ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Maniac" by Michael Sembello

[@LifesNeverHumDrum]

“If you say ‘Michael Sembello’’s name three times in the mirror” I think this video is the most times someone has said his name ever

[@rockah12]

Would be kind of weird if Stevie Wonder hired him for his looks, honestly.

[@ScowlieMeerkat]

Good thing I scrolled all the way down before posting: Stevie Wonder didn't hire him for his looks? You don't say.

[@TheStepmonkey]

LOL

[@ItsComicG]

Thank you for making the obvious joke so I didn't have to.

[@totallynotjeff7748]

@@ItsComicG it was a joke.

[@ItsComicG]

@@totallynotjeff7748 I know it was a joke. I was going to make the same joke in the comments but I saw this kind sir or madam beat me too it and I was sincerely thanking them for taking that load off of my shoulders.

[@MetalSandman999]

"Stevie must have hired this guy for some supreme guitar skills because he sure wasn't hired for his looks." If there was ever an artist wouldn't be concerned about people's LOOKS, it would be Stevie Wonder lol

[@Ysckemia]

hey, he still has hands! ;)

[@redram5150]

Touché

[@devinweathers7520]

Automatic man is my fucking favorite

[@masonharris9166]

SW is only LEGALLY blind. He can still see, just not well.

[@MortanAMrk]

@@masonharris9166 oh thats how he caught that microphone actually that makes sensr

[@jimsword9997]

Todd "I mean who could dance to this? Its way too fast!" 4 words Coke in the 80's

[@xSaraxMxNeffx]

Such a popular kind of drug to doooooo!

[@msannthrope_2049]

🔥😊

[@summerwoodsmusic]

It’s the 80s…do a lot of coke and vote for Ronald Regan 🎶

[@spumbucket6845]

Todd's obviously never heard drum and bass, or most modern edm

[@AidanXavier1]

"Michael, we need a song for this dance movie" "Alright here's a horror song" "Michael we need a song for this horror movie" "Alright here's a dance song"

[@scottpaul7427]

"You could have heard this song everyday in 1983 and not know who sang it" I remember 1983 and this statement is accurate

[@DestinyKiller]

Or Kmart in 1996-1998

[@TheMightyMcClaw]

I would vote for Michael Sembello as the most 2019 looking man of the 1980's.

[@robinchesterfield42]

I KNOW RIGHT? He's _so_ un-'80s looking but fits right in with the scruffy "every guy has a beard now" crowd.

[@robwalsh9843]

I dunno. With the wife beater he looks pretty 70's. I could imagine him having a cigarette after working as a roadie for Foghat.

[@TheHeater90]

That's not a good thing!!

[@jl5529]

This is so accurate lol

[@gelitrippingkiddo5907]

He looks like Eric Wareheim

[@sledzeppelin]

Michael Sembello is a talented musician and decent songwriter who is a charisma black hole.

[@CeruleanChurch]

Honestly, I kindof appreciate that. In a time period where everyone was so flashy and polished he's just this straight faced enigma that easily makes you say "Oh ya...he definitely made Maniac"

[@MegaFriendlyCreeper]

I need a gif of Todd trying to "dance" to Maniac, pronto.

[@lucaslonchampt613]

So he's a guy who was with Stevie Wonder, and he became a one-hit wonder. I feel like there's a pun I'm missing

[@quajamil1636]

Stevie's one-hit wonder?

[@cherrybakewell7690]

You just can't see it

[@acehighjohn1759]

A better finish would be 'I Wonder if there's a pun in this'....job done.

[@jonahfalcon1970]

@@acehighjohn1759 I wonder what happened to the oh-nee-ders.

[@Zefo_No]

still prob the best One Hit Wonderland. Finding out about Automatic Man was the best thing that ever happened to me.

[@Flowtail]

Second only to finding out about Butterfly for me

[@supersmashbro596]

automatic man should have been the hit >.

[@robinchesterfield42]

Cheesy synthesizer/guitar '80s music is already awesome. Cheesy _sci-fi_ '80s music is AMAZING. :D

[@Volvandese]

For real, it's probably my favorite music video of all time now, all thanks to Todd.

