My Sharona
"My Sharona" is a rock song by the American band The Knack, released in June 1979 as the lead single from their debut studio album Get the Knack. Written by lead singer Doug Fieger and guitarist Berton Averre, the track was inspired by Sharona Alperin, a 17-year-old clothing store clerk whom Fieger met in 1978 and began dating, with the lyrics capturing his intense attraction to her. Featuring a driving rhythm, stuttering guitar riff, and Fieger's urgent vocals, the song propelled The Knack to instant fame and became one of the defining hits of the late 1970s power pop revival.[1][2][3] The song quickly climbed the charts, entering the Billboard Hot 100 on June 23, 1979, and reaching number one on August 25, where it remained for six consecutive weeks, marking The Knack's only chart-topping single. Certified gold by the RIAA on August 16, 1979, for sales of one million copies, "My Sharona" ultimately sold over four million units in the United States and was named Billboard's biggest-selling single of the year. Its rapid success mirrored the album Get the Knack, which sold 500,000 copies in just 13 days and also hit number one, making The Knack Capitol Records' fastest-selling debut act since The Beatles. Alperin herself appeared on the single's cover art, dressed in a tank top and jeans, which further cemented her association with the song's iconic image.[2][4][5] Beyond its commercial peak, "My Sharona" has endured as a cultural touchstone, frequently covered, parodied, and sampled in media, including a notable re-release in 1994 for the soundtrack of the film Reality Bites, which propelled it back to number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's raw energy and themes of youthful lust influenced subsequent power pop acts and solidified The Knack's place in rock history, despite the band's challenges in replicating the hit's success. Fieger and Alperin's relationship lasted nearly four years, and she remained a supportive figure in his life until his death from cancer in 2010. It has sold over 10 million copies worldwide as of 2010.[2][1]Background and composition
Inspiration
In 1978, The Knack's lead singer and guitarist Doug Fieger became infatuated with 17-year-old Sharona Alperin, whom he met while shopping at a clothing boutique in Los Angeles.[6] Fieger, aged 25 at the time, was introduced to Alperin by his then-girlfriend Judy, and he pursued her romantically despite her initially being in a relationship with someone else.[7] Alperin, a dark-haired beauty working as a sales assistant, captured Fieger's attention and became the direct muse for the song, serving as both its namesake and central subject as he channeled his attraction into the lyrics.[2] Fieger later recalled that meeting Alperin ignited a two-month burst of songwriting creativity, with "My Sharona" emerging as the most prominent result of his obsession.[8] The track's iconic riff originated from guitarist Berton Averre, who brought it to one of the band's initial rehearsals in Los Angeles, where the group was honing their sound after forming in 1978.[9] Following the session, Averre and Fieger refined the music and title at Fieger's apartment, with Fieger improvising the stuttering vocal hook—"M-m-m-my Sharona"—directly inspired by Alperin, transforming the riff into a complete song about his desire.[9] This collaborative spark during The Knack's formative rehearsals laid the foundation for what would become their breakthrough hit.[10]Music and lyrics
"My Sharona" features a driving guitar riff composed by guitarist Berton Averre, which serves as the song's signature hook and was developed over several months before being finalized.[11] The track is written in the key of G Dorian, contributing to its energetic and slightly modal rock flavor, with a tempo of 148 beats per minute that propels its fast-paced rhythm.[12][13] The song embodies power pop and new wave styles, drawing from 1960s rock influences such as The Beatles and British Invasion acts, while emphasizing tight, hook-driven arrangements with prominent guitars and drums.[10] The composition follows a classic verse-chorus structure, opening with an extended instrumental intro that layers a drum hook over the main guitar riff to build tension.[14] Verses alternate with choruses featuring the iconic stuttering vocal hook—"M-m-m-my Sharona"—delivered by lead singer Doug Fieger, which repeats and intensifies for catchiness, supported by backing vocals and guitar fills. A bridge provides a brief breakdown with rhythmic shifts and instrumental interplay, leading into multiple choruses and solos that maintain the song's momentum through additional hooks, including end-of-line riffs and repetitive phrases.[14] Lyrically, "My Sharona" explores themes of obsessive desire and sexual frustration from the perspective of an infatuated narrator fixated on a young woman named Sharona.