UK Top 40 Miss! There are quite a few songs that for one reason or another didn’t make the UK Top 40 in the 80s. Here this is one of the songs we believe should have been a hit in the UK.
Michael Sembello is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for his work in pop, soul, and film music during the 1980s. Born in 1954 in Philadelphia, he began his career as a session musician, notably playing guitar for Stevie Wonder on the landmark album Songs in The Key Of Life. Transitioning to a solo career, Sembello achieved worldwide fame with his 1983 hit “Maniac,” featured on the Flashdance soundtrack.
The song became an iconic anthem of the decade, earning him a Grammy nomination and cementing his place in pop culture history. Beyond his solo success, Sembello has written and produced for a wide range of artists, showcasing his versatility and deep musicality. His fusion of pop hooks, soulful musicianship, and cinematic flair continues to define his enduring legacy in 80s music.
Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” is one of the most electrifying songs to come out of the 1980s, bursting with energy and unforgettable hooks. Released in 1983 as part of the Flashdance soundtrack, the song perfectly captured the decade’s passion for ambition, movement, and dreams. With its driving beat, fiery guitar riffs, and Sembello’s powerful vocals, “Maniac” became an instant classic, racing up the charts and earning a Grammy nomination.
It remains inseparable from the iconic dance scenes of Flashdance, symbolizing the fearless determination and creative spirit of the era. Even today, “Maniac” stands as a high-octane anthem that never fails to get hearts racing and feet moving.
The song peaked at No. 43 in the UK Singles Chart on the 10th September 1983.
| A-Side | Maniac (4:13) (M.Sembello, D. Matkosky) Produced By Phil Ramone, Michael Sembello |
| B-Side | Maniac (Instrumental) (4:13) (M.Sembello, D. Matkosky) Produced By Phil Ramone, Michael Sembello |
| Genre | Electronic, Hi-NRG |
| Release Date | July 1983 |
| Label | CASABLANCA |
| Catalogue Number | CAN 1017 |
| Date Of UK Top 100 Entry | 20th February 1983 |
| Highest Chart Position | No. 43 |
Officially Released Versions
Maniac (Vocal) (4:13)
Maniac (Vocal Remix) (5:53)
Maniac (Instrumental) (5:08)
Maniac (7″ Instrumental) (4:13)
Maniac (Album Version) (4:04)
Versions On Spotify
If you have an active Spotify account you will be able to play the complete versions of the songs below. If you don’t have an account, you will only be able to hear a 30-second sample.
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 the dancer becomes the dance
It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes the fire
On the 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 the night
There’s a cold kinetic heat
Struggling, stretching for the peak
Never stopping with her head against the wind
She’s a maniac, maniac at your door
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
She’s a maniac, maniac at your door
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
Ooh, oh
Oh
It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes the fire
On the wire between will and what will be
She’s a maniac, maniac at your door
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
She’s a maniac, maniac at your door
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
Maniac, maniac at your door
And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before
Written By M.Sembello, D. Matkosky
