I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick

It’s hard to think about power pop without landing squarely on Cheap Trick’s 1977 classic I Want You to Want Me. Originally released on their second album, In Color, the song didn’t make much of a splash—until the band’s now-legendary 1978 live album Cheap Trick at Budokan transformed it into an international hit. That version, recorded during a feverish concert in Japan, captured all the raw energy and theatrical flair the band brought to the stage. Suddenly, a cheeky plea for love became a rock anthem heard around the world.

Cheap Trick stood at a fascinating crossroads of punk sneer and Beatlesque melody. Based out of Rockford, Illinois, the band had a knack for writing killer hooks with a tongue-in-cheek attitude, all while keeping things loud and electrified. I Want You to Want Me perfectly balances that edge—it’s knowingly over-the-top, almost satirical in its heart-on-sleeve desire, but that sincerity and stadium-sized chorus? Unbeatable.

“I want you to want me. I need you to need me. I’d love you to love me.”

Over the decades, this song has appeared in countless films, commercials, and cover versions, each time reminding us of its timelessness. It remains a masterclass in how live performance can completely rewrite a song’s story.

Listen now to our song of the day—and if you find yourself singing along, well, that’s the magic of Cheap Trick.

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