“Tik Tok” by Kesha (Ke$ha) became the number 1 song in the world in January 2010. Not just America. The world. It’s huge. And like Ke$ha’s namesake, it’s bringing in big money for this poorly named pop star.

Don’t know Kesha or “Tik Tok”? I don’t believe you. If you have turned on a radio, heard the background music in a Panda Express or McDonalds, or used your ears in 2010 or 2011, I’m pretty certain you’ve heard “Tik Tok.” It has perched happily atop the Billboard Top 100 for five weeks. That’s longer than Lyndsay Lohan stays sober or dates someone. Is also a stellar achievement for a Kesha, a woman who has never released another hit prior to “Tik Tok” but released plenty of them afterwards.

But I’ll be honest; I could care less about Ke$ha, her big hit or the dollar sign in her name.

What I really care about is that “Tik Tok” reminds me of the classic early hip-hop song titled “Cars That Go Boom” by L’Trimm. Now that’s a song that deserved to be #1 for 52 weeks. Or forever.

Released in 1988, “Cars That Go Boom” is a compelling commentary on one of the 1980s most critical issues, i.e., cars that go boom. Bunny and Tigre liked these cars. A lot. The chorus says it all. Think of it as a new golden rule.

We like the cars, the cars that go boom,
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.
We like the cars, the cars that go boom.
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.

Buy “Cars That Go Boom”

I couldn’t agree more.

Alas, L’Trimm and “Cars That Go Boom” was destined to become a one-hit wonder. But VH1 did name “Cars that Go Boom” one of the 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Hits of All Time. So there’s that.

Mostly, there’s this:

Listen to Cars That Go Boom by L’Trimm

Listen to Tik Tok by Kesha

Buy “Tik Tok”

“Cars That Go Boom” lyrics

So many kinds, where can we start?
we like them dumb and we like them smart.
I like the ones with the pretty eyes,
Well i like all kinds of guys.
Stop. What happened, how about the ones we especially like?
Which ones?
You know the ones with the cars that go..
I hear you..
Hit it!

{beat……………}
It was me and the posse with Bunny (D)
We were cruising in the Jags and the Lambourgini,
When low and behold there appeared a mirage,
He was hooking up a car in his daddy’s garage.
We stopped short, did a double take,
He was looking so fly, I thought I wasn’t awake.
He was obviously hooking up bass, I asume,
But then he turned a little button and the car went boom.

We like the cars, the cars that go boom,
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.
We like the cars, the cars that go boom.
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.

We like them short, and we like them tall,
We like them one, and we like them all.
They’re always adding speakers when they find the room,
Cuz they know we like the guys with the cars that go boom.
And see my boyfriend really knows where it’s at,
He’s got 50 inch woofers all along the back.
He makes a comment on going to my room,
But I’d rather stay out with his car that goes boom.

We like the cars, the cars that go boom,
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.
We like the cars, the cars that go boom.
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.

Now if your car ain’t got it, go out and get it,
We like the boom and don’t you forget it.
So turn down the treble, and flaunt your bass,
So your car can be heard almost any place.
Cuz when you’re in the street you can’t go far,
Without hearing the boom pouring out your car.
So if your speaker’s weak, then please turn it off,
Coz we like the cars that sound so tough.

We like the cars, the cars that go boom,
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.
We like the cars, the cars that go boom.
We’re Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom.

Everybody just beep your horn
Everybody just beep your horn if you hear us,
Now clap!
Hit it!
Beep, beep beep beep beep!
Come on everybody!
Hey, hey hey hey hey!
Beep, beep beep beep beep!
{beat continues……}