[@bthsr7113]

Very late, but the Biggles movie theme is also some GLORIOUS cheese. DO YOU WANT TO BE A HERO!?

[@CyberKirby]

Todd, you deserve a medal for spreading awareness of Automatic Man.

[@ryanherron7436]

"Where is the singer? All I see is a girl in a leotard." Didn't know this was a sia video

[@millie8943]

Twili Link no thankfully it's not a Sia song. But that was a funny comment.

[@NathanSimpsonnathanisbeast]

Twili Link Michael Sembello did another version with different lyrics going "He's a maniac (Maniac) that's for sure he will kill your cat and nail it to the door!" (Take that Frida from El Tigre!)

[@appletreepear]

Up until this I always thought she was the singer, what the hell?!

[@TimmyTickle]

Now I'm imagining what this song would sound like if Sia covered it (basically, with all the feeling taken out of it and a shitload of vocal gymnastics added in its place)

[@Alex_Off-Beat]

It was a genius move, Jennifer Beals' perfect body and frantic dancing is obviously the real reason this song became a hit.

[@gabe_s_videos]

Watching Sembello's completely stone-faced performance during "Superstition" reminds me a lot of John Entwisle.

[@junkiejackflash]

But that man had the skill to back him up completely shredding and looking unphased

[@gabe_s_videos]

@@junkiejackflash That's what I was getting at, yeah :)

[@MegaFriendlyCreeper]

This is my favorite song. It's just got this quiet, repressed rage to it.

[@NotQuiteFirst]

You're a maniac.

[@autumnphillips151]

That’s cool. My favorite song is “Come Crimson Death” by Jess and the Ancient Ones :)

[@Bass_Goat53]

Mine is If We Were Vampires by Jason Isbell!

[@redactedredacted6656]

*runs to the nearest mirror to get a bearded 80s man play the keytar to me* Really everybody should want that.It sounds amazing .

[@ingonyama70]

I know how to get the music for my first video game project now...

[@dysfunctionalcaramel3821]

River Robson I just tried that. Ether I'm not doing it right or my mirror isn't fancy enough.

[@otaking3582]

All that came out of my mirror were a former slave with a beehive in his chest and a motorcycle rider that can summon a dragon using children's trading cards.

[@WinglessWings]

Thanks so much for introducing me to Automatic Man...

[@Flowtail]

Fun fact: Maniac on iTunes needs to be bought with the whole album I didn't care cause i just wanted Automatic Man

[@RaidsEpicly]

@@Flowtail People buy music on itunes in 2019? Not even trying to be mean, I'm just genuinely surprised

[@Flowtail]

​@@RaidsEpicly It was a couple years ago, though i assume all the cool people have moved on to spotify i'm not very hip and my mom has a lot of apple brand loyalty, so i can't really get out of using itunes

[@thatkidwiththehoodie]

The *skronk skronk* is such an underrated production element of the 80s. The Weeknd used it (or something similar at least) in Blinding Lights and it added so much to the rhythm of the whole thing, other artists should be taking notes.

[@Sleve-McDichael]

That must be why when I first heard that song, I thought it was an old song that had flown under the radar

[@jessica23claire]

I found a copy of Automatic Man on vinyl today. Be jealous. Be very jealous.

[@TransistorBased]

Discogs probably has it available

[@DestinyKiller]

​@@TransistorBased yeah but finding something in the wild is always so much better

[@TransistorBased]

@@DestinyKiller fair enough

[@glennwelsh9784]

One of the coolest Stevie Wonder videos was when he performed Superstition on Sesame Street. That also makes it the coolest Sesame Street video of all time. It even gets extra points because Lenny Kravitz and Ray Parker Jr. are both on guitar in the video.

[@robinchesterfield42]

I love that scene! EVERYBODY is just so totally into it. Tiny little kids, of all races, grooving to the music on top of random pieces of playground equipment...it's the cutest funky thing ever. :)

[@musicandmagic909]

....the Ghostbusters guy? THAT Ray Parker, Jr.?

