Michael Sembello - Maniac | The Story Behind The Song | Top 2000 a gogo

Michael Sembello about his song Maniac, the hit song from the movie Flashdance. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo from 2012 (Dutch Public Television).

[@NAIVADA]

This song is still the bomb

[@johnpeters3600]

It will always be the bomb.

[@franknada8235]

Great to - after all tjis time - realize the überpop song was TOTALLY based on JAZZ!!! FFS, I play and sing but never payed attention. Too busy dancing and grooving to it, lol!!!

[@Soul03]

It's still the bomb brother🤘🏼

[@bbangel6935]

Hell yeah 🤟🏾

[@audibletapehiss3764]

"I'm not gonna make hamburgers for you!" Bless this man. First for this song, then for that quote!

[@lazycalm41]

Michael Sembello, the finest songwriter and musician most people in the UK have never heard of sadly!

[@TonyMontanaDS]

That's because he only had 1 hit.

[@hazy33]

One decent song, re-arranged from a dirge into a superb pop tune. He got very lucky.

[@lazycalm41]

@@hazy33 clearly you need to listen to his albums. I have all of them and all are amazing!

[@JNo-sk5mz]

Michael Sembello is one of my favorite singer / songwriters of all time, Maniac is a great song, but he's got so many great songs on his albums. I still listen to Bossa Nova Hotel. Without Walls on a weekly basis. I listen to Caravan of Dreams on a daily basis. There's a song called Sahara that was released on a foreign version of Caravan of Dreams, I've been looking for that song for years. If you can get in contact with Michael, tell him to Please Release that song on KZbin!!!! Update on Sahara! A cool guy from Japan sent me the record on FaceBook 😭👍🏾

[@devorahstree671]

His still sounds great.

[@markeinstein5630]

and looks great too

[@christopherdieudonne]

Wow, he looks absolutely nothing like how I imagined based on his voice.

[@PowerRedBullTypology]

how did you imagine him?

[@christopherdieudonne]

@@PowerRedBullTypology Like a pretty boy, if Prince were white.

[@oddities-whatnot]

@@PowerRedBullTypology Glen Medeiros. He looks how Michael sounds.

[@bimrebeats]

That was the beauty of the 70s and 80s era, people focused on the music first

[@christopherdieudonne]

@@bimrebeats Absolutely!!

[@gustavefrankfurter6462]

I want to hear the serial killer version!

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Oh yeah! Me too!

[@jasonwhite7452]

Dark Side of Synth I’m with you! I was hoping to find that demo somewhere online!

[@alecosound8902]

Carousel, one of the outtakes from Thriller was also written by Sembello. He's featured in Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life documentary by Classic Albums and is absolutely hilarious. Respect to you sir.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

worth it just to see him do the solo

[@luukwoudstra8903]

This guy is just casually mentioning he played with stevie wonder when he was 17

[@watchinboats]

And that he was only there to watch Miles play the pre-shows 😅

[@stedebassett1523]

He was very good to be playing professionally with Stevie at 17. He has a beautiful voice and really understands music.

[@emboe001]

Heisenberg Sembello is the one who knocks!

[@DJAUDIO1]

Wow. I want to hear that version of "Maniac" that he is playing if he ever released it. Never knew he was a Jazz artist. Always related to Maniac as an 80s power pop record. 🤯🤯🤯

[@MrLefty27]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHysp4ltoNKrj5o

[@MrLefty27]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHysp4ltoNKrj5o closest version to the just the guitar version of it

[@StellarAvenger]

What a youthful sounding voice he has. Wow

[@AUGUSTALLEN28]

That was the best Michael Sembello interview. Great player too.

[@rorito3261]

great guitar solo on this song

[@jimmydroid7838]

Holy shit it's Heisenberg! No wait it's the Maniac guy!

[@robvaughan4336]

Say my name!

[@robertrowan9893]

Before rock and metal came to the fore within my then teenage brain, a driving pop song ably emboldened with a fitting guitar solo really hit the spot. That's why BBC Radio2 has it on fairly regular rotation too. If the royalties let him live the life he wants to live, you can't argue with that. In fact, I sincerely welcome it

[@GeorgyPorgyPuddingPie]

Sembello was a great session musician back in the day like Lukather or Jackson Jr, he played a lot of amazing guitar tracks

[@lucyfrancis8525]

One of the best songs ever

[@alisterfolson]

I remember when he performed this song on American Bandstand... and the second verse are the deepest I've ever heard in the song in awhile

[@xeropunt5749]

CJ Meiko Agree!

[@user-df4yl3cs6q]

Lip synced you idiot lol

[@DougUnfunny]

when he shreds during the interview. so good.

