What I Like About You (The Romantics Song) - Wikipedia

1979 single by The Romantics

"What I Like About You"
Single by the Romantics
from the album The Romantics
B-side	"First in Line"
Released	December 1979
Recorded	September 1979
Studio	Coconuts Recording (Miami Beach)
Genre	Power pop[1][2] pop rock[3] new wave[4]
Length	2:55 2:49 (music video)
Label	Nemperor Epic
Songwriters	Wally Palmar Mike Skill Jimmy Marinos
Producer	Pete Solley
The Romantics singles chronology
"Tell It to Carrie" (1978) "What I Like About You" (1979) "When I Look in Your Eyes" (1980)
Music video
"What I Like About You" on YouTube

"What I Like About You" is a song by American rock band the Romantics, released in December 1979 as the lead single from their 1980 self-titled debut album. The song was written by band members Wally Palmar, Mike Skill and Jimmy Marinos. Marinos, the band's drummer, is the lead vocalist on the song. The band filmed a music video for the song that appeared frequently on MTV during the early 1980s.

Covers of the song include versions by Michael Morales in 1989, by Lillix in 2003 on the Freaky Friday soundtrack as well as in The WB comedy series What I Like About You,[citation needed] and by 5 Seconds of Summer for their 2014 self-titled debut album.

Background

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"What I Like About You" was written by Palmar, Marinos and Skill around a guitar part by Skill. The Romantics recorded the song and the accompanying album at Coconuts Recording Studio in Miami Beach, Florida.[5]

It reached number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was most successful in Australia, where it reached number two on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report) for two weeks and became the 13th most successful single for 1980.[6]

Guitar Hero lawsuit

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In November 2007, the Romantics filed a federal lawsuit against Activision, the publisher of Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, claiming that the video game manufacturer had infringed on the band's rights by featuring a soundalike recording of "What I Like About You" in the game.[7] The Romantics lost their case in December 2007, with the judge stating that Activision had taken all the necessary steps in developing its product.[8]

Charts

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Weekly charts

[edit] Weekly chart performance for "What I Like About You"

Chart (1979–1980)	Peakposition
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9]	2
US Billboard Hot 100[10]	49
US Cash Box Top 100[11]	53

Chart (2011)	Peakposition
US Rock Digital Songs[12]	46

Year-end charts

[edit] Year-end chart performance for "What I Like About You"

Chart (1980)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13]	13

Certifications and sales

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Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14]	Gold	50,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

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Michael Morales version

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Michael Morales released a version of "What I Like About You" in 1989, as the follow-up to his hit "Who Do You Give Your Love To". His version reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, eclipsing the position of the original version.[15]

Poison version

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"What I Like About You" was covered by American rock band Poison as the lead single from their cover album Poison'd! (2007). The band released a music video for the single.

5 Seconds of Summer version

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"What I Like About You"
Single by 5 Seconds of Summer
from the EP She Looks So Perfect and the album LiveSOS
Released	December 2, 2014[16]
Recorded	2013–2014
Genre	Pop rock power pop
Length	2:31
Label	Capitol
Songwriters	Wally Palmar Mike Skill Jimmy Marinos
Producer	John Feldmann
5 Seconds of Summer singles chronology
"Good Girls" (2014) "What I Like About You" (2014) "She's Kinda Hot" (2015)
Music video
"What I Like About You" (live at the Forum) on YouTube

The song was covered by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer for their 2014 She Looks So Perfect EP, reaching number 137 on the UK Singles Chart. The studio mix of the song is included on the group's 2014 live album LiveSOS, and was serviced to American mainstream radio on December 2, 2014, as its lead single.[16] It received strong airplay for the week ending December 28, 2014 and debuted on the Billboard Pop Songs chart, where it has since peaked at number 30.[17][18]

The band performed the song live at the 2014 American Music Awards on November 23, 2014, ahead of its release.[19] They also performed the song live on Good Morning America on August 21, 2015, in promotion of their new single She's Kinda Hot.[20]

Music video

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A lyric video for the live version was uploaded to 5 Seconds of Summer's Vevo account November 23, 2014, the same day as their AMA performance.[21] The official music video was directed by Tom van Schelven and premiered on December 5, 2014.[22] It uses the live audio rather than the studio mix and features concert footage from the group's performance at The Forum near Los Angeles, as well behind-the-scenes clips and shots of the audience.[23]

Charts

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Chart (2014–2015)	Peakposition
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[24]	76
UK Singles (OCC)[25]	137
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[18]	30

Certifications

[edit] Certifications for "What I Like About You (Live In LA)"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26]	Gold	35,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]

