Michael Des Barres & Holly Knight - Obsession (Single version)

[@glamnesianouveaux2039]

I had NO idea Animotion's was a cover and I have loved their version since 1985. What a revelation!!!!!

[@tyrellcorp71]

My mind has just been blown too

[@KieranM-kn3lt]

fashion television prototype

[@shazzye5920]

Holly & Michael wrote the song. Holly also wrote “You Better Be Good To Me” famously recorded by Tina Turner.

[@MrAgmoore]

Holly Knight wrote Love is a Battlefield.

[@rpcomms1]

If you listen carefully on animotions version you can hear the original vocals from this record mixed in with their version 👍

[@ramarcr9454]

This is original version !!!

[@GirlieQ333]

This is great! I did not know about this original version.

[@MidnightVisions]

Holly Knight wrote so many songs that ended up in the top of the charts, she definitely did not get the public recognition she deserved.

[@billmcclure2171]

Totally agree, but she sure can't sing!

[@jeffcubeta]

She's a millionaire from all the royalties. She did fine.

[@mggentry]

Agreed she did get royalties, hopefully fairly paid. Maybe she enjoys that she can pop into the grocery for some eggs unrecognized ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@dariolapietra4356]

For instance? What did she write?

[@markevans1968]

@@dariolapietra4356 obsession. Simply the best. Love is a battlefield. As a few examples

[@boomod3825]

NEVER EVER had i realized this song was one that had been remade -- the cover version just became such a huge, memorable .. ambassador of the 80s, with one of those see-once-never-forget videos like the Safety Dance or Take On Me that will be locked in this brain forever. As for this version, the musical sounds, the instruments... it just SCREAMS out that it belongs in an 80s gritty cop movie, some scene where we see cars driving in drizzle at night, or they show up at the abandoned factory setting where the bad guys are hiding out, and infiltrate the building section by section, closing in on them as someone is trying to rush a group of people to package the cocaine faster, or get the counterfit money loaded on the van now else they'll miss the drop... Hell, i can almost feel the instrumental version of this one playing in over a dozen scenes from To Live and Die in LA alone... As for the singing, female and duet part is excellent, but guy solo part just feels like... robotic reading of text that they had to twak and fiddle with to match tempos as best as possible. The first images that come to mind are that of a cigarette smoking William Shatner type experience... " Im a rocket man. Rocket man. Burning out his fuse out here.. Alone" delivery of this guys parts....

[@ericrietschel6854]

In fact it’s cold as hell…😂

[@RossPresser]

Knight was in the process of kicking a narcotic habit when they wrote this

[@mlj1111]

It actually was in the movie " A Night in Heaven".

[@Rep0007]

Kicks total ass... had no idea Animotion's version was a cover.

[@rosedriver6441]

A night in heaven brought me here ❤

[@wilpri]

One of the few movies I have on VHS and DVD.

[@chrislaustin]

WOW, I had no clue Animotion's version was a cover, and while not altogether shocking, the fact that the original came out just 1 year before is mind blowing. Normally a song might not have been popular in a certain generation, and then given 10, 20 years, it may connect with a new group of people more open to the lyrics or the music in general(or the music is changed altogether). Both of these versions are so similar, yet so very different, I might actually say I prefer this version over Animotion's cover. And that version is one of my favorite 80's tunes, and nothing can top that classic video, but this version is more "obsessed" in the way it's sung(at least the male side). It's so crazy how one version topped the charts, and is an 80's icon, while the other is mostly unknown to the masses and pretty much released almost on top of one another.

[@taurus0362]

I prefer this version. 🙌🏽 Been listening since seventh grade and haven’t stopped yet.

[@wiscorpio72]

I've wanted to hear their version of it. It sounds new wavy and b-movie-ish. Holly Knight later formed Device and hit with "Hanging On A Heart Attack". Martha Quinn said that to be her 1st time working with a male vocalist, this would precede it.

[@illuminotme4261]

Glad I'm not the only one that remembers " Device" I'm hanging on the edge of a heart attack, and it's not that easy to walk away !

[@danmccarthy4700]

...and the lead singer of Device ended up being the male lead of Animotion years later.

