"Mickey" - Toni Basil - Signature Songs That Are Actually Covers

"Mickey" - Toni Basil - Signature Songs That Are Actually Covers
In 1982, dancer, actress, singer, and choreographer Antonia Christina Basillotta, better known as Toni Basil, released the global smash hit “Mickey”. The song and the video epitomized 80s music and thrust the singer into the mainstream but there are a few surprising details about the song. Not least of all this signature song is in fact a cover version. It was featured on the album “Smash n Grab” released in 1979 by British band Racey. Although some may regard her as a one-hit wonder, “Mickey” is just one highlight in an illustrious career that even in 1982 had been going on for nearly 20 years.
This is the story of Toni Basil, Mickey, and the 40-year battle for royalties.

[@SimirJohnson]

Go Toni! Without her version, this song would be known by no one.

[@Traxploitation]

100%!

[@jimidangertv4569]

Um. A lot of us had that Racey LP. Lol i did. All hits were on Smash and grab.

[@danielburger1775]

​@@jimidangertv4569 Indeed. It's like people who think Mariah Carey wrote 'Without You'.

[@agfiend]

💯

[@originalsusser]

Damn straight!

[@themelongourddevelopmentbo4963]

Glad she’s finally got those master rights. I hope the streaming era is very good to her!

[@Traxploitation]

She rerecorded and re-released as "Hey Mickey" and it has 10 million plays so far...about $60k...not bad.

[@JonGarcia]

Now she just needs a Stranger Things-like licensing deal that worked out amazingly for Kate Bush last year.

[@agfiend]

I am going to stream it so many times.

[@ZigUncut]

This is a perfect example of why the copyright laws need to be rewritten in favour of the artist.

[@newsuperbowserworld]

The new 2017 version is kinda bad.

[@JimButler1234567890]

I am so happy that Toni is now the sole owner of this classic. She deserves it !

[@nortons7040]

she's a petty and greedy thief

[@deancooke4664]

It’s all about Toni Basil. The look, the moves, the vibe. All credit goes to her, and so should the money!

[@petersyme7083]

Why?

[@gerardoneill1513]

Toni basil should receive royalties from this but not all off them.

[@Traxploitation]

@ronnie doorzon that's not how it works. At all. There's 2 copyrights in music. One for the composition, for writing the song. Another for the sound recording. When selling recorded music around 85% of the revenue goes to the owners of the sound recording. The rest to the writers. The owner of the sound recording is usually the record label. They then pay royalties to the artist. As explained in this video, there is clause in music contract law that allows a recording artist to reclaim the copyright in the sound recording after a certain time period has passed. A right that Toni Basil exercised. So her recording of the song now belongs to her. That has been settled in court, as explained in the video. She IS the rightful owner🤦‍♂️ It could also be argued that her additions to the original composition, the "Hey mickey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind" part, warranted her some writing credit on her version. This happens all the time. Beyonce is credited as a writer on the Destiny's child recording of Emotion despite it being a cover of a song written before she was born. As she added parts not in the original. Your comment makes it seem like you didn't watch all the video, or didn't understand it. As this is all very clearly explained. 🙄

[@mikeyd9443]

@ronnie doorzon haha - great, so what you're saying is: when she finally reaches the grand old age of *109* years old she can go back into the studio, re record the song, dress up in her old high school outfit and remake the video and go and do live gigs - uh, ok!!

[@slackthompson6984]

Toni did more to promote cheerleading with that one video than anyone ever did . A living legend ...........

[@Dancestar1981]

I grew up listening to that song

[@originalsusser]

@@Dancestar1981 so did my g/f at the time, she credited that song to her getting into dance, something she made a career out of

[@creativewriter3887]

yep!! a concept that Gwen Stefani would use when she did her own solo work with "Hollaback girl"..

[@Traxploitation]

@Creativewriter3 hollerback girl video is inspired by cheerleading and perhaps the spelling out of Bananas but the composition of the song (specifically the rhythm and cadence of the vocals) is mostly ripped off from "Heaven and Hell is on earth" by the 20th Century Steel Band. Which was also sampled by JLo for Jenny from the block. I interviewed the singer of that track for an upcoming video as he's received nothing at all from that song.

[@johnnason5787]

​@@creativewriter3887Don't forget Chapelle Roane.

[@mdm5216]

Her dancing is so fluid. It's not a bunch of moves strung together. It's one complete movment.

[@iconocrat]

I learned a lot about Toni Basil today! Apparently she's awesome.

[@Traxploitation]

She is isn't she?! Total unsung hero for me...

