TS: The Cars' "Drive" vs Benjamin Orr's "Stay The Night"

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I just heard "Stay The Night," Orr's only solo hit, at the credit union. It sounds like a better version of "Drive" (not one of my favorite Cars songs). Thoughts?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

don't think I've ever heard the Orr one, but I'd be very surprised if it could top "Drive". Sounds trite and all, but when they played it at Live8 in London over the clips of the starving African kids, it really hit me what a great song that was.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

OTM
It didn't occur to me that the song is more about salvation than "booty call."

― Tigerstyle Shamanic Vision Quester (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

but it's got nothing to do with starving children!!!

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

I don't really like either song much. Drive has grown on me over the years, but I still hold it in contempt from 1984. Stay the night was a bit of a throwaway as I remember, but a little bit catchy, in a "get that damn song out of my head" kinda way.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

It's tough to pick between them, but I think "Drive" has a bit more longevity.

(whether or not I see it this way based on the fact "Drive" is still regularly played on radio is confusing me)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

though you can Madonna's "Vogue" over images of fly-covered African children and it'd still cause a lump in the throat, no?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

besides the "who's gonna drive you home?" part (admittedly a large part of the song), the rest of the song seemed to fit pretty well. "We can't go on / thinking nothing's wrong," etc.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

most underrated Cars single: "Since You're Gone".

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

ah... my favorite (best handclaps)

― Tigerstyle Shamanic Vision Quester (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Yes, "Since You're Gone" rules.

But to the topic: I'll go with "Drive," because "Stay the Night" has that irritating vocalism in the title phrase where Orr tries to get two syllables out of "night" - and not in the perfectly acceptable rock enunciation of "Niy-yite," but more of a tight-sounding "niy-yit."

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 17:13 (twenty years ago)

"stay the night" always hits me as a contrived attempt at re-creating the formula of "drive" in hopes of catapulting orr to superstardom as a solo artist. (orr and ocasek were not getting along well at this point)
it's a pretty good tune but it can't gain much traction when compared to that other monster.

"drive" for sure.

― ZionTrain (ZionTrain), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

The keyboards aren't as slushy on "Stay The Night." And there's something, well, courtly about Orr's vocal; it's like he's trying to snatch the Bowie-Ferry Pseud crown from Ocasek and for once succeeding.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

It's been a bajillion years since I've heard "Stay the Night," but "Drive" is so celestial that I can't imagine it competes.

Bejamin Orr kinda looked like Rutger Hauer with a mullet.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 13 July 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

fifteen years pass...

STAY THE NIGHT
LET A LITTLE LOVE SHOOOOW

― Lady Antibody (Neanderthal), Friday, 24 July 2020 04:26 (five years ago)

two years pass...

^this song seriously rules and needs a second life.

― stank viola (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 28 September 2022 02:32 (three years ago)

a CVS classic.

― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 28 September 2022 02:33 (three years ago)

i really enjoy dated sounding 80s mood pop like this. the more second tier the better.

― stank viola (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 28 September 2022 02:35 (three years ago)

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