That Universal Teenage Longing: The Pure, Exhilarating Plea of New Love
If there’s one song that instantly transports you back to the giddy, overwhelming rush of a first crush—the kind that makes your palms sweat and your heart pound like a drum solo—it’s Shaun Cassidy’s infectious 1977 smash, “I Wanna Be With You.”
This vibrant track, a cornerstone of Cassidy‘s self-titled debut album, holds a special place in the soundtrack of the late 1970s. It wasn’t the star’s first single; that honor belonged to the more modest “Morning Girl” (in some markets) or the blistering cover of Eric Carmen’s “That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” (in the US, where it was actually the A-side with “I Wanna Be With You” as the B-side). However, as a single in its own right in many international markets and eventually appearing prominently on the Shaun Cassidy album that dominated teen bedrooms, “I Wanna Be With You” captured the zeitgeist of youthful pop excitement. The song truly shone when it was released as the follow-up single to his Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping sensation, “Da Doo Ron Ron.”
Chart Success and Context
Released hot on the heels of the monumental success of “Da Doo Ron Ron,” which catapulted Shaun Cassidy into the stratosphere of American teen idol fame, “I Wanna Be With You” proved that his initial success was no fluke. It peaked at an impressive Number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977, cementing his status as one of the era’s biggest pop phenoms. This single was also a certified Gold Record, following the gold status of his first two major single releases. The track was essential to the incredible success of the debut album, Shaun Cassidy, demonstrating that the young star could deliver hit after shimmering hit. It was pure, unadulterated pop bliss, tailored perfectly for the transistor radios and late-night calls of the time.
A Story of Youthful Yearning
The story behind the song is less about a dramatic life event and more about capturing a universal feeling. The track, written by Eric Carmen of The Raspberries fame (who also penned “That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll”), is a perfectly crafted piece of pop simplicity. It speaks directly to the experience of being utterly consumed by a romantic interest. It’s the sound of a heart overflowing, unable to contain the desire to be near the person who makes the world brighter. For millions of teenagers—mostly girls—this song provided the perfect soundtrack to the hopeful, agonizing wait for the phone to ring or the fleeting glance in the school hallway.
Shaun Cassidy‘s delivery is earnest and breathless. He wasn’t just singing a song; he was channeling the collective yearning of his devoted audience. His younger brother, Patrick Cassidy, once reflected on the kind of love Shaun embodied on stage and record—a safe, exhilarating “gateway drug to real love.” This song is that gateway: innocent, urgent, and overwhelmingly sincere.