Mickey (song)

"Kitty"
Song by Racey
from the album Smash and Grab
Released 1979
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mike Chapman
"Mickey"

Artwork for U.S. vinyl release
Single by Toni Basil
from the album Word of Mouth
B-side "Hanging Around"
"Thief on the Loose"
Released 1982
Genre
Length
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Toni Basil singles chronology
"Breakaway"
(1966)
"Mickey"
(1982)
"Nobody"
(1982)

"Breakaway"
(1966)
"Mickey"
(1982)
"Nobody"
(1982)

"Mickey" is a 1981 song recorded by American singer and choreographer Toni Basil on her debut album Word of Mouth. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as "Kitty", it was first recorded by UK music group Racey during 1979 appearing on their debut album Smash and Grab. Toni Basil changed the name from Kitty to Mickey to make the song about a man.

Release

Toni Basil's version of the song was initially issued as a single in the UK in May 1981, but did not chart at that time. Reissued in January 1982, "Mickey" quickly became a substantial UK hit, reaching number 2. It was issued in Australia by April, where over the summer it rose to number 1.

Finally issued in North America in August 1982, "Mickey" became a number 1 hit in the US and Canada in late 1982, a year and a half after its original release.

Background

For years, it had been rumored that the name was changed to Mickey because Basil was fond of The Monkees' drummer and lead vocalist Micky Dolenz after meeting him on the set of their movie Head for which she was the choreographer; however, this claim has been denied by Basil, who said she didn't know Dolenz that well.[4] Rumors also circulated that the lines "any way you want to do it / I'll take it like a man", in the gender-swapped lyrics, referred to anal sex; Basil strenuously denies this interpretation, calling it "ridiculous".[4]

Two different music videos for the song were recorded, one featuring Basil with a backing band, and another featuring costuming and choreography inspired by cheerleader dance routines. Filmed in 1981, the Cheerleader video is considered the very first choreographed dance video, and the opening stunt, where a cheerleader jumps through the center of a human pyramid, is now illegal in competition.

The single scored number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week and number two in the UK Singles Chart. The song was Basil's only Top 40 success.[5][6] It was named #5 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time, #16 on 20 to 1's Top 20 One Hit Wonders Countdown and #57 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s. It has also appeared on multiple greatest or best lists and countdowns.

Charts and certifications

Preceded by
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Australian Kent Music Report number-one single
7 June 1982 – 14 June 1982 (2 weeks)
Succeeded by
"I've Never Been to Me" by Charlene
Preceded by
"Truly" by Lionel Richie
Canadian RPM number-one single
25 December 1982 – 15 January 1983 (4 weeks)
Succeeded by
"Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth
US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
11 December 1982 (1 week)
Succeeded by
"Maneater" by Hall & Oates

Track listings

US 7" single
  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Thief on the Loose" – 3:50
International 7" single
  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Hanging Around" – 4:06
US 12" single
  1. "Mickey" (Special Club mix) (Short) – 4:32
  2. "Mickey" (Special Club mix) (Long) – 5:58
Alternate US 12" single
  1. "Mickey" (Special Club mix) – 5:58
  2. "Mickey" (Spanish version) – 5:12

Lolly version

"Mickey"
Single by Lolly
from the album My First Album
Released 1999
Length 3:36 (album version)
Label Polydor
Producer(s) Dufflebag Boys
Lolly singles chronology
"Viva La Radio"
(1999)
"Mickey"
(1999)
"Big Boys Don't Cry"
(1999)

"Viva La Radio"
(1999)
"Mickey"
(1999)
"Big Boys Don't Cry"
(1999)

The UK singer Lolly scored a top ten hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1999. In addition, there is also a karaoke version of the cover in the album.

Track listings

UK CD Single #1[26]
  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Sweetheart" – 2:54
  3. "Mickey" (Karaoke version) - 3:36
UK CD Single #2[27]
  1. "Mickey" - 3:36
  2. "Mickey" (Creator remix) - 5:58
  3. "Mickey" (D-Bop remix edit) - 4:22
  4. "Mickey" (The Bold & The Beautiful remix) - 5:50
UK Cassette Single[28]
  1. "Mickey" - 3:36
  2. "Mickey" (Karaoke version) - 3:36

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 14
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29] 4

Other notable versions

Songs which sample the Toni Basil recording

See also

References

  1. Cateforis, Theo (2011). Are We Not New Wave? : Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-03470-7.
  2. 1 2 Robbins, Ira. "Toni Basil". Trouser Press. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Mickey / Thief On The Loose". 45cat.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 Day, Adrienne (17 August 2012). "Vulture Investigates: Is Toni Basil's 'Mickey' Really About...Well, You Know?". Vulture. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Toni Basil – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  6. Huey, Steve. "Toni Basil – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  7. "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1980's". World Charts. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Toni Basil – Mickey" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6192." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  10. "Musicline.de – Toni Basil Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  11. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mickey". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Toni Basil – Mickey" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  13. "Charts.org.nz – Toni Basil – Mickey". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  14. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  15. "Archive Chart: 1982-03-06" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  16. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 18, 1982". Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  17. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  18. "Top Singles – Volume 37, No. 19, December 25, 1982". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  19. "End of Year Charts 1982". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  20. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1982". Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  21. "Top Singles – Volume 39, No. 17, December 24, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  22. "Top 100 Hits for 1983". The Longbored Surfer. Archived from the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  23. "Canadian single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". Music Canada.
  24. "British single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Mickey in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  25. "American single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  26. "Lolly (2) – Mickey". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  27. "Lolly (2) – Mickey – The Mixes". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  28. "Lolly (2) – Mickey". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  29. "Archive Chart: 1999-09-18" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  30. "Främling" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  31. McLeod, Kembrew; DiCola, Peter (2011). Creative License: The Law and Culture of Digital Sampling. Duke University Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-8223-4875-7.
  32. "Nitty's Hey Bitty samples Toni Basil's Mickey". WhoSampled. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  33. "Limp Bizkit's Nookie [Androids vs. Las Putas Remix] samples Toni Basil's Mickey". WhoSampled. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  34. "Boards of Canada's Nine-Rubber Wisdom samples Toni Basil's Mickey". WhoSampled. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
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