[@rogerramjet6429]

Some of us knew that in 1982.

[@creativewriter3887]

Me too! I thought she was a one hit wonder, but didn't realize she'd been in the biz for about 20 years at that point AND she continued to be in the biz after... she's prolific and amazing.. one wonders if she and Deborah Allen worked together since they seem to share that kind of artistic/choreographic vibe.

[@fad23]

Toni is a badass! She's pretty close to some of my friends in the swing dance world and has taken at least one class I taught way back when. Not to mention she's still teaching and performing to this day

[@Traxploitation]

She's definitely is! The energy and enthusiasm she still has now for music and dance is so inspiring!

[@solracer66]

Wow! I've been swing dancing for 15 years now and that's the first I heard of her connection. Now that I know I am not at all surprised that she would get into it as well.

[@fad23]

@solracer66 she's still close to some of the long time southern California lindy hoppers. I believe it was Tise Chao who arranged for Toni to teach a 60s dance series over zoom as the world got shut down for a while.

[@DanielRuyters]

Toni Basil deserves a lifetime achievement award. She's awesome And Mickey is an irresistible great song. I first heard it in the movie Edge of Seventeen. Toni rules

[@host_theghost507]

Thank you for this well-researched and fascinating behind-the-scenes story of one of the 80s greatest earworms. Toni Basil is so much more than "Mickey" but she has every right to her fair share of its success.

[@Floorguy1000]

Forty years later I'm still listening to it...got it on my phone. Great song to head to the beach with, with the top down. Toni Basil is such a bad ass...I am SO GLAD she finally got the rights to it. So glad she kept the chant in.....and finally, she did a GREAT job on the video with very limited resources.

[@GirtheAlienGoldfish]

I wish I could dance like her. She's almost 80 and she's still an amazing dancer!

[@williamrae9954]

Toni Basil is 81yrs old this year(2024)...that shocked me! 'Ballroom Blitz' was written after The Sweet were bombarded with glasses and bottles at the Palace Ballroom,Kilmarnock,Scotland...an industrial town,famous for Johnny Walker whiskey!

[@JoaMaj]

Love this song, and Toni's amazing dancing. Fun fact: She played a character named "Mickie" on an episode of Laverne & Shirley in 1978.

[@Traxploitation]

Yeah, I tried but couldn't find footage of the episode 😕 didn't know her character was called Mickie lol 😆

[@marienbad2]

I love this record, unironically love it. It has energy, a great beat, and her singing is both odd and great, and the video is awesome. Toni Basil deserves her money tbh.

[@TSmithIIWII]

Around 2009 I used to wait tables at a place called LA piazza, in Las Vegas. Anyways, her brother is/was a officer for metro and I used to wait on him and all the officers all the time. He let me know she was choreographing Bette Midler's show at the time. Love Toni love her brother. Miss him ❤

[@kapaimana]

That was interesting. Stoked she got the recorded masters and controls now where her version can be used. She still wont get royalties for songwriting as that belongs to the songwriters. Regardless if her version was bigger, without their song, she would have no song to sing, and keep in mind her Oh Mickey chant was not new , it was also derivative to a cheer. If the owners of the masters had just shared the wealth all along, they'd still get something. ALL RESPECT to Toni for sticking to her guns and coming out on top. Sad that it took so long for her to find the trail to the courts. Thank you Traxploitation - another fantastic video.

[@hangsmotionless5935]

May Toni enjoy finally a sweet retirement enjoying the recognition and admiration she deserves. Respect to her talent, her continuous hard work, her independence!

[@AJRICE-cu9bb]

I have always loved Toni, and collected all of her stuff; she has been very underrated; Toni is one of the most original and fantastic dancers ever. I am so pleased that Toni finally won.

[@Traxploitation]

100% agree 😁

[@marcussewell7678]

Bloody crooks all involved well done Toni xxxxx.

[@MrChipTalk]

What a happy conclusion. I went looking for the history of the song and was glad to find this video.

[@justwaiting5744]

Holy hell, she never gave up! What an awesome lady.

[@tecknixx]

her unrelenting drive is astounding! love Toni!!!!

[@florelie]

I grew up listening and dancing to this song and also “Street Beat”. She is such an amazing performer but was largely slept on. If she came out in the age of TikTok she’d have been a massive global phenomenon. What a legend!

[@originalsusser]

I'm not sure how big she could be today but she was a pretty big hit in her day, I'm an Australian & Micky was huge here both the song & the video, where I work they play music, it changes every week but Micky has occasionally been included in rotation, including recently.

