You Really Got Me

“You Really Got Me” is a song by the British band The Kinks written by their leader, singer and guitarist Ray Davies. It was published in August 1964 and the following month it was already at number 1 on the UK singles chart, where it stayed for two weeks.

The song begins and is fundamentally based on a guitar riff executed with fifth chords and with an aggressive sound and quite a bit of overdrive, which makes it one of the key references for the subsequent development of some rock genres such as hard rock, punk rock or even heavy metal.

The song was ranked at number 82 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the greatest songs ever, at number 9 on Q magazine’s list of the greatest guitar songs and was proclaimed by the BBC as the best British song of the decade 1955-1965. It has also been performed by a large number of artists and bands, including the version made by Van Halen on their first album in 1978.

Personnel:
– Ray Davies: Lead vocals and rhythm guitar.
– Dave Davies: Lead guitar and backing vocals.
– Pete Quaife: Bass and backing vocals.
– Mick Avory: Drums.

 

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