My Sharona - The Knack (Drum Cover)

This is my one and only contribution to this drum cover challenge. I am clearly a boomer! So this movie is not one that I saw when it came out or with my kids! Maybe there is a reason for that … maybe they didn't want to watch it with Dad? Anyhow, I was watching ‪@RichRawDawgdrums‬ and ‪@KMKanDrum‬ talk about "the movie" last week and I decided very last minute on Sunday to make this drum cover. Rich said, "It's (the song) not played right without the flams on the snare," so I tried to play it as right as possible! Anyhow, I hope you enjoy my version of this 1979 classic!
“My Sharona" is the debut single by the Knack. The song was written by Berton Averre and Doug Fieger, and it was released in 1979 from their debut album, Get the Knack. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, where it remained for six weeks, and was number one on Billboard's 1979 Top Pop Singles year-end chart.
It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing 1,000,000 copies sold, and was Capitol Records' fastest gold status debut single since the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964. It has since gone on to sell more than 10 million copies as of 2010.
Inspiration
When Doug Fieger was 25 years old, he met 17-year-old Sharona Alperin, who inspired a two-month-long run of songwriting, as well as eventually becoming his girlfriend for the next four years. Fieger recounted that "It was like getting hit in the head with a baseball bat; I fell in love with her instantly. And when that happened, it sparked something and I started writing a lot of songs feverishly in a short amount of time." Fieger and Averre worked out the structure and melody of the song. Averre was originally averse to using Alperin's name in the song, but Fieger wanted it to be a direct expression of his feelings; Averre ultimately relented. Fieger claimed that "My Sharona" was written in 15 minutes; moreover, it was purportedly mixed in an additional 15 minutes after the recording of the song was made in a single take (not including background vocals).
Fieger and Alperin were engaged at one point but never married. In a 2005 interview, Fieger said that they remained "great friends"; additionally, she would visit him frequently as Fieger was dying of cancer. Alperin went on to have a successful career as a realtor in Los Angeles.
The music of the song echoes many elements of songs from the 1960s. According to a Trouser Press reviewer, the song's main melodic hook is "an inversion of the signature riff" from "Gimme Some Lovin'", a 1966 song by the Spencer Davis Group. Fieger acknowledged that the song's tom-tom drum rhythm is "just a rewrite" of "Going to a Go-Go", a song from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965. Drummer Bruce Gary has stated that although he did not particularly like the song when Fieger introduced it to the band, he came up with the stuttering beat for the song similar to a surf stomp, with just tom-tom and snare. He also decided to incorporate a flam, in which two drum strokes are staggered, creating a fuller sound, which Gary considered to be crucial to the song's success.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Fieger claimed that the song was written from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy.
The song's stuttering vocal effect of the repeated "muh muh muh my Sharona" phrase is reminiscent of Roger Daltrey's vocals in the 1965 song "My Generation" by the Who.
Music video
The music video features the band performing the song in a white room. Another music video features clips from the film Reality Bites, concert footage and Another Lousy Day in Paradise music video.
Drums:
Gretsch - 8x10, 9x13, 16x16, 14x20
Ludwig Acrolite - 5x14
Paiste - 14" 505 Medium Bottom/2000 Regular SE Bottom, 12" 2002 Splash, 18" 2002 Crash, 22" 2002 Big Beat, 18" 2002 China, 16" 2002 Thin Crash
Logic Pro X
Presonus StudioLive 24.4.2
Now available Earldrum's Spring Store
my-store-d5134...-sprin...
Please check out my series on how to make a drum cover in this playlist
• How I Make A Drum Cover (Series)
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No Copyright Infringement Intended. All copyrighted material remains the property of the respective copyright owner(s).

[@gregwonhoff7161]

Oh my goodness, Hammer, from where did this one come after all the other genres you have been putting out lately? It was the beginning of football season for the Willapa Valley Vikings, and this song filled the locker room and bus constantly. What a great song for that time, and you nailed it, my hammering homey!!! Rock on, my Floridian friend.❤️🙏🏻👏🏼❤️🙏🏻👏🏼❤️

[@earldrum]

@@gregwonhoff7161 Greg, this is in my wheel house 😎😎😎😎 I love all styles of music … I was in college when this came out! It’s not an easy drum part, but a very cool drum part! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻👍🏻😊🥁😎

[@Interactivechannel-babysong12]

You make everyone admire,🤲💛💚💙💙💚🧡💛❤‍🩹💚❤‍🩹💙💙❤‍🩹🤲🍰☕ i love the way you are doing it,🌹👍💛💛💚💙💚❤❤❤❤👍👍👍 keep it up, 🌹🌹🌹💛💚💙💙💚🧡💛❤‍🩹💚❤‍🩹💙💙❤‍🩹💚💛💛💚💙💚💚

