Behind the Lyrics: You Might Think by The Cars
“You Might Think” is a song by the American rock band The Cars, released in 1984 as the lead single from their fifth studio album, “Heartbeat City.” The song was written by the band’s frontman, Ric Ocasek, who also produced the album.
The lyrical meaning of “You Might Think” is open to interpretation, but it is generally considered to be a love song with a hint of obsession. The lyrics describe a man who is infatuated with a woman and is convinced that she feels the same way about him, despite all evidence to the contrary. The chorus of the song repeats the line “You might think I’m crazy” as he acknowledges his own irrational behavior.
The music video for “You Might Think” was directed by Jeff Stein and is known for its groundbreaking use of computer-generated imagery (CGI). The video features footage of Ocasek singing while his head is superimposed on various objects, including a car, a fly, and a woman’s body. The video won the first-ever MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1984.
The Cars were formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1976, and were one of the most successful American new wave bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band consisted of Ocasek on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Elliot Easton on lead guitar, Greg Hawkes on keyboards, Benjamin Orr on bass and backing vocals, and David Robinson on drums.
The Cars released six studio albums between 1978 and 1987, including the hit singles “Just What I Needed,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Drive,” and “Shake It Up.” The band disbanded in 1988, but its members went on to pursue successful solo careers and other musical projects.
In 2018, The Cars were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the band’s surviving members reuniting to perform at the ceremony in honor of Orr, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2000.
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