My Gen X Playlist: Just What I Needed – The Cars

When I was a kid, I watched all kinds of cartoons. From Tom and Jerry to the Superheros, I loved them all. Back then, cartoons were fairly primitive and two dimensional, but that’s all we knew. If I had to pick a favorite cartoon, I’d lean towards Speed Racer. Who didn’t like a cartoon about race cars? I even had the Hot Wheels edition of the Mach 5. What great characters – Speed Racer was cool, Racer X was the man and Trixie was a cutie. Any cartoon with a monkey named Chim Chim can’t be all that bad. I haven’t seen Speed Racer since I was a kid. I’ll have to hunt down a few episodes to watch.

The Cars were a great band of the 80’s. My favorite Cars’ song is Just What I Needed. I love everything about this song, especially the opening riff. It’s difficult to imagine that this song was released in 1978. That’s a long long time ago. It definitely holds up and is a song I sing along to every time I hear it. This is classic Cars.

“I remember lying in bed very early in the morning, listening to the birds outside, feeling the sun coming up and feeling very much alone in the world. I think I’d gone through a really bad break-up, and I was just feeling very vulnerable. And suddenly this riff came into my head, and I just started playing it over and over again on my acoustic guitar. It just felt like the right thing to do.”

– oldtimemusic

The catchy distinctive guitar riff that opens “Just What I Needed” was borrowed from the song “Yummy Yummy Yummy” by the Ohio Express. Because of how catchy the riff was, it became synonymous with The Cars’ sound, showcasing their innovative fusion of rock and pop influences.

– americansongwriter

This song was playing in my head when I woke up this morning. I guess it was just what I needed.

– YouTube comment from @bluedingo1186

I’ve already listened to this song about ten times as I sit here writing this. I also gave Yummy Yummy Yummy a listen. Ugh – but I am thankful for the inspiring riff. Thank you, Ohio Express.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I don't mind you coming here
And wasting all my time
Cause when you're standing oh so near
I kinda lose my mind
It's not the perfume that you wear
It's not the ribbons in your hair
And I don't mind you coming here
And wasting all my time

I don't mind you hanging out
And talking in your sleep
It doesn't matter where you've been
As long as it was deep, Yeah
You always knew to wear it well
And, You look so fancy I can tell
And I don't mind you hanging out
And talking in your sleep

I guess you're just what I needed
(Just what I needed)
I needed someone to feed
I guess you're just what I needed
(Just what I needed)
I needed someone to bleed

I don't mind you coming here
And wasting all my time, time
Cause when you're standing oh so near
I kinda lose my mind, Yeah
It's not the perfume that you wear
It's not the ribbons in your hair
I don't mind you coming here
And wasting all my time

I guess you're just what I needed
(Just what I needed)
I needed someone to feed
I guess you're just what I needed
(Just what I needed)
I needed someone to bleed

I guess you're just what I needed
(Just what I needed)
I needed someone to feed
I guess you're just what I needed
(Just what I needed)
I needed someone to bleed

Yeah Yeah, So bleed me

You're just what I needed
You're just what I needed
You're just what I needed
Yeah yea-Yeahh