“Why Me?” / “Only You and Me” – Doyle’s Space: Music Hall of Fame – SOS Award

“Why Me?” was the second U.S. single released from Planet P Project’s self-titled 1983 debut album, a project created by American keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and producer Tony Carey. Carey was already well known among rock fans for his tenure with Rainbow during the mid-1970s before relocating to Germany, where he developed both a solo career and the more experimental Planet P Project.

He conceived Planet P Project as an outlet for science-fiction themes, progressive rock influences, and synthesizer-driven arrangements that differed from his more straightforward solo releases. “Why Me?” became the project’s signature song, introducing many listeners to Carey’s futuristic songwriting through heavy MTV exposure

and substantial album-oriented rock radio airplay. Although the Planet P Project itself was essentially a one-man studio endeavor, Carey enlisted a handful of session musicians while playing most of the keyboards, many guitar parts, bass, programming, and lead vocals himself. The song was released by Geffen Records in 1983

and was written entirely by Tony Carey, who also wrote every song on the album. Musically, “Why Me?” blends new wave, progressive rock, arena rock, and synth-pop into a dramatic production built around soaring synthesizers, driving rhythms, layered vocal harmonies, and memorable melodic hooks. The lyrics tell the story from the viewpoint of an astronaut who

suddenly questions why he has been chosen for a dangerous mission. Rather than portraying the heroic confidence often associated with space exploration, Carey instead explores fear, loneliness, uncertainty, and existential doubt. References to launch preparations, Houston mission control,

and the isolation of space create a cinematic atmosphere while simultaneously serving as metaphors for anyone who has found themselves thrust into overwhelming circumstances. One particularly memorable lyric references “the last man to be here” not returning until 2010, a nod toward science-fiction concepts involving long-duration spaceflight and suspended time.

The song’s emotional core lies in the repeated plea of “Why me?” which transforms what could have been a novelty science-fiction song into a universal expression of anxiety and vulnerability. The accompanying music video played a major role in the song’s success. During MTV’s formative years, videos with imaginative concepts often received repeated airplay,

and “Why Me?” benefited from this exposure. The video featured striking space imagery combined with Tony Carey’s performance footage, complementing the song’s futuristic narrative. MTV rotation helped the single cross over from rock radio into the pop market, making it one of the better-known progressive-leaning singles of the early 1980s.

While Planet P Project never became a major commercial act, “Why Me?” has remained its defining recording and is still frequently cited whenever discussions arise about overlooked MTV-era classics. Commercially, “Why Me?” became Planet P Project’s biggest hit. In the United States it reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks chart while also crossing over to the Billboard Hot 100,

where it peaked at No. 64. Those chart positions represented the high-water mark for the Planet P Project name, although Tony Carey would later enjoy greater mainstream solo success with “A Fine, Fine Day” and “The First Day of Summer.” Within the Planet P catalog, however, “Why Me?” remains the highest-ranking and most recognizable recording.

It continues to receive airplay on classic rock and 1980s specialty programming and is generally regarded as one of the stronger examples of progressive rock successfully adapting to the MTV era. Several versions of “Why Me?” have been issued over the years. The standard 7-inch single presented the familiar album version, running approximately four minutes.

Promotional edits for radio were also circulated in some markets. A 12-inch single was released featuring an extended remix that lengthened the instrumental passages, emphasized the synthesizer textures, and gave the rhythm section additional room to develop, making it better suited to club play while preserving the song’s dramatic atmosphere.

The extended version became especially popular among collectors because it was not included on the original LP and remained comparatively difficult to obtain for many years. Later CD reissues and digital collections have made both the standard version and extended mixes more readily available.

The B-side, “Only You and Me,” provides an interesting contrast to the science-fiction intensity of the A-side. Also written entirely by Tony Carey, the song closes the original Planet P album and features lead vocals by David Thomas rather than Carey himself. Musically, it is a more restrained and melodic composition,

emphasizing emotional intimacy over futuristic storytelling. The arrangement relies on tasteful keyboards, guitar textures, and a gentler vocal performance that gives the song a reflective quality. While it never achieved the recognition of “Why Me?,” many longtime fans consider it one of the hidden gems on the album because of its strong melody and understated production.

As the closing track, it serves as a calm emotional resolution following an album filled with technological imagery, political tension, and science-fiction themes. One of the more interesting aspects of Planet P Project is that many casual listeners never realized the group was essentially Tony Carey working under an alternate identity.

The pseudonym allowed him to separate his more conceptual and progressive material from his commercial solo recordings. In retrospect, “Why Me?” has become one of the defining cult favorites of early MTV, admired for its ambitious subject matter, polished production, and memorable hook. It also anticipated later popular interest in realistic science-fiction