1. ^ Prato, Greg. "The Romantics – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
2. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Rockin' 80's [Sony] - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
3. ^ Campbell, Al. Various Artists - Legends: For Your Love (2004) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
4. ^ Kiss, Tony (August 16, 2016). "The Romantics keep 80s sound alive". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
5. ^ Eskow, Gary (December 1, 2006). "Classic Tracks: The Romantics' 'What I Like About You'". MixOnline.com. Retrieved November 20, 2010.
6. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1980". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
7. ^ "80's Band The Romantics Sue 'Guitar Hero,' Claim Infringement". Associated Press via FoxNews.com. November 22, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
8. ^ Kuchera, Ben (December 21, 2007). "The Romantics lose suit over Guitar Hero song". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 257. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
10. ^ "The Romantics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
11. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 3/29/80". cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
12. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard Rock Digital Songs for the Romantics. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
13. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
14. ^ "International Certifications" (PDF). Cash Box. October 25, 1980. p. 43. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via World Radio History.
15. ^ Whitson, Joel (2000). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles: 1955–99. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 868. ISBN 0-89820-139-X.
16. ^ a b "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
17. ^ Cantor, Brian (December 29, 2014). "5 Seconds of Summer's "What I Like About You" is One of Pop's 40 Most-Played". Headline Planet. Cantortainment Inc. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
18. ^ a b "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
19. ^ Strecker, Erin (November 23, 2014). "5 Seconds of Summer Rock Out During 'What I Like About You' at the 2014 AMAs: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
20. ^ "WATCH: 5 Seconds Of Summer Perform Their HUGE New Song 'She's Kinda Hot' On GMA". Capital. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
21. ^ 5SOSVEVO (November 23, 2014). "5 Seconds Of Summer - What I Like About You (Lyric Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
22. ^ 5SOSVEVO (December 5, 2014). "5 Seconds Of Summer - What I Like About You: Live At The Forum". YouTube. Retrieved January 28, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
23. ^ Scott, Jason (December 5, 2014). "5 Seconds Of Summer Drop Live 'What I Like About You' Video—Watch Now!". Pop Dust. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
24. ^ "5 Seconds Of Summer – What I Like About You" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
25. ^ "CHART: CLUK Update 5.04.2014 (wk13)". Zobbel.de/. Official Charts Company.
26. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2025 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 13, 2025.

External links

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• Song review, includes an introduction on the Romantics
• Documentary on the Guitar Hero legal dispute

v t e The Romantics
Wally Palmar Mike Skill Rich Cole Brad Elvis Clem Burke Johnny "Bee" Badanjek
Studio albums	The Romantics National Breakout Strictly Personal In Heat Rhythm Romance 61/49
Singles	"What I Like About You" "Talking in Your Sleep"

v t e 5 Seconds of Summer
Luke Hemmings Calum Hood Michael Clifford Ashton Irwin
Studio albums	5 Seconds of Summer Sounds Good Feels Good Youngblood Calm 5SOS5 Everyone's a Star!
Live albums	LiveSOS Meet You There Tour Live The Feeling of Falling Upwards
Extended plays	Somewhere New
Singles	"She Looks So Perfect" "Don't Stop" "Amnesia" "Good Girls" "What I Like About You" "She's Kinda Hot" "Hey Everybody!" "Jet Black Heart" "Girls Talk Boys" "Want You Back" "Youngblood" "Valentine" "Killer Queen" "Lie to Me" "Easier" "Teeth" "No Shame" "Old Me" "Wildflower" "2011" "Complete Mess" "Take My Hand" "Me Myself & I" "Blender" "Older" "Lighter" "Not OK" "Boyband" "Telephone Busy"
Featured singles	"Who Do You Love"
Promotional singles	"Kiss Me Kiss Me" "Everything I Didn't Say" "Fly Away" "Bad Omens"
Concert tours	Rock Out with Your Socks Out Tour (2015) Sounds Live Feels Live World Tour (2016) Meet You There Tour (2018) Take My Hand World Tour (2022) Everyone's a Star! World Tour (2026)
Solo projects	Luke Hemmings When Facing the Things We Turn Away From Boy Michael Clifford Sidequest Calum Hood Order Chaos Order Ashton Irwin Superbloom Blood on the Drums
Related articles	Awards and nominations Discography

v t e Poison
Bret Michaels Rikki Rockett Bobby Dall C.C. DeVille Richie Kotzen Blues Saraceno
Studio albums	Look What the Cat Dragged In Open Up and Say... Ahh! Flesh & Blood Native Tongue Crack a Smile... and More! Power to the People Hollyweird Poison'd!
Live albums	Swallow This Live Great Big Hits Live! Bootleg Seven Days Live (CD) Live, Raw & Uncut (CD)
Compilations	Poison's Greatest Hits: 1986–1996 Rock Champions Best of Ballads & Blues The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock Double Dose: Ultimate Hits
Videos	Sight for Sore Ears Flesh, Blood, & Videotape Swallow This Live: Flesh & Blood World Tour Seven Days Live Poison Greatest Video Hits Nothing But a Good Time! Unauthorized Poison Video Hits The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock (DVD) Live, Raw & Uncut (DVD)
Singles	"Cry Tough" "Talk Dirty to Me" "I Want Action" "I Won't Forget You" "Rock and Roll All Nite" "Nothin' But a Good Time" "Fallen Angel" "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" "Your Mama Don't Dance" "Unskinny Bop" "Something to Believe In" "Ride the Wind" "Life Goes On" "So Tell Me Why" "Stand" "Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)" "Shut Up, Make Love" "The Last Song" "Rockstar" "Squeeze Box" "Shooting Star" "We're an American Band" "What I Like About You" "SexyBack"
Solo albums	A Letter from Death Row Glitter 4 Your Soul Songs of Life Freedom of Sound Rock My World Custom Built Jammin' with Friends True Grit
Tours	Nothing But a Good Time Tour
Related articles	Discography Bret Michaels discography Samantha 7 Devil City Angels A Letter from Death Row (film) The Surreal Life Rock of Love Season 1 2 3 Celebrity Apprentice 3 Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It Rock My RV with Bret Michaels Celebrity Apprentice: All-Stars

v t e Lillix
Tasha-Ray Evin Lacey-Lee Evin Eric Hoodicoff Cameron Brass Alex Varon
Former members	Louise Burns Ashley Grobell Sierra Hills Kim Urhahn Alicia Warrington Scott Thompson Britt Black
Albums	Falling Uphill
Singles	"It's About Time" "What I Like About You" "Tomorrow"

Authority control databases	MusicBrainz work