Cars

by

Gary Numan

Album: The Pleasure Principle      Released: 1979

US Chart: 9     UK Chart: 1

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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This song is about how people use technology and material goods to isolate themselves from human contact. Numan has stated in some interviews that he has Asperger Syndrome, which is a mild form of autism. (thanks, Beau - Phoenix, AZ)

Numan told Mojo magazine March 2008 about the original inspiration for this song: "A couple of blokes started peering in the window and for whatever reason took a dislike to me, so I had to take evasive action. I swerved up the pavement, scattering pedestrians everywhere. After that, I began to see the car as the tank of modern society."

This was Numan's only hit in the US, but he has had many others in England, where he has a large cult following. Numan specializes in electronic music, and was an influence on artists like Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails.

In the UK, this was used in an American Express commercial in the '80s, as well as an ad for Carling beer that ran in 1996. The beer commercial gave the song new life in the UK.

The Metal band Fear Factory covered this in 1999.

Even though the message of this song is that cars lead to a mechanical society devoid of personal interaction, it didn't stop automakers from using it in commercials. Both Nissan and Oldsmobile have used it in ads.

As a result of other bands playing his songs and citing him as an influence, many young listeners think Numan is a new artist, when he actually started recording in 1979.

Numan still plays this at concerts.

Numan made a video for this with special effects that look ridiculous now, but were cutting edge in 1979. When MTV went on the air in 1981, it was one of about 200 videos they had, so they played it over and over. This made the song a hit in the US.

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Comments:

Numan was the singer in the UK band Tubeway Army, THey had a hit record in England with "Are 'Friends' Electric?"
- Dave, Easton, PA

One of the better songs of the 80s.
- Jon, Enumclaw , WA

For one song Numan captured lightning in a bottle and created a catchy song that still sounds good today.One of the few songs of that era that I can stomach.
- Mark, byrdstown, TN

A remixed version of this song returned Gary to the UK Top 20 in May 1996 after the song was used in a popular Carling Premium Lager commercial which continued to be screened in the UK until 1999
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

I like this song, but it sounds so much cooler in The Mighty Boosh as Vince's ringtone!
- kayley, London

I thought i read a long time ago, and reading the lyrics it seems like it could be true, that this is about actually living in a car
- Jack, Mesa, AZ

It's true that "Cars" was a radio hit before MTV. This song seemed like a novelty at the time, but now it seems like the most accurate musical description of the 20th Century. It sounds at once retro and futuristic, and the lyrics have more resonance today than ever.
- Salamander, Panama Canal Zone, United States

I thought this was called "Here in My Car" and I could not find it on songfacts. Love the synthesizer part in the middle.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

The heavy metal band Fear Factory do a much better version of this alredy good song.
- Dylan, perth, Australia

"Numan made a video for this with special effects that look ridiculous now, but were cutting edge in 1979. When MTV went on the air in 1981, it was one of about 200 videos they had, so they played it over and over. This made the song a hit in the US." That is a ridiculous statement. The song was a hit in the spring of 1980. Believe me I was there. MTV debuted in Aug 1981. Killer retro-active hit making dudes!
- billy, albany, GA

The squeeling lead sound comes from the "Vox Humana" preset on the Moog Polymoog Keyboard synthesizer.
- Chris, Charleston, SC

I like how this song seems like it's just another wierd techno song but really carries a meaningful message about car obsession within it.
- Grace, Fairfax Station, VA

I like the fear factory version of this song. it's better than the original.
- Johnny, Rockland, MA

This song use to be one of my favorites back in the day. I never really understood it as a kid, but loved the way it was different sounding then alot of music of that day. It brings back many a memory of playing early arcade games and plopping a quater in the juke box to hear this wonderful tune.
- Dee, Indianapolis, IN

I thought it was funny when numan was talking about the song and said he was being called the "king of techno" or something and he said he didn't even like the music.
- peter, fort worth, TX

"Cars" is now on several car commercials due to the line 'I feel safest of all' and also a Little Debbie commercial and the game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The song is supposed to give you the idea of being a human synthesizer and, like some other Numan songs, about being alone or locked away.
- harmless, barrington, RI

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