Maniacby Michael Sembello

A Killer Idea ...and Then a Dancer’s Anthem
“Maniac” started life as a dark, tongue-in-cheek song inspired by a news report about a serial killer - the kind of twisted joke Dennis Matkosky scribbled down on a whim. He and Sembello toyed with it at the piano... “hit the weirdest chord you know” was the directive and even borrowed a haunting bridge from Bloodrock’s “D.O.A.” The original lyrics were delightfully morbid - no one expected it to become a dance hit.

But then destiny intervened. Paramount’s Flashdance came calling: Phil Ramone and director Adrian Lyne asked them to rewrite the lyrics to match the film’s story of a fiery, relentless dancer. Suddenly, “Maniac” became the perfect sweat-soaked, “never-give-up” anthem, and its montage-fueled energy fit Flashdance like a glove.

May to September 1983: From Indie to Billboard
The track dropped in May 1983, riding the wave of the Flashdance craze. MTV picked up the music video (crafted entirely from scenes of the film) and played it on loop. That exposure made all the difference, like MTV so often did back then.
By the Billboard issue dated June 4, “Maniac” had entered the Hot 100, and it hung around the charts for 22 weeks. Fast forward to September 10, 1983, and it hit #1 - holding that spot for two weeks, through September 17.

Battle Of the Top Spot
What song did “Maniac” knock off the throne? The week before, on September 3, 1983, the Eurythmics held the crown with “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” Then “Maniac” reigned for two hot weeks. On September 24, Billy Joel dethroned it with “Tell Her About It.”

Imagine the tension: Sweet Dreams’ moody synth vibe, then the explosive energy of Maniac, before Billy Joel’s smooth pop-rock serenades took over. All happening in a matter of weeks.

Behind the music
Sembello wasn’t just the singer... he played guitar, keyboard bass, co-produced the track, and co-wrote it with Matkosky. Here's who else helped bring “Maniac” to life:

- Dennis Matkosky: keyboards, synth (and the co-writer with Sembello)
- Carlos Vega: Simmons electronic drums (those tight, punchy beats)
- Dennis Karmazyn: cello (adding unexpected texture)
- Phil Ramone:  iconic producer who guided its sound and Flashdance tie-in