A Year Without Ric Ocasek - Heartbeat City Still Weeps

On September 15th last year, I, along with other fans around the world, heard the heartbreaking news of Ric Ocasek's passing. I was at one of the heights of my Cars obsession, and simultaneously at a pretty dark place in my life, so to hear one of my favorite musicians was gone absolutely crushed me. 

I have to say "one of" the heights of my obsession with his and the Cars' music, because it started years ago, when I first began my "new wave" phase in high school, and my love for them has only grown with time. I grew up hearing much of their music on the radio (namely 93.1 XRT, as you might expect), and as a kid "You're All I've Got Tonight" was a favorite (of course I didn't understand the meaning at the time... just loved the way it sounded). My parents, surprisingly, didn't play them much, saying that they'd heard too much of them back in the late 70's and 80's, and that they'd sort of burned out on them. Kind of like classic rock, in that you heard it too much back then, and it's still popular on those radio stations now, so you never go out of your way to listen to it. I understand where they're coming from, but I think they missed out on a lot of the deeper tracks that made the Cars truly special. 

Going back to my innocent love for "You're All I've Got Tonight" as a kid- That is precisely what made Ric Ocasek's songwriting and musicianship so genius. He had such an ability to create top-10 pop-rock hits, but with a darker underbelly to them, that only a deeper appreciation for the music would unlock. He curated a sound and image for himself and the Cars that was the perfect marriage of popular, mainstream rock music, and artistic, innovative new wave.

With his 6'4" stature, skeletal-thin build, and hollow face- he was hardly the average person's vision of "dreamy rock 'n' roller". Draping himself in long, dark hair and sunglasses, along with oversized suit jackets, he transformed himself into an intimidating presence. But that didn't stop him and his band from climbing the charts and becoming one of the most successful bands of the era. And hey, I see it- I think there's something quite charming about his lanky, goblin-like appearance (I say this affectionately), although you already know Benjamin Orr is my dreamboat of the band. 

And apparently I wasn't the only one. Ocasek's wife of 30 years, model Paulina Porizkova, fell for his strangely beautiful looks when they met during the filming of the music video for the Cars' hit "Drive", in 1984. She was just 18 then, and he 40, but it was clearly meant to be. I don't judge them, and I think it's sweet that their marriage lasted so long. And even though they had technically separated before his passing, she was there to take care of him in his final days. 

Ric Ocasek and Paulina Porizkova, photographed in New York in 1990, by Catherine McGann.

For me, my fascination with Ric Ocasek and the Cars really began with their debut, self-titled album. Jokingly referred to by the band and fans as "the Cars greatest hits", the album doesn't have a bad song on it. It propelled them to fairly instant stardom, and kick-started their career. As popular as it was though, there are still some fine examples of stranger, "ahead of their time" tracks, that helped give them their edge. One of these tracks for me is "Moving in Stereo". The synthesizer is incredibly prominent, and gives the song a sexy, slick sound, while still being quite experimental. This is what makes the Cars so amazing to me; Ocasek's innate ability to create pop hits that make me want to dance, but also question why I'm dancing. It's dark, it's weird, it makes me think. But it also gets me singing, knowing every word, and moving to the beat. Though it's Benjamin Orr on lead vocals and not Ocasek, his creativity and musicianship shine through on both the studio version, as well as this live version from 1984. I invite you to check it out below.

Ric Ocasek and his music were a gift to this world. From his generation to my own, and beyond- There are so many fans who appreciate his art. Whether you're a casual listener, or a die-hard fan, you know and love the Cars. He was strange, enigmatic, and misunderstood. But at the same time he was one of the main figures of popular rock and new wave music for well over a decade. To me, he is one of my heroes, and someone who inspires me to be my weirdest, most stylish self, every day. I treasure his music, and am grateful for it. My only wish is that I could have seen him perform live with the Cars (I was born about a decade late for that one). If you were one of the lucky ones who got to see them, let me know in the comments what an experience it was, so I can be jealous of you. 

Thank you as always for reading, and maybe put on one of your favorite Cars LPs today, in remembrance of Ric Ocasek. Hope you're resting in peace, Ric. The world is a lot less magical without you in it. 

(The Cars' music video for "Magic")