[@earldrum]

Thank you so much 😀I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Wow! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊👍🏻👍🏻🥁

[@RichRawDawgdrums]

Yes! Flams the Bruce Gary style (RIP) Awesome work Earl! Popular song to cover today! 😂

[@earldrum]

@@RichRawDawgdrums Rich, I was about to pass on this community cover and then I watched your KZbin video on the movie. I had already done miss you, and something else … so I thought I’d give it a try. 50 minutes later I had this video. Not an easy song to play … but I think it’s respectable! I will be watching yours when I get a free minute from the day job! 🙏🏻👍🏻😊

[@MikeConwayDrums]

Great job Earl! That tom groove looks tricky, and you make it sound great. And the snare is cracking beautifully!🤘💥🤘

[@earldrum]

@@MikeConwayDrums thanks for watching Mike! It is tricky and it took a bit to get. I appreciate the kind words! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@chrisbates3117]

Oh yes sir! This was a good cover for the Reality Bites week. I’m sure the surviving members of The Knack would be proud!

[@earldrum]

@@chrisbates3117 thanks for the feedback and kind words Chris! You really nailed this one my friend! Great drumming on your part! 👍🏻😊

[@3L3V3NDRUMS]

Amazing cover my friend! What a cool groove and this snare sound is so nice! You crushed it🤘🤘🤘

[@earldrum]

@@3L3V3NDRUMS thanks for the feedback Toby! It’s a very specific drum part to learn! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻😊🥁

[@ZaxDrumsandGolf]

Earl I haven't seen the movie either not sure why it never really spoke to me!! I know it had some cool songs in it. You rocked this I just watched Rich's as well!! I cna tell you were into this as well!! That middle section is fun and it looked like you were enjoying it too!!🤘🤘

[@earldrum]

I had a lot of fun Zax, once I got that tom pattern in my head! 😂😂😂 thanks for watching my old friend! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻😊😂🥁

[@shredlepzin1654]

Yes!!!! Great drum cover Earl, it should be a the first song a learning drummer works on, it has it all, my first song was Living After Midnight by Judas Priest, had the basics to get me going learning a song. Your toms are perfect for this song!

[@earldrum]

@@shredlepzin1654 thanks for the feedback my friend! I probably played in a band back in the 80s! But that was a long time ago in a land far away! 😂😊👍🏻🙏🏻😎

[@edwardkaminsky8142]

It is no wonder you received the nickname Hammer. It's always a treat to get a friday crescendo for the week Earl. Super clean! 😅

[@earldrum]

You got that right Edward! I’m glad you enjoyed today’s video! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁

[@mickeyf3730]

Wow! That was great EN! Nice job and the kit sounded perfect for this tune!

[@earldrum]

Thanks for listening Mickey! I appreciate the support! 🙏🏻👍🏻😊🥁

[@KMKanDrum]

Oh yeah!!! Love that Big Fat Snare on there. Great job on this one Earl!!!

[@earldrum]

@@KMKanDrum thanks for the feedback Kelly! 😊😊😊🥁👍🏻🙏🏻

[@drumman190]

Fun song. Great job Earl.

[@earldrum]

@@drumman190 thanks for watching Matthew!

[@jametz66]

That was great Earl!!!! You left me half of a cake but I'm not in the mood😂 🥁😎👍🥁😎👍

[@earldrum]

@@jametz66 thanks for the feedback Jeff! I understand I was in the mood to check to deeply on Sunday either! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I have no idea how bad it is … but the Kit probably had a flat ride! 😂😂😂😂

[@jametz66]

@earldrum lol, no, actually no flat ride. The drums were correct the cymbals were totally different LOL🤣

[@curvedair108]

That gretsch sound times two!

[@earldrum]

Thanks for the feedback my friend! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊👍🏻

[@The-Tired-Drummer]

Great job Earl 🥁

[@earldrum]

@@The-Tired-Drummer thanks for watching Ken!

[@Claes_Isacson]

👏👏👏🥁🎸Rock on Hammer!

[@earldrum]

Thanks for the feedback Claes! I’m trying to rock out! 😊😊😊😊👍🏻🙏🏻🥁

[@clarasorchard88]

Wow! What a workout. Nice job Earl. You nailed it! 👍

[@earldrum]

Yes it was Clara! But I good workout! Thanks for watching! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻😊🥁

[@charliecontrino1626]

Wow! I was in 8th grade when this came out!

[@earldrum]

I was in college when this one came out! Thanks for watching Charlie!

[@charliecontrino1626]

@@earldrum LOL!

[@RichRawDawgdrums]

I was a freshman in high school when this song came out!

[@earldrum]

@@RichRawDawgdrums thanks for watching Rich! 🙏🏻😊👍🏻🥁