My Sharona – The Knack | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#1 for 6 weeks); 1977

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

The biggest hit of 1979 was an out-of-left-field, stuttering beat track from a California band called The Knack. Formed in May of 1978, the Knack built up a big following on the LA night club circuit; resulting in contract from Capitol.

Now the band needed songs for an album. Guitarist Berton Averre had been toying with a jumpy rhythm riff for a couple of years, and rhythm guitarist/singer Doug Fieger was lusting after a girl named Sharona.

When they initially put the two together, Berton resisted. After all, Doug had another girlfriend at the time. Fieger persisted and My Sharona was included among the tracks recorded over a 12 day period for Get The Knack.

The live-in-the-studio sound of My Sharona took America by storm. Aided by publicity generated by Beatles’ references – same label, similar debut album photo and title – My Sharona and Get The Knack raced to #1 on their respective charts. And, the real-life Sharona raced into Doug’s arms.

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:

  • Mike Chapman

Lyrics Written by:

  • Doug Fieger
  • Berton Averre

Check Out all the Song Meanings of the 70s
Top 100 Songs Of The 1970s

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).