[@wiscorpio72]

@@danmccarthy4700 yep that did happen. Astrid Plane was replaced by another female vocalist too.

[@generalkawasaki9485]

thank you, kind sir. This is valuable information. I wouldn't know if you didn't tell. 22B3 is an underrated album IMHO, I still own my original LP. There are at least two tracks on it AS good as Hanging on a Heart Attack. Sadly, Hanging on a Heart attack was never a single in our national charts.

[@johnrot7790]

Are you referring to the band B- movie

[@RageTVHTX]

had no idea this version existed! I vaguely remember now seeing the previews on TV for the movie A Night In Heaven and hearing this in it. Wow

[@3cheaptrick]

A great movie A Night In Heaven and soundtrack also .

[@kyleluna1]

​@@3cheaptrickIt was also used in the trailer for 9 1/2 Weeks

[@RAYRADDIO]

OMG! Thanks for uploading this! I've been looking for it for years. :D

[@ForTheLoveofMando]

OMG, I never knew this song existed pre-Animotion?! OMG

[@briankaplan3588]

Holly Knight is a genius.

[@caveman3021]

I remember this from the movie "A Night in Heaven" with Christopher Atkins and I think Leslie Ann Warren? Great post! Thanks for the memories : )

[@SniffyPoo]

interesting, had no idea this existed all these years

[@danbrennan7348]

My thoughts as well. Interesting

[@jonsmith2913]

Michael Des Barres is an English aristocrat, a Marquess I believe

[@MarshallFlores]

It's missing the synth hook from Animotion's version but I actually prefer the slower beat in this one, and the sound of the chorus. Old enough to remember this played in a strip-seduction scene in "A Night in Heaven," starring Lesley Ann Warren and Christopher Atkins.

[@Alimoo1971]

I remember Micheal Des Basses from MacGyver, (1985-1992) he played Murdoc

[@stephenjack437]

MacGyvers arch nemesis!

[@geewhiz3131]

Des Barres *, Pamela's ex, the writer of I'm With the Band

[@fmbighair]

How about the waiter in Seinfeld with Jerry's BO infested car? Lol

[@stylistmatt]

Love this version…9 1/2 weeks trailer!!

[@geecali8356]

It's always good to hear the original and listen to later versions to compare. So many people remade this song. Just like jambalaya, a ton of people remade it, then even got turned to Spanish.

[@flies9244]

Animotion cleaned it up and gave it a slick sound. This sounds like a cool unreleased demo version by comparison.

[@briandeeley1599]

This recording is superior, Animotion version was commercial pop made for the MTV generation.

[@THECLARENCES]

Original version!!! xoxo The Clarences

[@foodog777]

Just found out about this on Animotion's Wiki page. This is a good demo but the production on Animotion's hit is much better and that big synth hook is missing. But the songwriting royalties must have been huge.

[@bonusbaby801]

Mike Ratherson, me too. I had no idea that Animotion's version was a remake. One of the rare times the remake is better than the original.

[@dbwindhorst1]

Longtime fan of Des Barres, but speaking *all* his verse lyrics here doesn't make this my favorite.

[@SniffyPoo]

yeah this version sounds like a demo

[@blebhan8213]

@@bonusbaby801 I really wouldn't call it a remake per se. Holly Knight wrote it, cut this as a demo and had Animotion record their version.

[@lolalane69420]

I feel like I'm the only person who knew about this song rather than the remake

[@monical.hieber6773]

This is the one I knew not that remake one.

[@stephenbilbruck4149]

Your not alone had the soundtrack. I worked in record store and was Bryan Adams fan.

[@johnrot7790]

Agree - so much better than animotion

[@SenileOtaku]

No, I remember hearing this version many times before the Animotion version came out

[@thiscorrosion900]

This is THE only version of this song as far as I'm concerned. WLIR FM radio in 1983 played this constantly. I honestly had no idea who these people even were then, just loved the song. I never liked the Animotion version.

[@fmbighair]

Like a buttefly, a wiod butterfly i will collect and capture you ... What a lyric lol...

