Junior Rasmussen
What I Like About You is a song by American rock band The Romantics, released in 1980. It is considered their most famous song, despite not charting on the American Top 40. The song has been covered by several artists, including Michael Morales, Lillix, and 5 Seconds of Summer. While the song did not initially chart, it gained popularity after being featured in a Budweiser commercial and has since become recognized as one of the most memorable rock and '80s songs. The song's upbeat and catchy tune, along with its romantic lyrics, make it a popular choice for weddings and love-themed playlists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Song Name | "What I Like About You" |
| Artist | The Romantics |
| Genre | Rock |
| Album | The Romantics |
| Year of Release | 1980 |
| Writers | Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos |
| Lead Vocalist | Jimmy Marinos |
| Notable Covers | 5 Seconds of Summer, Poison, Lillix, Michael Morales |
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What You'll Learn
- What I Like About You is considered The Romantics' most famous song?
- The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill and Jimmy Marinos
- The song's Hey, uh-huh-huh refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds' Over Under Sideways Down
- The song was covered by the American rock band Poison in 2007
- The song was also covered by the Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer
What I Like About You is considered The Romantics' most famous song
"What I Like About You" is a song by American rock band The Romantics, released in December 1979 as the lead single from their 1980 self-titled debut album. The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos, with the latter also serving as the lead vocalist. Despite receiving moderate success initially, the song gained newfound popularity after being licensed for use in television commercials for Budweiser beer towards the end of the 1980s. It has since become one of the most memorable rock anthems of all time and is considered The Romantics' most famous song.
The song's popularity can be attributed to its catchy guitar riff and the band's performance video, which received frequent airplay on MTV during the early 1980s. "What I Like About You" has been described as conveying the simplicity of '50s music while incorporating influences from bands like The Animals, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. The song's signature "Hey, uh-huh-huh" refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds' "Over Under Sideways Down" and Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A.".
While "What I Like About You" did not chart on the American Top 40, it peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was most successful in Australia, reaching number two on the Australian Singles Chart and becoming the 13th most successful single for 1980. Over the years, it has become a fixture at sporting events, bars, nightclubs, and celebrations, solidifying its status as The Romantics' most famous song.
The song has been covered by various artists, including Michael Morales in 1989, Lillix in 2003 for the Freaky Friday soundtrack, and 5 Seconds of Summer for their 2014 self-titled debut album and EP "She Looks So Perfect." The Romantics' original version of "What I Like About You" continues to be beloved by fans and is recognised as a defining rock anthem of the 1980s.
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The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill and Jimmy Marinos
"What I Like About You" is a song by American rock band The Romantics, released in December 1979 as the lead single from their 1980 self-titled debut album. The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos.
Palmar, the band's lead singer and guitarist, was one of the primary songwriters for the band, alongside Skill. The song was written around a guitar part by Skill, who was the band's original lead guitarist and vocalist. The song's "Hey, uh-huh-huh" refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds' "Over Under Sideways Down" and Chuck Berry's "Back in the U.S.A.". The song's riff also bears similarities to other songs from the same era.
Marinos, the band's drummer, is the lead vocalist on "What I Like About You." All four band members were singers, and they would alternate singing leads on songs. The straightforward beat of "What I Like About You" lent itself to Marinos taking the vocals. The song was one of the band's first big hits and it helped to establish them in the music industry.
Skill left the band in 1980 after the release of the album "National Breakout." He was replaced by lead guitarist Coz Canler. However, Skill later returned to the band, taking over as the bassist. The Romantics continue to perform sold-out shows and work on new albums, with Palmar, Skill, and drummer Brad Elvis as part of the current lineup.
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The song's Hey, uh-huh-huh refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds' Over Under Sideways Down
"What I Like About You" is a song by the American rock band The Romantics. It was released in December 1979 as the lead single from their 1980 self-titled debut album. The song is considered The Romantics' most famous song, despite not charting on The American Top 40. It did, however, peak at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's "Hey, uh-huh-huh" refrain was influenced by the Yardbirds' "Over Under Sideways Down".
