"Magic" is a song by American rock band the Cars from their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City (1984). It was released on May 7, 1984, as the album's second single, reaching number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart.[3] The track was written by Ric Ocasek and produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and the Cars. Ocasek sang lead vocals.
| "Magic" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Cars | ||||
| from the album Heartbeat City | ||||
| B-side | "I Refuse" | |||
| Released | May 7, 1984 | |||
| Recorded | 1983–1984 | |||
| Studio | Battery, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:57 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ric Ocasek | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| The Cars singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Magic" on YouTube | ||||
Music video
editThe 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, which Kathy Hilton had leased to the band. A plexiglass platform sat under the surface of the water. The platform collapsed on the first take and had to be adjusted to support Ocasek's weight.
Personnel
editThe Cars
- Ric Ocasek – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Ben Orr – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Elliot Easton – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Greg Hawkes – keyboards, backing vocals, Fairlight CMI programming
- David Robinson – drums, Fairlight programming
Additional personnel
- Andy Topeka – Fairlight CMI programming
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 96 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5] | 14 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 50 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 12 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] | 1 |
| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[9] | 16 |
| Chart (2019) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[10] | 13 |
Year-end charts
edit| Chart (1984) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 97 |
References
edit- ^ Gerard, Chris (August 12, 2014). "Classic Album Revisited: The Cars, "Heartbeat City"". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ a b "Rock's 40 Best Summer Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. July 1, 2022. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 108. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6797." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "The Cars – Magic". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "The Cars Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "The Cars Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending July 14, 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "The Cars Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1984". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
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