[@viranpateluk]

Nice the year I was born :)

[@Vichedges]

Just wanted to say I've known about this version for close to 20 years. You know since everyone is saying they just found it. So take that.

[@normrosen9404]

40 for me

[@Endzeitstille]

McGuyvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr!

[@carolnaylor4368]

Night in Heaven

[@lolalane69420]

the fact that this isn't on spotify :(

[@Merthurmad]

Bloody heck, I had now idea he was a singer, he was my favourite character in MacGuyver.

[@80sEric]

He also provided lead vocals for Power Station's "We Fight For Love" from the movie Commando. Robert Palmer had left the group to record his solo album "Riptide".

[@Merthurmad]

Wow thanks for the info.

[@dbwindhorst1]

@@80sEric Oh, he was around before that. Check out earlier bands Silverhead, and Detective (one of whose songs was used in the "WKRP in Cincinnati" episode "Hoodlum Rock", featuring Des Barres as a member of the fictitious band Scum of the Earth).

[@escaton74]

he even performed at Live Aid... not bad for a "no idea he was a singer" guy

[@kevinnelson66]

Michael and The Power Station were also in a season 2 episode of Miami Vice.

[@MrLyosea]

I first heard this today on wogl on their "Who Did It First" segment. The one we all know sounds just like this but with vocals quieter and lead singer more amped.

[@lolamccord4517]

Michael Des Barres occasionally performs this song on his own, but he usually sings rather than speaks. You can search for a wonderful acoustic version with just him and his guitar--really nice.

[@mauroduenas3206]

9 1/2 weeks trailer

[@michaelcarvalho6096]

This sexy song always remind me a lot of the two Drop Dead Gorgeous and sexiest than hell brazilian sex symbols Stefany Brito and Charles Paraventi who apeared togheter in the videoclip of the song Matemática by B5. I love Stefany and Charles so much.🤩😍😘🥰❤

[@professormause]

Animotion sound like they are singing over the top of this version.

[@MadTheDJ]

It's the sequencer line underneath, yeah. I'm guessing Animotion programmed the same one (or a very, very similar one) for their version.

[@PizzaGod]

Here thanks to Puddles Pity Party

[@MistressGlowWorm]

Holy Smoking Rockets that was freaking epic.

[@KieranM-kn3lt]

also used in 9 and half weeks trailer. micky and kim

[@mauroduenas3206]

9 1/2 weeks trailer promo

[@nope_no_nunya.]

Yup! 1986 visiting New York, bored at the hotel watching tv. Saw it, heard this... mesmerized. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGmzlYCCgM90mbM (at fifty-eight mark)

[@anthonydevito]

WLIR!

[@Jcastillo494]

Me gusta mucho esta versión, pero me gusta mas el cover de Animotion

[@craigdavis6779]

This smoothie version is so much better than the cover version by Animotion, which is more like disco-pop.

[@craigdavis6779]

smooth, not smoothie...

[@gregretro]

Thanks Sluggo!

[@bearr3096]

He sounds like the guy from Crucified by Army of Lovers

[@dariowestern]

Michael has recently recorded a brilliant cover of Sweet's "Fox On The Run" - go check it out. 🙂

[@Jbaxter85]

KNIGHT RIDER SEASON 4 EPISODE MANY HAPPY RETURNS

[@MrRezRising]

Giving a shout out to Brad and Lex, who's reaction got me here. Wow! Never knew this existed!

[@mr.serious2618]

Animotion’s only hit was a cover lol

[@AshT71494]

Why is this not on iTunes!? I like this version so much better than Animotion.

[@bclmax]

ask dog about his musical training...i have none

[@JC-zj7nv]

Murdoc!

[@fredo1070]

The Nine and a Half Weeks version.

[@tomcooper6108]

Original sounds good but Animotion put some KICKASS in the song. Wow!

[@blebhan8213]

The spoken male vocals were retained for the Animation version as background to the sung male vocals/

[@yessib.a7303]

Flesh AND bone

[@melvinsherrod6846]

Tell it to my heart by taylor Dayne us a cover. Did you know that

[@theCoverVerse]

Yes Louisa Florio did the original recording

[@theCoverVerse]

2 more number 1 hits that were covers: ''Girls Just Want to Have Fun'' originally by Robert Hazard and ''I Love Rock 'n' Roll'' originally by the Arrows.

