play, naturally). Those awesome power chords in the bridge can still get me on my feet, and Zander, to me, is, vocally, at his all-time best here.