We Got The Beat – Go-Go’s | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#2) and Mainstream Rock (#7) ; 1982
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
It’s March of 1982. Since 1955 only one all-female group has topped Billboard magazine’s album chart: the Supremes. Now the Go-Go’s have done it, too. Yet this “all-girl” group is a real band: the five women play as well as sing.
In 1978, Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin were living in the heart of LA’s punk scene so they did what everyone did. They formed a band with Charlotte Caffey called the Misfits.
A series of club gigs prompted them to change their name to the Go-Go’s, and Gina Schock came on board to complete the line-up. On a trip to Europe, the Go-Go’s considered covering the 1966 Miracles’ hit Going To A Go-Go.
Caffey wasn’t so sure and, while watching The Twilight Zone on TV late one night, came up with We Got The Beat in a matter of minutes. Recorded as a single, Beat was also included on the group’s debut album. After Our Lips Are Sealed peaked at #20, We Got The Beat pounded to #2.
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:
- Paul L. Wexler
Lyrics Written by:
- Charlotte Caffey
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).