[@tobyfitzpatrick3914]

NOT a patch on Animotion's version! Their version gets you stirred up and ready for a night of WWE wrestling!!

[@ericrietschel6854]

That’s what I remember, promos with WWF to this song

[@tobyfitzpatrick3914]

@@ericrietschel6854 It was the music to their "Saturday's Night Main Event". Whoever chose it is a freaking genius!

[@watchxfiles]

Wlir!! This was the Best version! Not the hit that came a year or so later

[@Revan2908]

Obsession...rather like Murdoc's repeated attempts to kill MacGyver haha

[@ThatIanShane]

+Revan2908 *slow clap* Well played, Revan. Well played indeed.

[@fkhan577]

+Shane Rumsey you said that like Murdoc as you typed it did'nt you ..

[@ThatIanShane]

F Khan It's almost like we've met.

[@jenntee3917]

This version is sooooo much better than Animotion's. Just saying...

[@Bigbacon]

definitely better but the Animotion version is also pretty good.

[@markx629]

Disagree. I don't like the talking in this version. The female voice is great here but I think I prefer the Animotion version.

[@doublestrokeroll]

no...it's really not. But if you like it better...cool. It's just an opinion in the end. There's no such thing in music as "better".

[@ChuchuBellorin]

The simple fact that the main voice is not singing but reciting is more like an obsession. Great raw version. Animotion's became a hit by something.

[@vinivitkovsk]

the Animotion version sounds better and the intro is much more catchy

[@MysticMorigan1998]

not gonna lie, imma little pissed pandora doesnt have the original

[@julianmbrown]

Better for lack of phony brass keyboard hook that's in Animotion version.

[@shockadelic]

Well, that was embarrassing As a teen in the 80s, I had no idea the Animotion hit was a cover

[@ArchdukeJames]

...So I am going to go out on the limb and say: Animation's version is a gigantic fucking improvement over this.

[@NikkiAtlanta35]

Yes❤

[@notsure1277]

Animotion was horrendous. This is the original, and it is better.

[@generalkawasaki9485]

I agree.. I purchased the LP and it was rubbish, waste of good money, I expected 8 more obsessions on that albums, and I have always wondered, 30 years long, why they weren't able to create one more song as good as obsession

[@mic187x2]

Michael sounds creepy in this version. I prefer Bill Wadhams. Astrid Plane sounds too much like Holly Knight.

[@jarretwolfman]

always hated the animotion cover. it physically makes me ill. i, too, heard the original on 92.7 wlir. a little alternative station on long island which not only greatly influenced my life but probably saved it. seeing as i was a weird depressed kid with no friends. i'm sure i wasn't the only one. but back then i didn't know anyone else who liked the music i liked. if only the internet existed back then. i actually think lir's impact was much larger than most people realize (since most people have never heard of it). on a cultural level. which probably had something to do with the fact that if you were lucky enough you could kinda tune it in in the city. where lots of influential people just happened to live. if only it's impact had been greater. we could really use more people who "dare to be different." most people seem to prefer the bubblegum version of reality - basically the animotion version of this song - to the darker, more real one. i'll take the real version every time. :)

[@jarretwolfman]

also, it's funny that apparently people think the human league did this song first cause for some reason i forgot who actually did it and i thought that it was secession (another amazing group that i don't think many people in this country have ever heard of unless they listened to lir). :)

[@sarao8861]

We were 100% listening to the same station at the same time! WLIR, kind of like KROQ for the East coast. I've been searching for this version for awhile. Hard to find.

[@raserx63]

Ah .. WLIR , I had that station on every waking moment in the early 80’s. If you didn’t watch the documentary “WLIR -Dare to be Different” you should !

[@spacerx]

Don't be a drama queen. It does NOT make you physically ill.

[@jarretwolfman]

@@spacerx it literally makes me nauseous. :)

[@docsavage8640]

Animotion really improved this. This isn't even good.