Hyperactive!
1984 single by Thomas Dolby
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"Hyperactive!" is a song by the English new wave and synth-pop musician Thomas Dolby, released on 9 January 1984 by EMI and Capitol Records as the lead single from his second studio album The Flat Earth. Backing vocals were provided by the American singer Adele Bertei.
- "White City" (UK),
- "Get Out of My Mix (Special Dance Version)" (US)
| "Hyperactive!" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Thomas Dolby | ||||
| from the album The Flat Earth | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | 9 January 1984[1][2] 10 January 1994[3] (re-release) | |||
| Recorded | 1983 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:46 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Thomas Dolby | |||
| Producer | Thomas Dolby | |||
| Thomas Dolby singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Hyperactive!" on YouTube | ||||
According to Dolby, he initially composed the song for Michael Jackson, whom he had met in 1982. He decided to record it himself since he never got any feedback from Jackson after sending him a demo tape.[4] Dolby felt that "Hyperactive" deviated from the remaining material on The Flat Earth, which he described as a "late night album" and "smoochy".[5]
It was the first single to be taken from the album and peaked at number 17 on the UK singles chart and number 16 on the Canadian RPM charts,[6] In the US, it reached number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charted on the publication's Dance Club Songs listing.[7][8]
Music video
A music video was also released on MTV in February 1984, where it later received medium rotation.[9][10] Cashbox noted the video's "hilarious special effects gimmickry in its take-off on psychiatry."[11] Dolby coordinated with Daniel Kleinman on the music video, who served as the director.[5][12] Later that year, it was nominated for the Best Computer Graphics and Most Innovative Music Video categories for the Billboard's Video Music Awards.[12] It was also nominated under the Best Pop Video category for the American Video Awards.[13]
Critical reception
Upon its release, Martyn Ware, as guest reviewer for Smash Hits, praised "Hyperactive!" as "another brilliantly-produced single from Thomas" with a "high originality factor". He added that it "deserves to be a success", but said that the lack of an "identifiable chorus" could impact its chart success.[14] Karen Swayne of Number One considered it a "winner" and an "unexpected treat". She summarised, "It's a furiously fast blast of choppy funk with some fearsome girl vocals [in the chorus]."[15] Lemmy, as guest reviewer for Record Mirror, called the song "a big disjointed for me", but thought that it had a "great sound".[16]
In the US, Cashbox called the song "a nervous, audio leap-frog of a single which more than achieves the mood hinted at by the title."[11] Billboard characterized the song as "electronic dance pop".[17]
Personnel
- Thomas Dolby – keyboards, vocals
- Adele Bertei – additional vocals
- Louise Ulfstedt – "The Analyst"
- Kevin Armstrong – guitar, "The Analyst"
- Matthew Seligman – bass guitar
- Justin Hildreth – drums
- Matthew Salt – tins, thunder sheet
- Clif Brigden – percussion, computer drums
- Peter Thoms – trombone
Chart positions
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] | 26 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[19] | 16 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[20] | 41 |
| UK singles chart[21] | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 62 |
| US Billboard Album Rock Tracks[22] | 39 |
| US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80[8] | 37 |