You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) explained

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
Cover:Dead Or Alive Pete Burns.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Dead or Alive
Album:Youthquake
B-Side:"Misty Circles"
Released:[1]
Recorded:March–October 1984
Genre:
Length:
  • 3:19 (album version)
  • 3:16 (single version)
  • 8:01 (Murder mix)
  • 7:28 (Performance mix)
Label:Epic
Producer:Stock Aitken Waterman
Prev Title:That's the Way (I Like It)
Prev Year:1984
Next Title:Lover Come Back to Me
Next Year:1985

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is a song by the English pop band Dead or Alive, featured on their second studio album, Youthquake (1985). Released as a single in November 1984, it reached No. 1 in the UK in March 1985, taking 17 weeks to get there. It was the first UK No. 1 hit by the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio.[11]

On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at No. 11 on 17 August of that year, becoming their highest-charting single there.[12] The song also reached No. 1 in Ireland and in Canada, while in Australia it peaked at No. 3 and it charted highly in numerous European countries.

In 2003, Q ranked the song at number 981 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever", Blender listed it at number 289 on its ranking of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" in 2005, and in 2015 it was voted by the British public as the nation's 17th-favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.

Background and composition

Dead or Alive's lead vocalist Pete Burns stated in his autobiography that he composed "You Spin Me Round" by using two existing songs as inspiration for creating something new:

Desiring to move on from the sound of the band's debut studio album, Sophisticated Boom Boom (1984), Pete Burns wanted "You Spin Me Round" to be produced by the then little-known production team Stock Aitken Waterman, in the Hi-NRG style of their 1984 UK hits "You Think You're a Man" by Divine, and "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)" by Hazell Dean.

In a 2009 interview discussing the song, Burns disputed the Hi-NRG label, saying "to me it was just disco". He also described the song as "a pop hit, not a hi-NRG hit", and claimed Sylvester as a major influence.[13] Burns later said he had wanted to make a "glittery disco record", while Pete Waterman, asked to define the song's sound, said it was "techno-disco; without a question that's what it was. It was new technology playing Motown; that's all it was. Taking out the musicians and bringing in technology for the first time."[14]

Burns claimed the song was "completed" by the time the producers were then chosen to work on it, stating that "the record companies don't trust a band to go into the studio without a producer".[15] According to Burns, the record company was unenthusiastic about "You Spin Me Round" to such an extent that Burns had to take out a £2,500 loan to record it. After it was recorded, he recalled, "the record company said it was awful" and the band had to fund production of the song's video themselves.[16]

Interviewed for BBC Radio 4's The Reunion: The Hit Factory, in April 2015, Burns said that a confrontational attitude between the producers and band led to "quite a bad vibe" during production and "a time of intense friction".[17] Engineer Phil Harding, who mixed the track, said tensions were running so high between the band members and producers Mike Stock and Matt Aitken during mixing, that it almost escalated to violence. Aitken has confirmed that tensions were high, with the producers clashing with band members over the latter's desire to keep adding new elements to the mix.[18] Stock has disputed the seriousness of studio tensions, alleging that Burns, Harding and Pete Waterman have all "exaggerated" what happened in their recounting of events.[19] "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is written in the key of F♯ minor.[20]

Re-releases

A remix version of "You Spin Me Round" was released in 2003 at the same time Dead or Alive's greatest hits album was released. The song reached No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart. The original 1984 recording was re-released on 30 January 2006 because of lead singer Pete Burns's controversial time as a contestant on television series Celebrity Big Brother and reached No. 5. Earlier remixes were in 1996 and 1997 (some included on the releases of Nukleopatra). In 2000, new mixes appeared on Fragile and in 2001, on Unbreakable: The Fragile Remixes.

