Magic (The Cars song)
"Magic" | ||||
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Single by The Cars | ||||
from the album Heartbeat City | ||||
B-side | "I Refuse" | |||
Released | May 7, 1984 | |||
Recorded | 1983–1984 | |||
Genre | Rock[1] | |||
Length | 3:56 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Songwriter(s) | Ric Ocasek | |||
Producer(s) | Robert John "Mutt" Lange, The Cars | |||
The Cars singles chronology | ||||
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"Magic" is a song performed by the American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City, released in 1984. It was released as a single and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart.[2] The track was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange and the Cars. Ocasek sang lead vocals.
Music video
The music video for "Magic" is set at a pool party attended by an array of bizarre and comically deranged characters. It features Ocasek walking on the water of the swimming pool as the various characters gather to marvel at him. Toward the end of the video, some of the guests (perhaps in their own delusion) attempt to reach Ocasek by stepping onto the pool's surface believing that they too can walk on water, but only end up plunging into the pool. Ocasek remains standing (and dry) because, as the song title suggests, "it's magic".
The Cars shot "Magic" at the Hilton family house in Beverly Hills. Kathy Hilton leased her house to the band. A Plexiglass platform sat under the surface of the water. On the first take, the platform collapsed. The platform had to be adjusted to Ric's weight. The house is also the setting for the movie Blind Date starring Bruce Willis & Kim Basinger.
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (1984) | Peak position |
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New Zealand Singles Chart | 50 |
Canadian RPM 100 | 14 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Tracks | 1 |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[3] | 16 |
Year-end charts
Chart (1984) | Rank |
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U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] | 97 |
References
- ^ "Classic Album Revisited: The Cars, "Heartbeat City" - Metro Weekly". www.metroweekly.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 108.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending July 14, 1984". Cash Box Magazine. July 14, 1984. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1984/Top 100 Songs of 1984". Music Outfitters. Retrieved November 18, 2017.