[@rogerramjet6429]

I still have the vinyl record of Street Beat. From back in my break dancing days.

[@rogerramjet6429]

​@@originalsusser it's one of very few tracks that make me smile, and take me back to a far more simple world. Except for the bullying in school and beatings at home. Music was one of very few escape mechanisms.

[@mikeyratcliff3400]

This track dogged my last few years at school... at least my name wasn't Gordon! Excellent video btw!

[@garrylawless3550]

I loved that song when it came out and I thought Toni Basil was hot! I knew she had been a choreographer, but I didn't know all the other work she'd done, and that she was 38 when she made 'Oh Mickey'. Thank you for all the info, another great video.👍🏻

[@Traxploitation]

Thanks glad u liked it. Just like you I vaguely knew she was a choreographer and dancer, i knew it was a cover and .I had some passing knowledge of the lockers etc but the more I dug in the more crazy facts I found out about her...she's one of my favourite living people now.

[@herlandercarvalho]

I loved both Toni Basil and Toto Coelo. And I will never forget Toni on that god-awful-so-bad-that-is-good movie, Rockula! LMAO!

[@kimgrattage2395]

Toni is a leegend. A most amazing, beautiful and talented performer and choreographer. When you have the likes of Quentin Tarantino hot footing it to your door to do the choreographey in one of his films, you really have hit the jackpot, especially for Toni in her advanced years. I remember seeing her family performing on a video of their acrobatic show some years ago, you can clealy see that dance and acrobatics were key in Toni's later videos. Happy New Year Toni and all the very best you fabulous lady. I'm 66 and it gladdens my heart that older ladies are getting the recognition they quite rightly deserve.

[@theneonchimpchannel9095]

Good to see that she will finally get some of what she deserved. It still sucks that she wasn't allowed a co-writer credit as she added a lot to that song. Others who have added far less have been allowed to take a credit. I bought her first album a few years ago when I found it in a budget bin for $1, it's actually a really good album beyond just Mickey. Some of it is a little goofy (there's song called "Shopping From A To Z" which is like a sort of warped Sesame Street skit) but there's some great new wave and early 80s pop tunes on there. There's several songs which are basically Devo with Toni on vocals. It's quite a diverse collection of performances too.

[@briansmith2163]

Basil's contribution to American art and pop culture cannot be overestimated.

[@rogerramjet6429]

Also shows how corrupt the music industry is, due to greed. Nothing's changed.

[@nineteenfortyeight]

🤣🤣🤣

[@groupexman]

Yay toni! so happy you got your song back!

[@jerseyforhawks]

I side with Toni, it's her song, as it's been given to the world. I can remember it's release, utterly unique.

[@Dancestar1981]

Absolutely

[@spindleswift8667]

She has always been such an amazing visual artist. Every nuance of her body and face is artistic.

[@thestepfordlife2015]

This was so great. I started it at about 130 am and ended up finishing it. I was born in 1973 so this is one of the songs that shaped my childhood. There are so many. Great video and it has a sorta-happy ending

[@ajscaffandthebandoles]

I knew the drummer on this track, Ric Parnell, also the Spinal Tap drummer that actually survives, he died penniless a year ago. His story confirms what was said in this video and then some. He brought in the guys that recorded on this album and they were paid a paltry sum for the session but Ric owned up to that. He was a real great guy and player.

[@deadandburied7626]

Toni Basil did choreography for Linda Ronstadt's "Get Closer" dance.

[@TheBoomerPlace]

She was and is just simply awesome.

[@icemouf7480]

I was a kid when this came out!...R.I.P...MA💎 My Mother💎

[@Vivalarosa45]

This song and video mean a lot to me. Let's say it's part of my life's soundtrack.

[@anddyyoung]

Thanks!

[@ELIBARDOVALENCIA-yw7xw]

Tony Basil es lo máximo me hace recordar los tiempos bellos de mi juventud cuando estudiaba que mi Dios la bendiga por esa forma Linda y bella de cantar siempre la he admirado

[@freelyfarmexploits8854]

Toni Basil, who could ever forget her, glad she's finally getting some royalties for a great tune .

[@zazuzazz5419]

Toni the Tiger!! Vindicated finally! Li’l but fierce - she casts an impressive shadow. How gratifying to learn that her persistence paid off.

[@advancetotabletop5328]

Thanks for the biography! Her time was before the internet became popular, so I certainly didn‘t know anything else about her!

[@rubendiaz3482]

Awesome Toni 👌

[@twincams350]

She hasn't seen any money from this iconic video for 40 years?? I just wanna cry. Biggest example of an injustice I've ever seen.

