In 2000, Kentucky-born and Ohio-native country music artist Dwight Yoakam released his eleventh studio album called Tomorrow’s Sounds Today. The album contains a total of 14 songs in which 11 are self-written by Dwight Yoakam. One song in particular, “I Want You to Want Me“, was actually a revival hit from the rock band Cheap Trick. Originally, it is a power pop song with a rock twang in it. Later, Yoakam took the song and gave it a touch of country.
In addition, Dwight Yoakam‘s distinct sound produces a blend of country music, honky tonk, and bluegrass. He is known for his unique hip honky tonk music which he introduced in country music. Indeed, he is a well-loved artist for his God-given talent in music.
WATCH Dwight Yoakam’s version of “I Want You To Want Me” and its music video.
Original Version: Cheap Trick’s Top-selling Single
Released in September 1977, “I Want You to Want Me” is originally a power pop single by the American rock band Cheap Trick. The band’s primary songwriter and lead guitarist Rick Nielsen penned the song while record producer Tom Werman produced it for Epic Records. This three-minute song was the first single to be released on the band’s second album, In Color. However, the song, in particular, did not chart in the U.S.
Despite this, “I Want You to Want Me” became a popular song in East Asia especially in Japan where it charted no. 1. The success of this hit in Japan made the Cheap Trick go to the country at Nippon Budokan for a series of concerts. As a result, in 1978, the group recorded and released their most popular album, Cheap Trick at Budokan.
In 1979, Cheap Trick performed and released a live version of “I Want You to Want Me.” At this moment, the song took off and became the group’s biggest selling single. As a matter of fact, it entered music charts in eight countries. Its highest was at no. 1 in the two neighboring European countries, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the United States, the song peaked at no. 3 on the Cash Box Top 100 while no. 7 on Billboard Hot 100.
Selling more than 1 million records, “I Want You to Want Me” was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). So far, this was Cheap Trick’s top-charting single in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
In an interview, Tom Werman, the song producer, revealed something about the song. He explains:
“‘I Want You To Want Me’ was a fabulous dancehall type of song, and a perfect pop tune, and it was meant to be a little campy. I put the piano on—a guy named Jai Winding played it. And I remember asking the band what they thought of it, and Rick Nielsen kind of shrugged and said, ‘You’re the producer.'” Further: “It was a burlesque song, like a 30’s number. That is what they wrote it as.”
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Cheap Trick, Dwight Yoakam, I Want You To Want Me