Cars have always inspired rock and pop songs, from “Rocket 88” — often credited as the first rock ’n’ roll song — on through The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Prince. But no song might be as closely associated with the automobile as Gary Numan’s “Cars.” While cars are often a metaphor for freedom or danger in songs tinged with nostalgia, Numan seemed to make his a stand-in for alienation — and in the most futuristic and technological manner possible. The simple poetry of the mostly monosyllabic lyrics, coupled with the beep-boop melodies, made “Cars” perfect for film soundtracks, dance parties and, most fittingly, road trips.
The song was released in 1979 as a single from Numan’s classic album, The Pleasure Principle, which so completely eschewed electric guitars for synthesizers that today, almost five decades later, the entire record somehow retains a science fiction feel. “Cars” might be the only song from Numan’s solo debut that is still in heavy rotation on ’80s stations, but tracks like “M.E.“, “Metal“, and “Airlane” are just as danceable and catchy.
In fact, all ten songs have something in common beyond their one word titles; they sound like something David Bowie might have composed. The Bowie similarity probably helped the record get to the top of the charts, but at no time does it sound like a copycat — more like Numan and Bowie are musical robots made by the same engineer.
Like Bowie, Numan has always pushed his music to new realms. After his time with Tubeway Army, he’s put out twenty solo records, the most recent being 2021’s Intruder. Although he is a prolific recording artist, his appearance at Fort Lauderdale’s Culture Room is a rare South Florida concert event. It’s Numan’s first time performing here since he opened for Nine Inch Nails in 2013. At that show Trent Reznor brought Numan on stage to play a couple songs with him as gratitude for his influence. This will probably be just as special so it’s definitely worth getting in your cars to see him.
Gary Numan and special guest Tremours perform 7:30pm Saturday, March 7 at Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale. garynuman.com ~ David Rolland