[@MortanAMrk]

@@musicandmagic909 Yeah hes a pretty good guitarist

[@lillianward2810]

Yeah, they went hard on that one. Didn’t even try to rewrite it, just straight Superstition.

[@otaking3582]

*Stevie:* "Yes, Michael, I did hire you for your looks. You're a very handsome man." *Michael:* "Why thank you. * beat * Hey wait a minute..." *Stevie:* "Now before you say anything, being blind doesn't mean I don't know about beauty" *Michael:* "You're wearing plaid with polkadots and your socks are mismatched." *Stevie:* "And your point is?"

[@Disassociated24]

This feels like an animated skit from like the Muppets or something, probably the best written comment I’ve ever came across

[@TELMEman]

I've actually listened a little bit to Sambello's Bossa Nova Hotel album (from which Automatic Man originates, and also features Maniac). It's dated as fuck, but if you're into synth drenched 80s pop (like myself), you'll absolutely adore it. I mean really, how can you go wrong with titles like "Superman", "Godzilla", "Cadillac", and "Cowboy"?

[@Bane_questionmark]

Just listened to Godzilla for the first time, fuckin sick.

[@TheStepmonkey]

yeaaa, the cover of that album is SO gay

[@SamBellGuitar]

I love this album.

[@stephenbianchi7141]

Ok I'm sold. Gonna go listen

[@YuukiTakemoto1996]

Superman... why couldn't he mention Brainiac on a track?! Ah, well, we have Snap's The Power for that...

[@DeRien8]

Simbello in that Maniac video looks like he should be in a calendar shoot with Chuck Norris, the Brawny man, and Billy Mays

[@arachne6074]

8:38 I’ve Zumba-ed to Manic before. That’s basically what it was. High knees and that salsa part of the cha cha slide

[@jonothanthrace1530]

"Automatic Man" is clearly a Mighty Boosh song that fell through a time warp.

[@mariaquiet6211]

Actually plausible.

[@hiimemily]

"Elements of the past and elements of the future" indeed.

[@woodrobin]

In the workout scene, she actually looks likes she's desperately running, but not getting anywhere. Which is perfect for the song, is the nightmare of anyone running from Chucky or Jason or whomever, and is a perfect metaphor for her life. She's working as a welder and as an exotic dancer to try to make ends meet and fund her attempts to become successful as a professional dancer -- she's working her ass off and not really getting anywhere at all. Perfect.

[@seanmoloney7797]

"If you ever wanted to know what it looked like if Hall & Oates tried to write Mr. Roboto." I died!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@downeydenise]

I came across this video while cooped up in my house. What's funny is I used to see him on a weekly basis when I worked at a liquor store close to his home. He would come in for a handle of vodka and chat about his music career until another customer came in. Definitely will be bingeing on your videos!

[@LynetteTheMadScientist]

I'm kind of surprised someone hasn't made a "parody" video with the original serial killer lyrics yet

[@troyschulz2318]

I know right? The craziest part is, it still accompanies Maniac (the movie that is) perfectly.

[@aarononeil9832]

Lynette TheMadScientist Maybe nobody can think of other lyrics? Sembello never gave any other examples of the original words.

[@ironmaster6496]

Weird Al just missed a BIG chance

[@michaelhall5429]

They did make a parody. It was about a lady dancing. I'm surprised you've never heard it.

[@cheezburgrproduction]

@@ironmaster6496 I never knew I wanted this as bad as I do now

[@DigitalAndInnovation]

"If Hall and Oats tried to write Mr. Roboto" that was so spot on

[@Esrom_music]

Yes we did need a smooth jazz maniac and I'm going to go buy all of his records now.

[@1987MartinT]

I'm just sad that I can't hear Maniac, with it's original lyrics. Also, ALL HAIL AUTOMATIC MAN!

[@otaking3582]

I've had similar thoughts about the original lyrics to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Have yourself a merry little Christmas, IT MAY BE YOUR LAST!!!

