Hello Again (The Cars song) explained

Hello Again
Cover:Cover for Hello Again by The Cars.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Cars
Album:Heartbeat City
Recorded:1983–1984
Studio:Battery, London
Genre:
Length:3:47
Label:Elektra
Producer:
  • Robert John "Mutt" Lange
Prev Title:Drive
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:Why Can't I Have You
Next Year:1985

"Hello Again" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their album Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on October 15, 1984 as the album's fourth single. The song was the fourth top-20 entry from the album, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it also reached number eight on the Hot Dance/Disco chart and number 22 on the Top Rock Tracks chart.[4] Ric Ocasek sings lead vocals on the track.[5]

Critical reception

Billboard wrote that "Hello Again" goes "back to the staccato synth beat and wry mannered style that typified the group's singles before 'Drive' changed all that."[6]

"Hello Again" was retrospectively described as "eccentric" by AllMusic critic Greg Prato, who also cited the track as a highlight from the Heartbeat City album.[7] Donald Guarisco, also of AllMusic, wrote "One of their strongest tracks [on ''Heartbeat City'' with experimental roots] was 'Hello Again,' a stylish new wave rocker with plenty of experimental touches."[2] Guarisco added that it "represents the Cars striking a unique balance between their gift for pop hooks and their love of experimental sounds."[2]

In his review of the compilation album Greatest Hits (1985), Prato felt that "Hello Again" should have been included on the album, stating "why was the title track from Heartbeat City (an unsuccessful single) included instead of the 1984 Top 20 hit 'Hello Again'?"[8]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Andy Warhol and Don Munroe.[9] Warhol appeared in the video as a bartender, which was filmed at the Be-Bop Cafe in Manhattan.[10] Dianne Brill and John Sex of the downtown New York scene made cameos. A then-unknown Gina Gershon also appeared in the video. Keyboardist Greg Hawkes said "I think [Warhol] mainly did some of the conceptualizing and showed up to be an extra. And he invited his various friends to be in it. It was like any video shoot, but with a more interesting cast of characters. And you could always look over on the set and go 'Hey that's Andy Warhol.'"[11]

The music video explored the controversial topics of sex and violence (mostly the former) that were being featured in music videos at the time.

It was played in medium rotation on MTV for a few months,[12] before reaching heavy in October,[13] and ended up spending at least 23 weeks on the playlist.[14]

Track listings

A. "Hello Again" – 3:45

B. "Hello Again" (Dub Version) – 5:02

A1. "Hello Again" (Remix Version / Vocal) – 5:54

A2. "Hello Again" (Dub Version) – 6:02

B. "Hello Again" (LP Version / Vocal) – 3:47

Charts

Chart performance for "Hello Again"
Chart (1984–1985)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 52
Netherlands (Tipparade)[16] 12
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[17] 19

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sendra . Tim . Heartbeat City – The Cars . AllMusic . August 29, 2018 . February 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210202234633/https://www.allmusic.com/album/heartbeat-city-mw0000649959 . live .
  2. Web site: Guarisco . Donald A. . Hello Again – The Cars . AllMusic . August 29, 2018 . August 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220822073136/https://www.allmusic.com/song/hello-again-mt0012009178 . live .
  3. Web site: Gerard . Chris . Classic Album Revisited: The Cars, "Heartbeat City" . Metro Weekly . August 12, 2014 . September 1, 2018 . August 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220818074933/https://www.metroweekly.com/2014/08/classic-album-revisited-the-cars-heartbeat-city/ . live .
  4. Web site: The Cars – Billboard Singles. AllMusic. August 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120331215612/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-cars-p3850/charts-awards/billboard-singles. March 31, 2012.
  5. Heartbeat City . liner notes . The Cars . Elektra Records . 1984 . 60296-1.
  6. Billboard. Reviews. October 27, 1984. 2023-02-10. 63. 2024-02-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20240217060820/https://books.google.com/books?id=_SMEAAAAMBAJ&q=reviews#v=snippet&q=reviews&f=false. live.
  7. Web site: Prato. Greg. Heartbeat City – The Cars. AllMusic. September 29, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140918195330/http://www.allmusic.com/album/heartbeat-city-mw0000649959. September 18, 2014.
  8. Web site: Prato. Greg. Greatest Hits – The Cars. AllMusic. September 29, 2014. August 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220822073038/https://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-mw0000189316. live.
  9. August 31, 1985 . Clips Receive an Artful Showcase . Billboard . 52 . April 14, 2022 . February 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217050707/https://books.google.com/books?id=yCQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=the+cars+-+Hello+Again+andy+warhol+directed&pg=PT110#v=onepage&q=the%20cars%20-%20Hello%20Again%20andy%20warhol%20directed&f=false . live .
  10. Book: Warhol . Andy . The Andy Warhol diaries . Hackett . Pat . 1989 . New York, NY : Warner Books . The Archive of Contemporary Music . 978-0-446-51426-2 . 560–561.
  11. Milano. Brett. Brett Milano. Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology. Just What I Needed: The Cars Anthology. liner notes. The Cars. Elektra Traditions/Rhino Records. 1995. R2 73506.
  12. https://books.google.com/books?id=j5I4br0t7cwC&pg=PT25&dq=Programming+Cars+%22Hello+Again%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0rdCDsq6GAxVghIkEHdELCu44ChDoAXoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q=Programming%20Cars%20%22Hello%20Again%22&f=false Billboard, MTV Programming, July 21, 1984
  13. https://books.google.com/books?id=liQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA32&dq=Programming+Cars+%22Hello+Again%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDut_TsK6GAxV3jIkEHUXACYAQ6AF6BAgDEAI#v=onepage&q=Programming%20Cars%20%22Hello%20Again%22&f=false Billboard, MTV Programming, October 20, 1984
  14. https://books.google.com/books?id=zSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA31&dq=Programming+Cars+%22Hello+Again%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDut_TsK6GAxV3jIkEHUXACYAQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=Programming%20Cars%20%22Hello%20Again%22&f=false Billboard, MTV Programming, December 8, 1984
  15. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . illustrated . St Ives, N.S.W. . Australian Chart Book . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6.
  16. Web site: The Cars – Hello Again . nl . . February 25, 2020 . August 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220822073039/https://www.top40.nl/the-cars/the-cars-hello-again-19366 . live .
  17. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 22, 1984 . . December 22, 2018 . May 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220514003614/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19841222.html . live .

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