advised the group to slow their songs down. "We Got the Beat" remained an exception to this advice, though the band lengthened it slightly by added a few instrumental bars at the song's start. "We Got the Beat" led off the second side of the Go-Go's debut album, Beauty and the Beat, released in July 1981, and served as the album's second single in January 1982, now with another album track, "Can't Stop the World", as its B-side. Clocking in at minutes, the second studio version song is recognizable by its drumming intro. The song's lyrics mention various early 1960s dances such as the Pony, the Watusi, and Go-Go dancing. The song's music video, filmed at a live performance at Palos Verdes High School in Los Angeles on December 4, 1981, received heavy airplay on MTV at the time. It gained further exposure when it was used in the opening sequence of the Amy Heckerling-directed film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, released in August 1982. The Go-Go's performed the song, along with "Vacation" and "Our Lips Are Sealed", during the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Reception Cash Box said "The Grammy Awards-nominated Go-Go's continue on their winning ways with this new recording of the cut that started it all for the girls in 1980 as an English single on stiff, punchy, to-the-point power-pop." Billboard called it a "catchy rocker" that has "the same endearing charm" as "Our Lips Are Sealed." Chart performance "We Got the Beat" became the Go-Go's biggest hit, spending three weeks at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, behind Joan Jett & the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'n Roll". It was during the song's time in the U.S. top 10 that Beauty and the Beat topped the U.S. Billboard 200. Weekly charts Year-end charts Track listing UK 7" Single (1980, Stiff Records) "We Got the Beat" (Caffey) "How Much More" (Caffey/Wiedlin) UK 7" Single (1981, I.R.S. Records) "We Got the Beat" (Caffey) "Skidmarks on My Heart" (Caffey/Carlisle) US 7" Single (1981, I.R.S. Records) "We Got the Beat" (Caffey) - 2:30 "Can't Stop the World" (Valentine) - 3:22 Debby Ryan version A cover of "We Got the Beat" was recorded in 2012 by American singer-songwriter Debby Ryan from the soundtrack of the movie Radio Rebel. It was produced by Matthew Gerrard, Ali Dee Theodore and Matthew Tishler. A music video was released