"Over Under Sideways Down" is a song by the English rock band The Yardbirds, released in May 1966. It became the band's fifth single to reach the UK top 10 chart, peaking at number 10. In Canada, it reached number 5, and in the US, it reached number 13. The song is included on many anthologies, such as The Yardbirds Greatest Hits (1967) and Ultimate! (2001).
The Yardbirds were formed in London in 1963 and are known for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. They had a string of hits in the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things", and "Over Under Sideways Down". The band's music evolved from blues-based rock to pop, psychedelic rock, and early hard rock, and they contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s.
"Over Under Sideways Down" is described by Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty as "about the situation of having a good time – a bit of decadence, really – in the ‘60s. Cars and girls are easy to come by in this day and age, and laughing, drinking, smoking, whatever, till I’ve spent my wages, having fun." The song's lyrics reflect this theme of enjoying life and indulging in the pleasures it has to offer.
Thus, the influence of "Over Under Sideways Down" on the "Hey, uh-huh-huh" refrain in "What I Like About You" by The Romantics can be seen as a nod to the carefree and indulgent spirit of the 1960s that The Yardbirds captured in their music.
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The song was covered by the American rock band Poison in 2007
"What I Like About You" is a song by the American rock band The Romantics, initially released in December 1979 as the lead single from their 1980 self-titled debut album. The song is considered The Romantics' most famous song, despite not charting on The American Top 40. It did, however, peak at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos, with Marinos, the band's drummer, also serving as the lead vocalist.
Poison's 2007 cover of "What I Like About You" is a testament to the enduring appeal of the original song by The Romantics. By including it on their cover album, Poison helped introduce the song to a new generation of listeners and showcased its timeless quality. The song's upbeat and catchy vibe, along with its memorable lyrics, have made it a favourite among fans of both the original and the cover versions.
The song has a simple and catchy guitar riff, reminiscent of the '50s music that influenced The Romantics. The band also drew inspiration from artists such as The Animals, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. The Romantics' unique blend of old and new created a signature sound that Poison's cover respectfully pays homage to.
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The song was also covered by the Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer
"What I Like About You" is a song by the American rock band The Romantics, released in December 1979 as the lead single from their 1980 self-titled debut album. The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill, and Jimmy Marinos, with Marinos, the band's drummer, also serving as the lead vocalist. The song is considered The Romantics' most famous song, despite not charting on the American Top 40. It is known for its "Hey, uh-huh-huh" refrain, influenced by songs like "Over Under Sideways Down" by the Yardbirds and "Back in the U.S.A." by Chuck Berry.
The 5 Seconds of Summer version of the song features a similar structure to the original, with some variations in the lyrics. The cover art for their version of the song includes a photo of the band members, with the title "What I Like About You" in a simple font across the bottom. The song was performed live by the band at the 2014 American Music Awards on November 23, 2014, prior to its official release. They also performed the song on Good Morning America on August 21, 2015, to promote their new single "She's Kinda Hot."
The lyrics of the 5 Seconds of Summer version include lines such as "That's what I like about you (What I like about you)/You hold me tight/Tell me I'm the only one/Wanna come over tonight?" and "Keep on whispering in my ear/Tell me all the things that I wanna hear/'Cause it's true, that's what I like about you." The song's structure includes an intro, verse, chorus, post-chorus, and instrumental break.
Overall, the 5 Seconds of Summer cover of "What I Like About You" helped introduce a new generation to this classic rock song, showcasing the band's interpretation while paying homage to the original by The Romantics.
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Frequently asked questions
Most wedding bands perform 2 sets of 45 minutes or 1 hour, meaning they perform roughly 30-40 covers in total.
Most bands will advise against providing them with a list of songs completely dictated by the client. Experienced bands know which songs will complement your preferences and the order in which to perform them. They also need some leeway to "read the room" and decide which songs to perform at which moments.
Some popular first dance songs include "How Long Will I Love You" by Ellie Goulding, "At Last" by Etta James, "All of Me" by John Legend, and "Do Friends Fall in Love?" by Rachael and Vilray.