Chart performance

The song has been re-released three times since its original release in 1984. Each time of its release, it achieved success, but failed to match the success of the original. However, after Burns's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, the single was re-released and managed a Top 5 peak on the UK Singles Chart. According to Burns, 12-inch singles comprised over 70% of the original sales of "You Spin Me Round", and because these were regarded by the record label as promotional tools rather than sales, the band had to threaten legal action against the label before they received the royalties on them.[21]

Music video

The accompanying music video, which features a disco ball, waving gold flags and an evocation of the six-armed deity Vishnu, was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.[22] [23]

Impact and legacy

In 2003, British popular music magazine Q ranked "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" number 981 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[24] In 2005, Blender listed it at number 289 on its ranking of "Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[25] In 2014, Matt Dunn of WhatCulture ranked the song at number three in his "15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles" list, stating that the song "has had an enormous presence in pop culture since its 1984 release", as it has been covered, sampled, bootlegged or remixed by many artists, and used in films, series and TV ads.[26]

In 2015, it was voted by the British public as the nation's 17th favourite 1980s number-one in a poll for ITV.[27] After the death of Burns in 2016, musician and actor Gary Kemp described the song as "one of the best white dance records of all time."[28] In 2020, The Guardian ranked the song number five in their list of "The 100 Greatest UK No 1s".[29] In 2021, Classic Pop ranked it number-one in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs".[30]

In 2023, the song was covered by Netta as part of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 tribute to music from Liverpool.[31] In 2023, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian listed the song at number one in his "Stock Aitken Waterman's 20 greatest songs – ranked!", describing it "a breathlessly exciting single... It's commercial pop music that captures a small-hours dancefloor's hedonism and hysteria".[32]

Track listing

1985, Epic – 49-05208; 1989, Epic – 49H69181[33]

  1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Murder Mix) – 8:00
  2. "Misty Circles" (Extended Version) – 9:10

1997, Epic – 49-78588[33]

  1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Murder Mix) – 8:00
  2. "Brand New Lover" – 9:10

1999, Cleopatra – CLP 0533-2[34]

  1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Sugar Pumpers Radio Edit) – 3:38
  2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Cleopatra Radio Edit) – 4:13
  3. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Marc Antonine Radio Edit) – 3:21
  4. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Sugar Pumpers Extended Mix) – 5:11
  5. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Sugar Pumpers Pumpin Mix) – 7:05
  6. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Vicious Mix) – 8:10
  7. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Marc Antonine Club Mix) – 7:00
  1. "Sex Drive" (Radio Edit) – 2:52
  2. "Sex Drive" (Scream Driven Edit) – 3:54
  3. "Sex Drive" (Dead or Alive Original Mix) – 6:39
  4. "Sex Drive" (Scream Driven Mix) – 6:59
  5. "Sex Drive" (Pee Wee Remix) – 5:56

2003, Epic 673578 2

  1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Metro 7" Edit) – 3:46
  2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Metro 12" Extended Mix) – 6:55
  3. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Punx Soundcheck Vs Princess Julia) – 5:47
  4. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Original 7" Mix) – 3:16

2006, Epic 82876 806212[35]

  1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Original 7" Mix) – 3:16
  2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Performance Mix) – 7:27
  3. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Metro 7" Edit) – 3:46
  4. Video: "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" – 3:44

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1985)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[36] 3
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[37] 5
Finland (Finnish Single Chart)[38] 9
Italy (Musica e dischi)[39] 2
Japan (Oricon)[40] 54
US Billboard Hot 100[41] 11
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)4
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)4
US Cash Box Top Singles[42] 13
Chart (2003)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[43] 62
Germany (Media Control Charts)[44] 96
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[45] 9
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)21
Chart (2006)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[46] 20
Ireland Dance (IRMA)[47] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1985)! scope="col"
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[48] [49] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[50] 43
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[51] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[52] 57
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[53] 46
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[54] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[56] 19
West Germany (Official German Charts)[57] 15
Chart (2006)! scope="col"
Position
UK Singles (OCC)[58] 99

Dope version

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Dope
Album:Felons and Revolutionaries
Released:2000
Genre:Industrial metal, nu metal
Label:Epic
Producer:
Prev Title:Everything Sucks
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Now or Never
Next Year:2001

Nu metal band Dope covered the song on their debut studio album Felons and Revolutionaries (1999); the cover also appeared on the soundtrack for the film American Psycho.[59] This version reached no. 37 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[60]

Charts

Chart (2000)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Active Rock (Billboard)[61] 30

Jessica Simpson version

Jessica Simpson's version of the song was released as a promo single from her fifth studio album A Public Affair in 2006. Her version of the song failed to break into the Billboard Hot 100, though it did reach no. 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. Simpson's version has new lyrics and only preserves the chorus of the song.

