Gary Numan is considered a founding father of new wave and electronica music. His career calling card is the 1979 monster hit “Cars” from his album The Pleasure Principle featuring a signature synthesizer heavy sound and one of the most unforgettable bass lines in music history. “Cars” has been resurrected on a number of occasions having charted three separate times including when it was used in a 1997 spot for Carling beer.
“Cars” inspiration actually came from a bit of road rage. Numan had the following to say about the events that lead to the song:
“I was in traffic in London once and had a problem with some people in front. They tried to beat me up and get me out of the car. I locked the doors and eventually drove up on the pavement and got away from them. It’s kind of to do with that. It explains how you can feel safe inside a car in the modern world… When you’re in it, your whole mentality is different… It’s like your own little personal empire with four wheels on it.”
Numan and his unforgettable song ‘Cars” are back at it; this time for a Diehard car battery commercial. In the spot Numan plays the memorable song with car horns powered by a Diehard battery. Not the most adventurous concept but an effective spot that is well produced and constructed. Here is the clip in its entirety.
Numan is currently on tour in North America. You can find out about upcoming dates and all things Gary Numan via his official website here. For the few out there who may be unfamiliar with the original version here is the music video followed by lyrics for “Cars”, circa 1980:
Gary Numan – “Cars”
Here in my car
I feel safest of all
I can lock all my doors
It’s the only way to live
In cars
Here in my car
I can only receive
I can listen to you
It keeps me stable for days
In cars
Here in my car
Where the image breaks down
Will you visit me please?
If I open my door
In cars
Here in my car
I know I’ve started to think
About leaving tonight
Although nothing seems right
In cars