[@Kylora2112]

Maniac is what you'd get if you commissioned a speed/thrash metal band to write a synthpop dance song. And yes, I totally appreciate the Firewind cover at the end

[@SeanStrife]

I mean... it makes sense, given that originally, it was written about a horror movie.

[@Kylora2112]

@@SeanStrife Power metal is more fantastic than horror, even if some big power metal songs are *really* dark (like Sonata Arctica's "Don't Say A Word").

[@theoneandonlymichaelmccormick]

Man, Sembello really couldn’t help but look like a forgotten wrestler from the territory era.

[@phillipweber6059]

I wonder if he knew Jim Cornette back in the OVW days

[@marinapedrinha7946]

Actually Sembello has a nice voice, something i had never thought about when listening to maniac. I wish he had nicer songs.

[@TheStepmonkey]

Automatic Man, one fine piece of music HISTORY!

[@TotinosOtherBoy]

Ive listened to that song every morning for like a month now

[@CyberKirby]

@@TotinosOtherBoy I’ve listened to it at least twice a day for the past few monthsZ

[@AmaranthOriginal]

"evil chopsticks."

[@haralambimarkov6862]

Oh man, he is a DADDY on that keyboard! Totally disagree with the disparaging comments made about him!

[@mcFreaki]

and that guitar solo, wow.

[@niemand9362]

One hundred percent

[@Taterzz]

that chord progression in the background sounds more sinister now that i think about it.

[@caitlinbrewer4843]

I love the episodes where he seems like he is genuinely enjoying the material.

[@antoniospappas2575]

This episode Todd is telling us he is not queer, without telling us he is not queer. PS. Michael Sembello with a black tank top and hairy arms could have it.

[@ernie39]

fjfkf exactly

[@Flowtail]

Gotta love how Sembello has his whole album available for purchase as singles.... except for Maniac, which you can only buy with the entire album I just wanted Automatic Man, though

[@RLucas3000]

Fif Gallag My guess is that is because of some deal with the Flashdance film soundtrack people. I like that soundtrack and love the title song but I crave Cycle V’s Seduce Me Tonight! I wonder if they were just session musicians as they are just really hard to find info about despite having two great songs on two great soundtracks. (The other is Blood From a Stone from Metropolis)

[@dragonpullman23]

Dirty Vegas is like that too. You can purchase all of their songs individually, except for "Days Go By", their only hit.

[@xandermagne2141]

Everyone watch Cinema Snob's Maniac review. That movie was going to have this song as the theme until Sembello retooled it a little for flashdance

[@UncrossedZeus]

um yes we did need a smooth jazz version of Maniac.

[@Apemopo]

no we didnt

[@christopherwall2121]

It's so smooth I'm sliding out of my seat

[@THESIMPSONSSUCKS]

That piano intro though

[@Cephalopod51]

When it comes to Maniac, I always remember Groundskeeper Willie's double parody of Flashdance and Dick van Dyke from Marry Poppins. "I'm a a maniac! / Maniac! / That's for ssssssure! / And I'm dancing like I've never danced before!"

[@maniacaldude]

I love Michael Sembello's work, and I'm glad to see someone shining a light on his time with Stevie Wonder, as well as giving his other work some exposure, especially Automatic Man. I actually have his Bossa Nova Hotel album on both vinyl and CD, which has Automatic Man and a different mix of Maniac than the one on the Flashdance soundtrack. The whole thing is a glorious mix of 80s synthpop and West Coast goodness. Makes me wish he had more hits, or at least had his albums re-released.

[@dynaboyjl.4220]

This is probably one of my favorite OHW videos, honestly

[@bigguys45s29]

“Automatic Man” is honestly a damn fine tune as well, yet just as cheesy as, “Maniac”

[@tobiasbanks3743]

Prince of Space is a really obscure reference. I mean I got it, but that would be obscure for Cinema Snob and this is a music show. I feel really special for catching it.

