‘I Want You to Want Me’ is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It is originally from their second album In Color, released in September 1977. It was the first single released from that album, but it did not chart in the United States in its original studio version, which was influenced by music hall styles. Eleven months later, a more rock-oriented live version from the band's successful Cheap Trick at Budokan album was released as a single and became one of their biggest hits, peaking at number seven in the US, number two in Canada, and number one in Japan. It has since become Cheap Trick's signature song.
‘I Want You to Want Me’ was a number-one single in Japan. Its success in Japan, as well as the success of its preceding single ‘Clock Strikes Ten’, paved the way for Cheap Trick's concerts at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in April 1978 that were recorded for the group's most popular album, Cheap Trick at Budokan. A live version of ‘I Want You to Want Me’ from the album Cheap Trick at Budokan was released in 1979 and became their biggest-selling single, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, representing sales of one million records. In Canada, it reached No. 2 in on the RPM national singles chart, remaining there for two weeks and was certified gold for the sale of 500,000 singles in September 1979. It was also the band's highest charting single in Britain, where it reached No. 29.
The song has a long and intriguing history. It was written by Cheap Trick's guitarist Rick Nielsen and recorded for their 1977 self-titled debut album, but it didn't make the cut. The song was included on their second album, In Color, released later in 1977. This version has a medium tempo with a country feel and a honky tonk piano throughout the song.
By 1978, the band had dropped it from their setlist, but restored it when they toured Japan that year, since Japanese audiences loved the song. They played it on April 28 and 30 at their famous concerts at the Budokan temple in Tokyo, a big deal because many Japanese citizens felt the temple was sacred and not appropriate for rock concerts. The shows were recorded and released as the Live At Budokan album. Enhanced by a febrile crowd going ape for the band, the songs had a very different feel, capturing every bit of Cheap Trick's live energy. The album was released in February 1979 and sold over 3 million copies, turning their fortunes around in America. The extracted ‘I Want You To Want Me’ became their first hit, charting at #7.
This is one of the few hit rock songs of the time that starts with the chorus. The At Budokan album was a huge seller well into 1979, so Cheap Trick delayed release of their next album, Dream Police, which sat for eight months until it was finally issued in September that year. ‘I Want You To Want Me’ is a popular cover among female-fronted bands. Letters To Cleo, led by Kay Hanley, play it from a rooftop at the end of the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You.
Label – Epic
Songwriter – Rick Nielsen
Producer – Tom Werman
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
[Verse]
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
[Pre-Chorus]
I'd shine up the old brown shoes, I'd put on a brand-new shirt
I'd get home early from work if you say that you love me
[Chorus]
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
[Verse]
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
[Pre-Chorus]
I'd shine up the old brown shoes, I'd put on a brand-new shirt
I'd get home early from work if you say that you love me
[Chorus]
Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
[Guitar solo]
[Hook]
Feelin' all alone without a friend, you know you feel like dyin'
Oh, didn't I, didn't I, didn't I see you cryin'?
Ooh!
[Piano solo]
[Outro]
I want you to want me
I need you to need me
I'd love you to love me
I'm beggin' you to beg me
I want you...