[@dropview7013]

Great video as always Traxploitation. Really appreciate the effort and research you do in making these videos. I didn’t realise the full extent of Toni Basil’s creativity. Glad she got her masters back. Pity it came at a heavy financial loss in royalties revenue.

[@Traxploitation]

Much appreciated!

[@sophiawish9772]

She is so talented! Toni can do it all and should definitely be recognized for her genius contributions on Mickey.

[@griffruby8756]

I remember seeing her Mickey single in the new imports bin at a record store about Christmas 1981, bought it at once, and never regretted it. Once I heard it I could tell at once that this was a song destined for fame.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

Great research and choice of subject. Interesting channel

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you 😊

[@alambster]

Can never not watch that video. It’s amazing because of her!! ❤❤❤

[@vincerees841]

Go girl .. justice finally done

[@wyattr1684]

The algorithm brought me here. This video and the others on your channel are excellent and well produced. The quality of your content doesn't properly represent your sub count. Keep up the good work! I sense you're about to blow up.

[@Traxploitation]

Wow, thank you! 😊

[@damonmackay1398]

Did NOT know any of that. Great stuff guys

[@ronniestanley75]

Good for her for not letting the loss of that song rule her life.

[@FearOfMusic]

Amazing work, once again. Thank you!

[@Traxploitation]

Thanks 😀

[@TheSocaCasual]

Wow Wayne! Another great one and an eye-opener too, of course. When I saw the clip of her family dancing I immediately thought of break dancing and so it transpired. As you would imagine, I also found your explanation regarding producers and what they do and (sometimes) do not do very 'interesting'.

[@Traxploitation]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tetsucat13]

Wow. Fantastic documentary. A great insight into the dark world of copyright. I feel so sorry for Toni Basil. I absolutely loved this song when it came out. I had the LP etc and she was on a few times on tv, the doc with a load of her videos. Didn't find out what they now say about the song being a gay icon. Mickey being gay. This also got me into The Go Team when the singer dressed as a cheerleader and had a little routein to one of their early songs.

[@HamishDownie]

I'd heard that she was unhappy about the song being on RuPaul's Drag Race, but it now makes much more sense as to why

[@grayeve7918]

Good story telling 👍

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you 😊

[@TitianTopsyTurvy]

Thanks for your incredible research and effort. I hope you get lots of support, you deserve it.

[@Traxploitation]

Thanks so much for your support! Any topics ud like to see covered?

[@nigelcarren]

Very interesting video mate! She was quiet an important moment of my adolescence. Seeing Toni Basil on the TV in the English countryside that week rocked my world! 😉 To mine eyes something about her resembles a young Shelley Duvall. Both similarly porcelain-like in their prime. Long may she reign! 👍🇬🇧🎶🇺🇲

[@Traxploitation]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 👀 🙂

[@teptime]

This LEGEND has not only remained relevant in the entertainment industry for sixty years...she's remained relevant in YOUTH CULTURE for sixty years...and she's still a very desirable seasoned woman.

[@bySterling]

ABSOLUTE LEGEND 100 like none OTHER!!

[@coolitnow0013]

Mind Blown !!!! I knew some of this already but all thisnew info Damn!!

[@originalsusser]

Wow what a in depth analysis of a song I've always liked. Liked Racys 2 hit wonders but never knew they spawned Micky. Learnt a lot today... really took me back & fully educated me along the way.

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you 😊 So glad you enjoyed it.

[@mannyespinola9228]

Long live Toni Basil!

[@thesame4076]

When I saw the video in the early eighties I thought Toni was the youngest cheerleader. I was living in Las Vegas at the time. When youtube came out I saw the archive footage of the family and thought I was watching her mother. Then I rewatched Viva Las Vegas and found out so much more on this talented lady and was blown away.

[@chadcrigger3101]

I absolutely love her. ❤️ she is one hell of an entertainer.

[@fatherfiguredad]

Another Banger!!!!! Who knew???

[@rhammond7517]

I didn't known it was a cover tune... good song great video 👍👍

[@bluesdca]

Toni Basil is such a talented artist. Glad she won her court battle.

[@elrondhubbard9127]

I can't believe you only have 8k subs. I don't even necessarily like this song (I "like" it, but would never just put it on to listen to it) but I still watched and was fascinated by this vid. 😁🙏

[@Truckngirl]

I am baffled why you don't have more subscribers. The algorithm brought me to your Milli Vanilli video, and then I just played your latest one. You do very well with your research and presentation. I was a friend of Toni Basil's boyfriend at the time of the Mickey popularity, Craig Allen Rothwell (Spazz Attack) who was part of the early LA punk rock scene and appears in Devo videos. LA can be a very small town...Anyway, good job, make more of these when you have time. There's no shortage of musical scandal!