Charts

Chart (2007)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[62] 21
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[63] 95

Other cover versions

See also

Notes and References

  1. New Singles . . 28 . 3 November 1984.
  2. Book: Barron, Lee . 2010 . Play it Again: Cover Songs in Popular Music . Camp Transitions: Genre Adaptation and the Hi-NRG/Dance Cover Version . George . Plasketes . . 214 . 978-0-7546-6809-1.
  3. Web site: Jason . Ankeny . Dead or Alive – Artist Biography . . 24 June 2013 .
  4. Web site: Dead or Alive. Apple Music.
  5. Web site: Dead or Alive. Encyclopedia.com. 6 June 2022.
  6. Dance Trax. Billboard. Chin. Brian. 11 May 1985. 3 August 2023. The A-side, produced by the team behind Divine's European successes (also unreleased here), is proof positive that disco is commercial, whether on major or indie label, especially when combined with enough raunch to put it in the "rock" category....
  7. Web site: 100 Best Songs Of The 1980s. Rebecca. Schiller. . 26 March 2017.
  8. Book: Eric . Weisbard . Craig . Marks . 1996 . Spin Alternative Record Guide . . 978-0-6797-5574-6 . Stock-Aitken-Waterman, the British schlock-disco maestros who took the trance-like beats of '80s synth-pop to their dancefloor extreme, most famously on Dead or Alive's drag opus "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record).".
  9. News: Beaumont-Thomas . Ben . 2020-06-01 . The 100 greatest UK No 1s, No 5: Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) . en-GB . The Guardian . 0261-3077.
  10. Web site: 80's New Wave: New Wave Dance - Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic. Erlewine. Stephen Thomas. AllMusic.
  11. Web site: Ep 3: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) . . 30 May 2021 . 22 August 2021 . en-AU.
  12. The Hot 100 . 17 August 1985 . . 15 August 2015.
  13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4FKWScZeTo&t=1890s Pete Burns on the 1980s - From Punk to Pop and where he fit in (and didn't!) - Full length
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dgrS4hfEAg Pete Burns & Pete Waterman discussing "You Spin Me Round" - The One Show 13th March 2012
  15. Pete Burns Interview by Sveta Breakfast Radio Show 1997. 1 January 2022.
  16. Book: Burns, Pete . 2007 . Freak Unique: My Autobiography . . 95–97 . 978-1-8445-4438-7.
  17. News: The Reunion: The Hit Factory . . 24 April 2015 . 25 April 2015 .
  18. Web site: A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 41: Looking Back with Matt Aitken on Apple Podcasts . 2022-10-31 . Apple Podcasts . en-AU.
  19. Web site: A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 9: Taking Stock with Mike Stock on Apple Podcasts. 2021-12-17. Apple Podcasts. en-AU.
  20. Web site: You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive – Digital Sheet Music . . Musicnotes.com . 5 May 2008 . 9 June 2021 .
  21. Book: Arena, James . 2017 . Europe's Stars of '80s Dance Pop: 32 International Music Legends Discuss Their Careers . 24–35 . . 978-1-4766-7142-0 .
  22. Web site: VIDEO OF THE WEEK: DEAD OR ALIVE – 'YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD)' – Spotlight Sony Music UK | Official Website – Official Website. Spotlight Sony Music UK | Official Website.
  23. Web site: Scansmiths – Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round – ScanSmiths. Adam. Welsh. 20 June 2019. 30 October 2022. 29 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230529050750/http://scansmiths.com/scansmiths-dead-or-alive-you-spin-me-round/. dead.
  24. Web site: Q – 1001 best songs ever (2003) . Muzieklijstjes.nl . 17 April 2020 . nl.
  25. The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born: 251-300 . . October 2005 . dead . 18 March 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080318103337/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1756.
  26. Web site: 15 unforgettable Stock Aitken Waterman singles . Matt . Dunn . . 16 January 2014 . 23 January 2024.
  27. News: Caroline . Westbrook . The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut . . 25 July 2015 . 27 July 2015 .
  28. News: Bob . Stanley . Pete Burns: too abrasive to be a national treasure, his talent made him immortal . . 25 October 2016 . 2 November 2016 .
  29. News: Beaumont-Thomas. Ben. Petridis. Alexis. Snapes. Laura. 5 June 2020. The 100 greatest UK No 1s: 100-1. en-GB. The Guardian. 19 April 2022. 0261-3077.
  30. Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs . . August 2021 . 31 August 2021 .
  31. Web site: Emma . Saunders . Special performances bring star quality . BBC News . 13 May 2023 . 13 May 2023 .
  32. News: Stock Aitken Waterman's 20 greatest songs – ranked! . . Alexis . Petridis . 23 November 2023 . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 16 January 2024.
  33. Book: Popoff, Martin . Martin Popoff . 2010 . Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991 . 7th . 327 . . 978-1-4402-1131-7 .