[@adriaanlips9479]

I was at a carpenter brut concert couple weeks ago and they covered this masterpiece. It was awesome

[@wookieblaster]

It sounds amazing with the modern production. CB rocks.

[@Itsleakim]

Fun fact, in most of the dance shots, the dancer is actually the film’s male choreographer dancing.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

One Hit Wonderland 'Before The Hit' segments rarely start with Todd dropping that the artist played on some incredibly acclaimed and popular albums, so you know this one is special

[@christopherwall2121]

I know the Sir-Mix-A-Lot one started by pointing out how he was a platinum artist *BEFORE* the hit

[@shadowlinkbds]

Man is this a great and catchy song to dance to. Automatic Man is pretty good too. Thank you Todd for introducing this underrated goldmine known as Automatic Man..

[@adamgronvold8608]

I want to thank you for giving me the gift of automatic man. This is the greatest music video in the history of mankind.

[@gabe_s_videos]

Charlie XCX just didn’t a song called “Femmebot” and while I love it on its own, I couldn’t help but immediately think “this needs a mashup with “automatic man.”

[@luckjes112]

I respect Micheal Sembello and can't help but love Maniac.

[@BeeKay5150]

The thing I love about those Bandstand appearances is there's a live drummer with a real drum set and the song being played doesn't have a lick of live instruments.

[@ALWTunes]

80’s soundtracks produced sooo many anonymous one hit wonders due to the videos being just movie clips. This is definitely the first time I’ve ever seen what Sembello looks like after hearing this song hundreds of times. Great video, Todd!

[@HolyGoddessMotherAnne]

This brings up the potential of a One Hit Wonderland that could be actually interesting tbh, Catch Me I'm Falling by Pretty Poison.

[@Hum0ng0us]

Yes we fucking DO need a Smooth Jazz Maniac on the Floor song.

[@someguy7424]

5:36 I love that line delivery so god damn much.

[@AnvilPro100]

Never will forget this video for introducing me to Automatic Man

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

OMG. Automatic Man sounds like it should have been the theme for a Saturday morning cartoon.

[@robinchesterfield42]

I absolutely would've watched that if it existed and I knew about it. I mean, I already loved OTHER cheesy '80s sci-fi cartoons; what's one more...?

[@Volvandese]

I picture it as the opening credits sequence for a live-action 80s show that is like a cross between Beakman's world and Power Rangers.

[@mrkd2k10]

Might be interesting to note but this song has taken on a weird second coming in Ireland. Back in early 2000, Irish DJ Mark McCabe released his version Maniac 2000, which was essentially a (and in my personal opinion, god awful) trance cover of the track which sped up the tempo, pitched up the vocals and has McCabe essentially shouting absolute nonsensical shite (including oggy oggy oi) over the track. This somehow ended up spending ten weeks at number one in Ireland, became a national phenomenon and is the fifth best selling song of all time in the country, despite never taking off anywhere else. This song to this day contains cult status in Ireland, is still played in numerous nightclubs across the country and even re entered the charts twice in 2007 and 2015. Just shows what nostalgia can do for a track really.

[@macuss87]

Someone filmed a gorilla splashing and spinning in a wading pool. Then someone mixed this song over top of it. I fully fell in love with this song after that video!

[@SWLinPHX]

Yes, the dancing gorilla splashing in the water is totally reminiscent of Flashdance - and this song was the perfect soundtrack’

[@YourCrazyOverlord]

TBH I still want a full version of Todd's piano cover. It's really damn fine

[@TMC1982Part2]

I went to look at Tom Breihan's "Number Ones" article on Stereogum on "Maniac" and I was immediately surprised to learn that Michael Sembello wasn't even 30 years old yet when "Maniac" hit. He was born in April of 1954. Seeing that footage of him performing "Maniac" on American Bandstand, I naturally assumed that he would've at the very least, been in his mid 40s.

[@georgeandrews1394]

I liked your Chinese Pirate Carpenter outfit better. This year's outfit isn't as shiny.

[@featherfox6700]

5 years later - still love this video!