[8] Key lines such as "Ooh, my little pretty one, my pretty one / When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?" and "such a dirty mind / I always get it up for the touch of the younger kind" convey a mix of admiration and urgent longing, using metaphors like a "motor run" to symbolize arousal.[8][3] The repetitive chorus amplifies this obsession, mirroring the narrator's insistent pleas.[15] The song's arrangement and riff have been compared to The Who's "Baba O'Riley" for their shared frenetic energy and synthesizer-like guitar lines, aligning with The Knack's stated influences from 1960s and early 1970s rock bands like The Who and The Kinks.[16][11] This hook-oriented approach, completed in about 15 minutes once the riff and lyrics clicked, underscores the track's immediate, visceral appeal.[11]Production
Recording
The recording of "My Sharona" took place in April 1979 at MCA Whitney Studios in Glendale, California, under the production of Mike Chapman.[6] The sessions for the band's debut album Get the Knack, of which the track was a key component, were completed in just 11 days, reflecting Chapman's approach to capturing the group's raw, live performance energy with minimal intervention.[10] The band, consisting of guitars, bass, and drums, employed no synthesizers, prioritizing a straightforward rock setup that emphasized tight interplay and immediacy over layered production. The basic track for "My Sharona" was captured on the second day of recording in a single take following a few run-throughs, allowing the ensemble—drummer Bruce Gary, bassist Prescott Niles, rhythm guitarist Doug Fieger, and lead guitarist Berton Averre—to deliver a cohesive performance that mirrored their stage dynamic. Overdubs were limited primarily to a few guitar parts, including multi-tracking on the iconic riff to enhance its punchy, driving quality, and backing vocals, with engineer David Tickle joining the band for the latter to add choral depth without diluting the track's intensity.[10] Fieger's lead vocals were recorded with a raw, urgent delivery, featuring punch-ins for precision but retaining an unpolished edge that contributed to the song's visceral appeal.[17] Challenges during the process were minimal due to the band's preparedness, though Chapman focused on refining the demo's structure to make the song more radio-friendly, insisting on its hit potential from the outset and streamlining the arrangement to heighten its rhythmic propulsion.[10] This efficient workflow, with Chapman essentially pressing record and letting the group play live, preserved the track's high-energy essence while ensuring technical clarity through the studio's 24-track facilities.[7]Personnel
The personnel for "My Sharona" primarily consisted of the four members of The Knack, who handled all major instrumental and vocal contributions without significant reliance on session musicians, underscoring the band's tight, self-sufficient sound on their debut album Get the Knack.[10][18]- Doug Fieger – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, co-writer[18][3]
- Berton Averre – lead guitar, backing vocals, co-writer[18][3]
- Prescott Niles – bass guitar[18]
- Bruce Gary – drums[18]
Release
Artwork
The artwork for the "My Sharona" single features a photograph of Sharona Alperin, the woman who inspired the song, posed against a plain gray background while holding a copy of The Knack's debut album Get the Knack. Alperin appears in a sheer white tank top and tight jeans, capturing a provocative and youthful aesthetic that aligned with the song's energetic power pop style. This image was used on the picture sleeve for the 7-inch vinyl release by Capitol Records in 1979, with the label's logo prominently displayed.[1][21] The album Get the Knack, from which "My Sharona" served as the lead single, employed a black-and-white band photograph on its cover, depicting the four members standing closely together with arms around each other in a pose reminiscent of The Beatles' Meet the Beatles! (1964). This design choice emphasized the band's retro-inspired image and contributed to the visual cohesion between the single's sleeve—where Alperin clutches the album—and the overall release packaging.[22][23] For the 7-inch vinyl single, the B-side artwork maintained consistency with the A-side, utilizing the same picture sleeve design without alterations, a common practice for Capitol's 45 rpm releases at the time.[19]Formats and B-side
