Love Somebody – Rick Springfield | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#5); 1984

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Rick Springfield’s career benefited greatly from television exposure in two ways. Firstly, he played Dr. Noah Drake on ABC television’s popular afternoon soap, General Hospital.

Then, the very week Jessie’s Girl hit #1, MTV debuted on the emerging alternative to the over-the-air stations: cable TV. Suddenly, Rick was the new “teen idol” – except that he turned 32 in 1981.

Unfortunately, his good looks and hit singles relegated him, in the critic’s eyes, to disposable status. In fact, Rick crafted fine slices of power-pop at its best.

After several hit singles, Hollywood came up with Hard To Hold as a way to break Rick onto the big screen. Critics panned, fans applauded, and Hard To Hold gave us Rick’s final Top 5 single, Love Somebody.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Rick Springfield
  • Bill Drescher

Lyrics Written by:

  • Rick Springfield

Check Out all the Song Meanings of the 80s
Top 100 Songs Of The 1980s

Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).