| Original Sin | |
| Cover: | Original Sin INXS.jpg |
| Caption: | Cover art for Australian release |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | INXS |
| Album: | The Swing |
| Released: | December 1983 |
| Label: | WEA |
| Producer: | Nile Rodgers |
| Prev Title: | Black and White |
| Prev Year: | 1983 |
| Next Title: | I Send a Message |
| Next Year: | 1984 |
"Original Sin" is a song by Australian rock group INXS, released as the first single from the band's fourth album, The Swing. It was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss, and produced by Nile Rodgers.
Released as a single in December 1983,[1] it became the group's first single to reach the Australian top 10, reaching No. 1 in early 1984; it was the group's only No. 1 hit in Australia. The song also reached No. 20 in Canada and No. 58 in the US.
Pengilly said, "Michael wrote the lyrics and each time I ask him what they mean I get something different. The main theme of it really is — it's almost a hippy song! — it's about everyone joining together, and it's also about people's desires, and waking up the next morning and finding them washed away."[2]
Daryl Hall sings the chorus with Hutchence. During an interview in Australia, Hall said Nile Rodgers called him and asked him to sing on the song.[3] Rodgers had participated in remixing the single "Adult Education" for Hall & Oates the previous year.
Two music videos for the song were filmed in Japan. Riding on motorcycles, the band members accompany a convoy of trucks to a vacant lot, where a fairground is set up and later dismantled around them as they play; at the end, the band then rides away with the trucks.[4] The alternate version (in fact the original one) show an Asian woman appearing at certain moments and has a different ending.[5]
In 2010, INXS rerecorded "Original Sin" with American vocalist Rob Thomas and Cuban female rapper DJ Yalediys as a dance single. It is featured in the 2010 INXS tribute album Original Sin.[6]
Cash Box said the song "is a politically clever track which dreams of a racially equal and peaceful world, while also working as a tight dance single."[7]
In February 2014, after the Seven Network airing of mini-series, "Original Sin" charted again in Australia via download sales. It peaked at no. 61 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "Original Sin" was ranked number 58.[8]
7" single Track listing
12"/CD Maxi single Track listing
| Year | Chart | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 1 | |
| France (IFOP)[10] | 1 | ||
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 58 | ||
| US Cash Box[12] | 62 | ||
| 20061 | |||
| 2011 | US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs | 1 |
1Kash vs. INXS – Dream on Black Girl (Original Sin)
| Chart (1984) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] [14] | 12 | |
| France (IFOP)[15] | 55 |
