#michael sembello

348. Michael Sembello - Maniac

Maniac
Performed by Michael Sembello
Written by Dennis Matkosky and Michael Sembello

On this day, in 1983, the number one song in the US was this little soundtrack ditty.  Michael Sembello’s wife accidentally included it on a tape sent to the execs at Paramount what were looking for songs to use in their upcoming film, Flashdance.

Me, being the impressionable youth that I was at the time, was not allowed to see Flashdance, and with good reason.  It had those trampy women dancing on stages for money and taking their clothes off.  I couldn’t possibly understand (I didn’t) the context at that age, all I knew was that the second that woman pulled the chain and the water dropped on her, I got sent out of the room.  Rated ‘R’ didn’t mean I couldn’t watch it, but if it was going to go over my head (translation: included overtly sexual things), I wasn’t going to be watching it.  I’m fairly certain I’ve seen it a few times since, but it’s not something I’ll go out of my way to watch.  Though I have to say, 19-year-old Jennifer Beals looked pretty damn awesome in her starched white cuffs sitting in the restaurant.  

But I digress…

The lyrics originally had a much darker tone.  It was about a serial killer, and was going to be used in a movie with the same title.  But, it didn’t work for  some particular reason, and got changed to fit a dancer that trained “maniacally.”  Good thing too, otherwise nobody would remember this one.  

Typical early 80′s sound went with this, synthesizers, electronic drums, and other family members providing backing vocals.  I don’t think it would pass today, but it was what it was for its time.

Lyrics:

Just a steel-town girl on a Saturday night, lookin’ for the fight of her life
In the real-time world no one sees her at all, they all say she’s crazy

Locking rhythms to the beat of her heart, changing movement into light
She has danced into the danger zone, when a dancer becomes a dance

It can cut you like a knife, if the gift becomes the fire
On a wire between will and what will be

She’s a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
She’s a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before

On the ice blue line of insanity is a place most never see.
It’s a hard won place of mystery, touch it, but can’t hold it
You work all your life for that moment in time, it could come or pass you by
It’s a push-shove world, but there’s always a chance
If the hunger stays alive

There’s a cold kinetic heat struggling, stretching for defeat
Never stopping with her head against the wind

She’s a maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
She’s a maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before

It can cut you like a knife, if the gift becomes the fire
On a wire between will and what will be

She’s a maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
[repeats out]