"Emotion in Motion" is a song by
Ric Ocasek
Richard Theodore Otcasek (March 23, 1944 – September 15, 2019), known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock ...
, the main songwriter and lead vocalist for
The Cars
The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek ( rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (bass guitar), Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), ...
. It was featured on his second solo album, ''
This Side of Paradise
''This Side of Paradise'' is the debut novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in 1920. It examines the lives and morality of carefree American youth at the dawn of the Jazz Age. Its protagonist, Amory Blaine, is an attractive ...
'', and released as a single in late 1986. The tune topped the
Album Rock Tracks chart and reached number 15 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. The song features
Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new wav ...
' frontman
Roland Orzabal
Roland Orzabal (born Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana; 22 August 1961) is a British musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. He is best known as a co-founder of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint v ...
as a guest musician. It was Ocasek's
only top 40 hit as a solo artist.
Background
Ocasek was a founding member, lead singer and principal songwriter of the new wave rock band The Cars. Following the group's 1985 ''
Greatest Hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
'' release, its members split up to pursue solo projects. Lead guitarist
Elliot Easton
Elliot Easton (born Elliot Steinberg, December 18, 1953) is an American guitarist. He played lead guitar and sang backing vocals for The Cars, and his guitar solos are an integral part of the band's music. Easton has also recorded music as a so ...
released a solo album in 1985, and both Ocasek and singer/bassist
Benjamin Orr
Benjamin Orzechowski (September 8, 1947 – October 3, 2000), known professionally as Benjamin Orr, was an American musician best known as the bassist, co-lead vocalist, and co-founder of the rock band The Cars. He sang lead vocals on sever ...
did the same in 1986.
Just as "Emotion in Motion" was Ocasek's only solo song to reach the Top 40, Orr's "
Stay the Night" was the latter's only solo Top 40 hit.
The band reunited to record 1987's ''
Door to Door
Door-to-door is a canvassing technique that is generally used for sales, marketing, advertising, evangelism or campaigning, in which the person or persons walk from the door of one house to the door of another, trying to sell or advertise a ...
'', which produced "
You Are the Girl
"You Are the Girl" is a 1987 song by the Cars, from their album ''Door to Door''. It was released as a single in August 1987, reaching number 17 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It also reached number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and numbe ...
", the group's last Top 40 single.
Charts
References
{{Ric Ocasek
1986 singles
Geffen Records singles
Song recordings produced by Ric Ocasek
Song recordings produced by Ross Cullum
Song recordings produced by Chris Hughes (record producer)
Songs written by Ric Ocasek