[@HaasKage]

He also do a song for "Monster Sqaud" Rock until you drop! That's my jam!!

[@liamhayes9037]

Stevie Wonder didn't hire him for his looks, well duh

[@NinjaTylerBlack]

but hes sexy though

[@hifijohn]

hes got a body and face for radio.

[@MortanAMrk]

body, thats debatable, face, yeah probably.

[@jennifersaar1611]

Oh, and don't forget he did everyone's favorite song from Monster Squad, 'Rock Until You Drop'! I wore out the VHS tape playing that song over and over....

[@rnrstar82]

Jennifer Saar I was about to point out that he overlooked that song lol.

[@Bellatocci]

The fact that this song was included in Orphan: First Kill makes so much sense.

[@maryyeet7918]

Honestly this is a perfect 80s song, they were obsessed with working out in the 80s, so for anyone who didn't like working out, Maniac is a perfect representation of how they feel

[@saberreiter8569]

We need an everything version of "Maniac" I LOVE that song

[@LilyCat2399]

That piano cover at the start was seriously amazing!

[@squirralicious]

God I personally love Michael Sembello a fucking lot. Like his music is so fucking cheesy but i love it so much??? the Caravan of Dreams album a personal fav of mine.

[@NostalgiaChan]

Every time I come back to this and see the Automatic Man video, it freaks me out how much Michael Sembello looks like Eric Wareheim. I'm not entirely convinced that Eric didn't go back in time and start an incredible music career just for a bit.

[@majtechtings]

My older brother introduced me to automatic man as a kid and damnit...thanks for reminding me how good that song is. Thank you Todd.

[@kpk33x]

I loved this song! I used to make top 20 charts and this was #1 for a couple of months. I was 8.

[@millie8943]

Todd, you are so awesome and your playing Maniac on piano kicks ass!!!!!!

[@kidwaryodproduction]

His rhythm and solo guitar part in David Sanborn (RIP) "As We Speak" was one of the best thing ever. Worth to check it out ❤️

[@redshiftproductions7158]

"It feels like it should be a horror song" *Carpenter Brut has entered the chat*

[@bigguys45s29]

“Automatic Man” Peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983.

[@CyberKirby]

TOO LOW!

[@ProfessorKitchen]

"What would happen if Hall & Oats tried to write Mr. Roboto." So, so true.

[@MrBranh0913]

Michael Sambello made some of the most 80s music ever. It was unapologetically 80s and relentlessly cheesy. Like listening to any one of his songs from back then feels like an 80s soundtrack

[@LS-im5ki]

I love the way YOU describe the movie YOU kid are KING SARCASTIC!! I delight in it...Thanks so much for content !

[@chelmrtz]

I laughed my ass off this entire episode. Well done

[@ngs2683]

I love the video for this song so much. Artie Bucco on the synth is just so energetic. He owns that video.

[@Kirkvanhouten55]

Sembello's manager - "You're going on Solid Gold. Maaaybeee wear something that de-emphasizes that back hair?"

[@hurricanejessa294]

We ABSOLUTELY needed a soft rock version of “Maniac” idk what you’re talking about 🤣

[@ThatGuyfromBrazil]

Automatic Man is a song I unapologetically love, now

[@ethanc94]

Mix this with somebody’s watching me and thriller and that’s a full Halloween album of the century.

[@JV-the-Tossh]

I need Todd going "AH! Ron Howard!" as my text message alert. That's hilarious.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Somertime! Luh-uh-ovin! Lovin’ in the summer time!

[@ferleiva7080]

Oh man I had forgotten about that "Automatic Man" song! Thank you.

[@CIA191]

I love Firewind's version of Maniac!Thanks for including it at the end.

[@allisonbaby7477]

Automatic Man is now going on my workout playlist. That GD song is stuck in my head.

[@trevordailey]

Michael Sembello's first album is one of my favorites of all time

[@Wylade]

OH FUCK YEAH! I held out hope, against all reason, that you would put the cover Greek power-metal band Firewind did at the end, thank you so fucking much lmao