  34. You Spin Me Round / Sex Drive . Dead or Alive . 1999 . liner notes . . 3 October 2016 .
  35. Web site: Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round 2006 . Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien . 3 October 2016 .
  36. Book: Kent, David . David Kent (historian) . 1993 . Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . Australian Chart Book . . 85 . 0-646-11917-6.
  37. European Top 100 Singles . . 2 . 13 . 2 (of PDF) . 1 April 1985 . 16 May 2022 .
  38. Book: Pennanen, Timo . 2021 . Sisältää hitin – Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 . Musiikkiarkisto . 59 . 978-952-7460-01-6 . fi.
  39. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e dischi. it. 29 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Dead or Alive".
  40. Web site: Discography – Singles . . 20 June 2013 . 10 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140110123322/http://www.mikestockmusic.com/discography.php?page=Discography . dead .
  41. Web site: Dead or Alive – Awards . . 20 June 2013 .
  42. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending AUGUST 24, 1985 . . 1 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001214822/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850824.html.
  43. Book: Ryan, Gavin . 2011 . Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 . Moonlight Publishing . Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  44. Web site: Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round 2003 . . 9 May 2015 .
  45. Web site: Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 29 May 2003 . . 13 June 2019 .
  46. Web site: The ARIA Report: European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 13th February 2006 . . 25 . 13 February 2006 . 16 May 2022 . 22 February 2008 . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222439/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060220-0000/issue832.pdf . dead.
  47. Web site: Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 23 February 2006 . . 13 June 2019 .
  48. Web site: Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985. Kent Music Report. Imgur. January 23, 2023.
  49. Web site: Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien . 25 September 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134948/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=40275 . 6 October 2014.
  50. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1985 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 25 September 2016 . nl.
  51. RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 . . 43 . 16 . 28 December 1985 . 25 September 2016 .
  52. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985 . . 25 September 2016 . nl.
  53. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985 . Single Top 100. Hung Medien . 25 September 2016 . nl.
  54. Web site: End of Year Charts 1985 . Recorded Music New Zealand . 25 September 2016 .
  55. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985 . Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien . 25 September 2016 . de.
  56. Top 100 Singles . . 24 January 1987 . Spotlight Publications . London, England . 24.
  57. Web site: Jahrescharts – 1985 . Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts . 25 September 2016 .
  58. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006 . . 8 July 2018 .
  59. Web site: Derrick . Mathis . Original Soundtrack – American Psycho . . 20 August 2018 .
  60. Web site: Dope – Awards . . 27 September 2015 . 20 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150927081616/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dope-mn0000158018/awards.
  61. Dope Chart History: Active Rock . . 4 June 2021 .
  62. Web site: Jessica Simpson Bubbling Under Hot 100 . November 2023 . . 10 November 2023 .
  63. Web site: A Public Affair – Awards . . 20 January 2014 .
  64. Web site: Thalia's 2002 Self-Titled Album Celebrates 20 Years: 'It Opened So Many Doors for Me'. . May 23, 2022.
  65. Web site: Ultratop.be – Danzel – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 20 January 2014 .
  66. News: Album Review: Flo Rida . . 3 May 2009 . 1 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161104021821/http://www.mtv.com.au/flo-rida/news/album-review-flo-rida . 4 November 2016.
  67. News: Jeff . Weiss . Album review: Flo Rida's 'R.O.O.T.S.' . . 30 March 2009 . 1 November 2016 .
  68. News: Sean . Fennessey . Surveying the Dr. Luke Moment: A Critical Look at Lazers, Glitter, and the Un-Sexing of America's Pop Stars . Village Voice. 18 May 2010 . 1 November 2016 .
  69. Web site: 3Teeth Releases Guns Akimbo Album feat. Covers of "Ballroom Blitz" and "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" . Rock'Load Mag . 3 June 2021 .
  70. Web site: Emma . Saunders . Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel you spin me round . YouTube Music. 13 May 2023 . 22 October 2023 .

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