The Waitresses, I Know What Boys Like | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 14^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we highlight “I Know What Boys Like” performed by The Waitresses.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 14^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024) we dive into “I Know What Boys Like”,  the one hit wonder by The Waitresses. 

Per The Waitresses – specifically Patty Donahue: “I know what boys like / I know what guys want / I know what boys like / I’ve what boys like.” Word.  “I Know What Boys Like” is the sole hit by the American new-wave band.  As infectious as the song is, it didn’t ignite the pop charts, peaking modestly at no. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Still, this Chris Butler-penned gem is considered a classic from the 1980s, appearing as the fifth track on their 1982 album, Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful?.

The lyrics aren’t deep, as evidenced by the excerpted lyrics.  Donahue continues singing in the first verse, “I see them looking / I make them want me / I like to tease them / They want to touch me / I never let them.” The second verse is similar to the first, where sassy Patti mentions her “cat moves,” singing, “Fun to frustrate them / They get so angry / Like pouty children / Denied their candy / I laugh right at them.” In the bridge, she acts as if she’ll let the boys indulge, but it’s hard to believe anyone who asserts, “You can trust me / Sucker.” Besides the simple but entertaining lyrics, and Donahue’s fun, tongue-in-cheek performance, the instrumental delivers the goods too.  It’s the prickly guitar, the big bass line, the quirky groove and unconventional phrases. There’s also raucous saxophone in the mix enhancing the timbre.  “I Know What Boys Like” – a classic that deserved wider recognition.

The Waitresses // Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful? // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1982

The Waitresses, I Know What Boys Like: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 14 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; Elias Souza from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]