Favorite Power Pop Songs #8 - "I Want You to Want Me"

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We are at #8 in my Favorite Power Pop Songs series, and that spot belongs to one of the all time great power pop tunes, "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick. Cheap Trick formed in Rockford, Illinois, in 1973. At first, the critics loved them, but the American audience was largely indifferent: their first three albums failed to crack the Top 40 on Billboard's 200 chart. Cheap Trick had, however, developed a rabid following in Japan. A tour of the Land of the Rising Sun resulted in the live album Cheap Trick at Budokan, which propelled them into international superstardom. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band is a touring machine, and have played over 5000 live shows (all that experience pays off. Cheap Trick is one of the best live bands I've ever seen.) "I Want You to Want Me" was a single from their 1977 album In Color. It failed to chart in the United States. The Budokan version, however, became an international hit, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and certified gold,) #2 in Canada, and #1 in Belgium and The Netherlands. "I Want You to Want Me" has been covered numerous times, notably by Letters to Cleo, Dwight Yoakam, and Chris Isaac. While the In Color version is pure power pop, the Budokan single rocks harder and is the definitive version. Enjoy! (Info verified by Wikipedia)