Metro Station - "Shake It" (2007)

"I'll take you home if you don't leave me at the front door..."
When a song opens with such honest lyrics like those, you know it's going to be good. Simple, to-the-point, just great in every sense, Metro Station's "Shake It" is high-energy power pop that's catchy enough to wake the most comatose of coma patients. Who needs Juicy Fruit gum to get you movin' when you're feeling blah? Turn this one on for an instant pick-me-up in all its cheesy splendor, but be warned... you may feel the urge to bust out into full-on dance mode (or jump around the room like a dork if you have no rhythm). So, reserve this song for times where the aforementioned possibility is welcome, if not encouraged.

"Now, if she moves like this, will you move like that?..."
In all it's synth pop glory, this just might be this generation's follow-up to the 80's classic "Shake It Up" by The Cars (forgive me Ric Ocasek, for I know I have sinned with that comparison). Both will make you happy upon listening, but Metro Station packs even more energy in their 3 minute sugar-high. Much like Hellogoodbye's super-adorable "Here In Your Arms" (one of my favorite pop songs of last year), Metro Station delivers the same danceability... but I think I may even like this song better. Not that either of these two is less embarrassing for me to admit to liking (and by liking I really mean "loving")...

"Tonight you're falling in love (Let me go now!), This feeling's tearing me up (Here we go now!)"
...even though the singer is related to Miley Cyrus (yes, Hannah Montana...eh), I have spent many a moment enjoying "Shake It" whether I'm in the shower, getting ready, in the car on the way home from a great night, or even while dancing around in my undies alone in my room at night when I think no one is around, or worse... listening (eep!). This song excites me each time, like it's the first time, every time.

"Turn me on, so I can turn off the lights..."
Ryan Adams thinks "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)," but maybe that's because he didn't grow up in L.A. on Disney sound stages like these bubble gum boys. Who needs drugs when you can experience the natural high of carefree youth and the relatively infinite feeling of young love? "Shake It" will make you want to grab your crush by the hand, hop your neighbor's fence, strip down to your undies and jump in their pool for a late-night illicit swim. Or crash a school dance so you can make out like horny freshmen in the gym. Or rob a bank together and drive off to Mexico, Bonnie & Clyde style. Whichever cliche you prefer, hopefully you get the point. So Come on! Shake, shake, shake, shake, a-shake it! before you get too old and have to worry about potentially breaking a hip.

You can watch the video, in all its cheesiness... here.