"My Sharona" was first issued as a 7-inch vinyl single by Capitol Records in the United States on June 18, 1979, as the lead single from the band's debut album Get the Knack, released earlier that month on June 11.[24] The single featured the A-side "My Sharona" running 3:58 and the B-side "Let Me Out" at 2:20. The release was primarily available in 7-inch 45 RPM vinyl format, with a 12-inch 33⅓ RPM promotional single also produced by Capitol under catalog number SPRO-9199 for radio and DJ use.[25] Later reissues appeared in the 1990s, including on CD compilations such as the 1992 collection My Sharona: The Very Best of The Knack, and in the 2000s through digital platforms with remastered versions, such as the 2002 edition.[26][27] The B-side, "Let Me Out", is an original composition by The Knack, credited to writers Doug Fieger and Berton Averre, and produced by Mike Chapman.[28] Characterized by a raw garage rock style, the track explores themes of breaking free from confinement, with lyrics pleading "Let me out, come and get me out 'cause I've been stuck in for too long," evoking a desire to escape societal constraints.[29] Internationally, the single saw variations across markets, including a UK release on Capitol (CL 16087) in 1979 with a distinctive black-and-white picture sleeve featuring a die-cut back.[30] Some regions, such as Japan and Canada, had differing pressing details or packaging, though the core track listing remained consistent with "Let Me Out" as the B-side.[19]Promotion
Music video
The official music video for "My Sharona" was produced in 1979 as a low-budget promotional clip to support the single's release. It features footage of the band The Knack performing energetically in a studio setting, with the members lip-syncing to the track amid quick cuts and simulated crowd scenes to capture the song's high-energy vibe.[31] The video's style draws inspiration from 1960s rock performance clips, emphasizing raw band dynamics and fast-paced editing to evoke the era's garage rock aesthetic, while aligning with emerging new wave visuals through its minimalist production and focus on the musicians' intensity. Running approximately 4 minutes, it prioritizes the song's driving rhythm and guitar riff through close-up shots of the performers, without narrative elements or special effects.[31] Upon release, the video aired on music television programs, helping to amplify the single's visibility on broadcast media during a time when MTV had not yet launched. Its straightforward, cost-effective approach influenced early promotional strategies for power pop and new wave acts, showcasing how simple studio performances could effectively convey live-like excitement.[16] Modern versions of the video are available online, preserving the original's energetic essence for contemporary audiences.[31]Live performances
The Knack debuted "My Sharona" during a series of club performances in Los Angeles in late 1978, including a notable show at the Troubadour on October 17, where the high-energy rendition contributed to the buzz surrounding the band ahead of the single's official release the following year.[32] [33] These intimate venue appearances, captured on the 2012 release Live in Los Angeles, 1978, showcased the song's raw power pop drive and helped solidify the group's local following.[33] The song's breakthrough came with prominent television appearances in 1979, including an energetic rendition on the BBC's Top of the Pops on July 5, aligning with the track's chart climb in the UK.[34] During the supporting Get the Knack tour that summer and fall, "My Sharona" routinely served as the high-octane set opener, as evidenced by concerts like those at Lisner Auditorium on October 9 and Capitol Theatre on October 10, where it ignited crowds with its infectious riff and driving rhythm.[35] [36] After the band's initial disbandment in 1981, sporadic reunions revived live performances of the track. In 1997, following a brief 1994 get-together, the original lineup reconvened for shows including a sold-out gig at Hollywood's Viper Room in April, where "My Sharona" remained a centerpiece of their nostalgic sets.[18] Through the 2000s, frontman Doug Fieger battled cancer but persisted with performances, such as during the 2007 Countdown Spectacular tour, delivering the song with characteristic vigor despite his health struggles.[37] Fieger's final appearances with The Knack occurred in 2009, shortly before his death on February 14, 2010, marking the end of the core group's stage era.[5] In the 2010s and beyond, surviving members Berton Averre and Prescott Niles occasionally reunited for tributes and select dates, performing "My Sharona" to honor Fieger and the band's legacy.[5]Commercial performance
Weekly charts
"My Sharona" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 86 on the chart dated June 23, 1979, fueled by increasing radio airplay and strong vinyl sales throughout the summer. In 1994, a re-release for the Reality Bites soundtrack re-entered the Hot 100, peaking at number 91. The track rose rapidly through the ranks, achieving its peak position of number 1 on the August 25, 1979, chart, where it held the top spot for six consecutive weeks.[38] In the United Kingdom, "My Sharona" debuted on the Official Singles Chart on June 30, 1979, reaching number 24 by July 15 and climbing to its peak of number 6 in late July 1979, maintaining a presence on the chart for a total of 13 weeks.[39][40] The song also enjoyed significant international success, topping the charts in several countries and entering the top 10 in many others during late 1979 and early 1980. Below is a table summarizing its peak positions across various national weekly charts:| Country | Peak Position | Source Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 1 | Kent Music Report |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 4 | Ö3 Austria Top 40 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 3 | Ultratop |