[@BIZARBIES]

Best songs are always written in a jacuzzi!

[@adamsasso1]

Hopefully on an acoustic ⚡️

[@Jabongify]

'jazz'cuzzi :)

[@honeybuzzard2843]

Best Fuckin aswell😛

[@honeybuzzard2843]

SAVAGE

[@christopherdieudonne]

4:26 This version needs to be released !!

[@MrLefty27]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHysp4ltoNKrj5o Closest to the the jazz version. Sounds like his voice.

[@ricomajestic]

The only reason for watching FlashDance is for looking at that babe Jennifer Beals and the music!

[@borgullet3376]

A genius with the voice of an angel

[@oddities-whatnot]

I parked in a truck stop years ago overnight, and some goon in the cab next to me played this at full volume repeatedly until the early hours. This song always reminds me of that night.

[@lazycalm41]

Ive been a Michael Sembello fan soy of my life and bought Bossa Nova Hotel back in the mid 80's . I still own it today as its one of the finest albums from that entire decade in my view. The production is second to none and Michael is a fabulous singer and player. I own Without Walls and his Lost Years CD both are just as good. its a shame he has not had more recognition here in the UK. Also I would love to get hold of Caravan Of Dreams here but try as I have its impossible. He recently released a single called The Weight of the World which is on amazon to buy and my review of it says it all. Michael again at his best!

[@denadear]

Love his voice!

[@romerjusu3804]

Michael also wrote and performed the theme to another movie called " Summer Lovers ".

[@Hertfordshire247]

She's a maniac, she's a maniac that fooo sure and she's dancin' like she never danced befooo - Willie

[@MrTiffy821]

Yes Micheal a spectacular wonderful voice wow singing and Speaking so humble and graceful Blessings Overly

[@Sean-me4fv]

The chords are just beautiful. Love it.

[@crickella]

That tasty guitar lick! Damn!

[@MrBxbreezy]

Just a brilliant musician.

[@madjidhamdini8114]

oh man.....a 7yo child dancin on this one with dad ...it was me ! 43yo today and very happy to know what's the 80s ^^ LOVE FROM BELGIUM ^^

[@alisterfolson]

The song also has killer haunting life-lesson lyrics. Thanks for the memories

[@TonyMontanaDS]

Still better than anything out in the last 20 years.

[@voxxvoltair2662]

Never realized how brilliant he was. Brilliant song. Amazing changes. ~V~

[@darkkiss7247]

I love the more jazzy version of the song.

[@kickbiker7920]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHysp4ltoNKrj5o This is a slower version he did Quite listenable ...

[@jonthomas8569]

This was fascinating to watch. Good for him for staying on his own path. I love that line about not making hamburgers.

[@trufantom21]

Brilliant song

[@jonnuanez2843]

*Still pictures Groundskeeper Willie singing the hook and throwing water on himself*

[@RADIO1990]

" you ungrateful Bas...!" LOL

[@DragoshHits]

So iconic! This song has the a lot of FORCE today! I just love it!

[@QuabmasM]

When I 1st heard him sing, I swore up & down he was black lol. I call him Stevie Wonder Jr cuz he also often wrote & sung songs in his style. Many sing in Stevie's style but few write songs in his style & then have the ability to sing it let alone be close enough to get Stevie to be a feature. Its not super duper copying neither so you can truly appreciate it & call it genuinely inspired music.

[@citizenoftheworld6363]

I love the acoustic version of if

[@rodders5625]

My first knowledge of Michael Sembello is the song: "Love will come someday". I believe it was on "As We Speak" album of David Sanborn. He did a very good job.

[@sevenwilliams3485]

brilliant song .....just brilliant

[@jayatissa6028]

Brilliant combination!

[@daveheel]

what a time capsule!

[@jamesdavis5096]

He sounds like a 14 year old boy when he sings like he can easily cover do any he can be like a one-man boy band

[@bourgeoisbrats]

The last name says it all. Sembello. That's Italian, plus he's a jazz musician :-) Like Prince, he gave the WB suits a big old "No Pizza For You!"! Lol

[@IstoletwotrilliondollarsCIA]

I want to hear the original so much

[@BRUTUSPLAC]

WOW..............That was great ...........

[@ghislainedurand4594]

J adord. Merci beaucoup de souvenir 🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🤪🤪🤪🤪👍❤️

[@COBYKOEHL2]

THIS JAZZ VERSION IS GENIUS

[@ghislainedurand4594]

J adord toute ma jeunesse 👍🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷👍❤️

[@rabokel]

The song aged much better than the movie.

