DAVID CASSIDY – “I THINK I LOVE YOU”: THE RELUCTANT HIT THAT DEFINED A GENERATION
In 1970, “I Think I Love You” burst onto the music scene, performed by a rising young actor named David Cassidy. But behind the catchy chorus and bubblegum beat lies a surprising truth: Cassidy didn’t even want to sing the song in the first place.
🎬 A Song Born from Television
Written by Tony Romeo, “I Think I Love You” was created for The Partridge Family, a fictional musical sitcom about a family band. David Cassidy, who played Keith Partridge, was chosen to perform lead vocals.
But Cassidy was skeptical from the start:
“I felt like I was singing a kids’ song. It wasn’t the kind of music I believed in.”
🎤 An Accidental Smash
Despite his doubts, the song soared. It reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, even overtaking The Beatles’ Let It Be. It became one of the fastest-selling singles of the year and turned David Cassidy into America’s #1 teen idol overnight.
Girls screamed, posters sold out, and Cassidy’s face was suddenly everywhere — from lunchboxes to teen magazines.
🧨 The Curse of Being Too Famous
Ironically, the song’s success haunted Cassidy for years. While the world embraced the clean-cut, smiling pop star, he felt trapped.
“I wanted to be taken seriously as a rock artist. But people only saw me as the guy from that song.”
Still, Cassidy never turned his back on the song. He continued to perform it for fans well into his later years, acknowledging its importance in his journey.
📀 The Song’s Lasting Impact
“I Think I Love You” remains one of the most recognizable pop songs of the 1970s. Its influence has lived on through covers, samples, and references — a tribute to its timeless hook and the bittersweet charm it carries.
For many, it’s more than just a catchy tune. It’s a memory of simpler times, family evenings in front of the TV, and the golden age of wholesome pop stardom.
💬 Final Thoughts
David Cassidy may not have chosen “I Think I Love You” — but in a way, the song chose him. And though he resisted it at first, it ultimately became his defining anthem — one that still echoes through pop culture, decades later.