| Canada (RPM Top Singles) | 1 | RPM |
| France (SNEP) | 2 | SNEP |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 7 | GfK Entertainment |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 4 | IRMA |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 8 | Dutch Top 40 |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 1 | Recorded Music NZ |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 2 | VG-lista |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio) | 1 | Springbok Radio |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 5 | Sverigetopplistan |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 3 | Schweizer Hitparade |
| UK Singles Chart | 6 | Official Charts Company |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 | Billboard |
Year-end charts
"My Sharona" achieved significant success in year-end chart compilations for 1979, reflecting its dominant performance throughout the year across multiple markets. These annual rankings aggregate data from weekly charts, factoring in peak positions, weeks on chart, and overall points to determine cumulative impact. In the United States, the song was calculated as the top single of the year based on its six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and extended chart run.[42] Internationally, "My Sharona" also ranked highly in key territories. It placed third on Canada's RPM Top Singles year-end chart, benefiting from its number-one peak and strong airplay.[43] In Australia, the track finished eleventh on the Kent Music Report year-end singles chart, supported by five weeks at number one during its run.[44] No notable year-end rankings appeared for subsequent years, as the song's chart activity was concentrated in 1979. The following table summarizes the song's positions in select 1979 year-end charts:| Chart (1979) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Year-End Hot 100 | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 3 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 11 |
All-time charts
"My Sharona" has earned prominent positions in various retrospective all-time rankings, underscoring its lasting impact on popular music. Billboard's 2013 list of the 100 Greatest Hot 100 Songs of All Time, compiled for the chart's 55th anniversary, ranked "My Sharona" at number 75 based on performance metrics including peak position, weeks on chart, and sales through 2013.[38] This placement highlights the song's commercial dominance in 1979, when it held the top spot for six weeks. No significant updates to Billboard's all-time Hot 100 rankings incorporating streaming data up to 2025 have altered this position substantially, though the song continues to accumulate plays on digital platforms. In the 2010 edition of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, "My Sharona" ranked at #91. It was #287 in the 2004 edition. The song did not appear in the 2021 update.[45] VH1's 2002 countdown of the 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders, hosted by William Shatner and based on cultural significance and chart success, placed "My Sharona" at number 8, recognizing it as a defining example of the genre despite The Knack's limited subsequent hits.[46] As of 2025, no revised editions of this list have been issued, though modern analyses often cite streaming revivals as potential factors for future reassessments.Sales and certifications
In the United States, "My Sharona" achieved rapid commercial success upon release, earning Gold certification from the RIAA on August 16, 1979, for shipments of 1,000,000 units.[47] The single has surpassed 4 million equivalent units through physical sales, downloads, and streaming (over 436 million Spotify streams as of November 2025).[48] Worldwide, the single sold more than 4 million copies, establishing it as a global phenomenon with strong physical sales concentrated in 1979 across North America and Europe.[4] Post-2000s digital consumption has pushed modern estimates beyond this figure through equivalent units, bolstered by its enduring presence in media and playlists.[4] The song received several international certifications reflecting its initial physical sales momentum:| Region | Certification | Certified Units | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000 | 1980 | [49] |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000 | 2022 | [50] |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 70,000 | 1979 | Kent Music Report (historical equivalent) |