[@varovaro1967]

All these guy that live off a song... lucky them

[@bubbleballgirl]

It isn’t usually just luck.. it’s also hard work and passion for their craft

[@ub4079]

bubbleballgirl agree!!!! He studied in schools, he plays guitar, keyboard. He deserves it!!!!!! Unlike today’s celebs like kardashian who did nothing for the money

[@ghislainedurand4594]

J adord j avaie. 25 ans. Génial 🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵🇨🇵😂👍💕maikel

[@garym.3113]

Excellent song to listen cranked up !!

[@craigh8602]

Without that music Flashdance bombs. Sembello once said: "It was nominated for an academy award and was disqualified according to 'academy rules' because the song was changed from the original and was not originally written solely for the film, which pisses me off to this day."

[@cnfuzz]

Apart from the great songwriting it is the moroder sound making it a hit , the drummachine and underpinning synthbass giving it drive and the 32 note clap going krrr krrr makes it

[@JNo-sk5mz]

@@cnfuzz Phil Ramone did a great job producing that record, Moroder did other records with Sembello, like Its Over from Bossa Nova Hotel but it's the hook that made it hit IMO.

[@mrpacdan]

@@JNo-sk5mz Although Moroder produced several songs on the soundtrack, "Maniac" was produced by Phil Ramone.

[@jeffreyday2414]

Nice voice

[@onlinerecords]

Fantastic track! Always loved it

[@ghislainedurand4594]

La France aussi 🇫🇷👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@eelco4256]

It's a great song, I guess I understand a bit better now why it appealed to me the way it did.

[@iansalgado9709]

So he is still alive!!!

[@JNo-sk5mz]

Sadly his brother Danny sembello passed away

[@jeeg771]

Michael i love you so much

[@Tuilaione]

🤯🤯🤯🤯... That was Musicorgasm...

[@roathripper]

great cinematography!

[@jhonhall928]

He is a musicians, musician

[@markwilliams3174]

Great song. great video clip

[@ghislainedurand4594]

J adord je te suie depuis mes 16 ans 👍🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ghislainedurand4594]

J adord c étais 1 belle epoque. 👍💪💪💪🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️

[@MrBxbreezy]

Rock on

[@ghislainedurand4594]

J adord 👍🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷❤️

[@flowergrowersmith449]

Wonderful guys!

[@ShayLeonia]

Wow

[@pascaljeanne8002]

one of the greatest ! michael please come back ! lol ! where are f...you ?

[@ap8eioul1]

😂Just brilliant.

[@michael69040]

Was there a temp track the director used during the dance rehearsals and shooting and then Sembello had to bump up the tempo to match what was shot?

[@borisbrosowski6630]

The movie in question was William Lustig's "Maniac", which is a hilarious thought, that such a popsong would grace one of the most vile horror films.

[@Kuanos_]

I hardly believe my ears he mentioned Giorgio Moroder pioneer of synthesizers use in music!

[@AngrierGorilla]

"He's a maniac, that's for sure He'll kill your cat and nail it to the door" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@retrotalkingmix]

How can i contact him? 😍😍😍😍

[@KristineMaitland]

Record the jazz version of the song please. I knew, even in the 80s, that this track had "bones".

[@rykovvladimir]

He always did it ,look for maniac(new version) from lost years 2003 album

[@JNo-sk5mz]

There's a jazz version, you can probably find it on KZbin

[@cbl1984]

"I'm not gonna make hamburgers for you!" Lol

[@xilrion]

If you build a thousand bridges...

[@elbarbonnhiphop]

where is he now?

[@Lapinoire]

Can someone cover Maniac with the chords he played at 4:20 please

[@freedom_aint_free]

Wait a minute there ! One doesn't simply string together 'I would like to write a song about a serial killer" and "we were in the jacuzzi" in the same paragraph !

[@KLartrandM]

Wow he even makes the jazz version sound amazing 4:32.

[@JOUA1400]

CONTUSION!!!!!!!

[@yw1971]

This movie replaced 'The return of the Jedi' in Aug. 1983... & did better at the box office here

[@marvinsilverman4394]

is he italian??

[@antonioluna4688]

His muscles?

[@fartman1510]

You just can't listen to maniac on low volume period!!

[@aldynuswhabiology]

Wow, i didn't know that walter white could play guitar

[@ZaydDepaor]

So where the hell did Hall and Oates come into it?

[@MarianMusic1]

damn how the hell he has that singing voice so different than his speaking voice? He sounds like a babyface teenager and looks like a west farmer in the interview

[@rickshearer]

rix SHEARER ism This kicks ass ! ! : 4:30 This sucks!! : 0:43