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you 😊 I'm baffled too 🤷‍♂️🤣 It's been suggesting me alot recently so hopefully it continues 🙏 I'm sure you have a few stories of your own too?! Anyway, thanks again for watching and commenting...I'll certainly be making some more soon...

[@andrewdunbar828]

@@Traxploitation I think you're on the verge of blowing up. Keep at it!

[@josephhellstern949]

Wow , so well done, i have often wondered about this song, i really like it , party of my childhood. Thank you

[@Traxploitation]

You're welcome 😊 🙏

[@diddyKite2010]

Brilliant video. Really enjoyed that. Cheers!

[@Traxploitation]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@scottbrower9052]

Oh, man.....I remember "I Eat Cannibals." Digging deep here, dude. Excellent job.

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you 😊

[@ASChambers]

Thanks for a fascinating documentary.

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you! You're welcome!

[@jacksonpollock814]

One of my first crushes! Great video.

[@PlatinumDragonProductions999]

16:13 "Incredibly vague" is almost an understatement these days... This is one of the many reasons why I hate the entertainment "industry." Go #TeamToni !!

[@Paul_Wetor]

I first saw the video on Showtime and loved the cheerleader moves.

[@vickywitton1008]

She talks like an actress from the golden era of Hollywood, very elegant and poised. I love that song!

[@honoriotanquintic6533]

She did caught the great era 60s

[@troubleondemand7703]

You just gotta love that the publishers claimed the part of the song that she wrote was nothing special and is not a significant addition, but is the part featured in all of the ads that paid to use the song. Ridonculous. Good for her. Nice to hear about a well deserved win.

[@ladiorange]

Great video

[@Traxploitation]

Thanks 😀

[@bernardroth7200]

I love her dance routine with Davy Jones in that movie head

[@JP-ve7or]

That number was so amazing and strange! I understand the director never wanted to do quick cuts after that again though 😄

[@bernardroth7200]

@@JP-ve7or I'm currently reading this book about Hollywood from that timer can you believe they were concerned of getting an x-rating for the belly dancing part of the movie

[@richardpalmer7640]

Congratulations to Toni basil at last she’s an amazing dancer and she got paid for it she’s a hard worker ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Woopy11]

Obviously Toni is so very talented. Great choreography style!

[@hhvictor2462]

I get all nostalgic seeing old MTV promos with Mickey briefly featured in it.

[@biggdogg99848]

That song is the eighties it's a nostalgic masterpiece

[@danvol3835]

I hope some conscientious, deep-pocketed entity makes right the decades of injustice. That song and video was as popular and loved as one can get, and she deserves all the payback in the world.

[@computer_toucher]

I absolutely loved the song when it came out and I had a crush on Toni Basil. I was 4.

[@jetpetty1613]

Always interesting, thoughtful, and informative music history videos 😊

[@Traxploitation]

Thank you 😊

[@greenvillearts502]

fabulous

[@joopsmit6910]

Yay Toni! I mean Racey was a great band and kudos for their own hits, but ever so often a great song is covered by other artists and made legendary, such as this one. Thank you @Traxploitation for the great research and content.

[@vegasrider2246]

In 82 I was in the 11th grade when this song came out. I went to Las Vegas High. When we heard that she went there too, a few of us went to the library to look at year books to find her. Never did, we assumed maybe 5 years ago. Later on found out it was in the 60’s when she graduated.

[@Traxploitation]

Some of the pics at the start of the video are from the LVH yearbook. I found a website that has digital versions of pretty much every yearbook...but without knowing her date of birth I would have been looking at the 70s 🤷‍♂️😆

[@earlofcumbrae-Ground_Zero]

Nice! 💖🐕

[@christopherproietti645]

You Gotta Problem and Over My Head are two other excellent songs from Toni!

[@peacearena]

Very interesting. I had that first TB album, and remember liking a couple of other songs on it even more than Mickey, which I adored. I also remember "I Eat Cannibals" very fondly from my clubbing days in Orlando, but wasn't aware of the connection via Radial Choice. Very glad Toni got the legal rights to a song that is undeniably hers in every sense.

[@knifeswitch5973]

Great content Trax!

[@Traxploitation]

Thanks!

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

6:25 That was Robert Christgau, from memory. Thanks for the research on this.

[@Traxploitation]

Yes it was. I was going to mention him by name by decided not to.