Hook, Line and Singer: The Knack: “My Sharona”

Its thunderous drumbeat; deep bass chords; that stuttering guitar riff: It was clear that 1979’s “My Sharona” was going to be a hit. Especially in pop, it’s all about selling that repetitive hook that connects with the public; the aptly named band, The Knack knew about that and didn’t just rely on this holy trinity of instruments to do the hook work. They pushed further, allowing the vocal delivery, even the lyrics themselves, to stand out as well. The group didn’t throw together a pop song, but, in turn, crafted a definitive, engaging pop experience that still resonates. This one-hit wonder was chock full of so many smart, memorable hooks, it just couldn’t be shelved at the start of the new decade. Although its sound became synonymous with the ‘80s decade, it’s gone on to live several lives, most notably, as endearing pastiche, in the 1994 film, Reality Bites.