Mickey (song)

"Mickey" is a 1981 song recorded by American singer and choreographer Toni Basil on her debut album Word of Mouth. Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn as "Kitty", it was first recorded by UK music group Racey during 1979, appearing on their debut album Smash and Grab. Toni Basil changed the name from Kitty to Mickey to make the song about a man.

"Mickey"
Artwork for US vinyl release
Single by Toni Basil
from the album Word of Mouth
B-side
  • "Hanging Around"
  • "Thief on the Loose"
Released1982
Genre
Length
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Toni Basil singles chronology
"Breakaway"
(1966)		 "Mickey"
(1982)		 "Nobody"
(1982)
Audio
"Mickey" on YouTube

Background

The original Racey song did not include the famous "Oh Mickey, you're so fine, you're so fine, you blow my mind" chant, which Basil added.

For years, it had been rumored that the name was changed to Mickey because Basil developed a crush on the Monkees' drummer and lead vocalist Micky Dolenz, after meeting him on the set of their movie, Head, for which she was the choreographer; however, this claim was denied by Basil, who has said she did not know Dolenz that well.[4]

Music videos

Two different music videos for the song were recorded, one featuring Basil with a backing band, and another featuring costuming and choreography inspired by cheerleader dance routines. Both versions were shot in 1981, while Basil was 37 or 38 years of age.

Critical reception

Rock critic Robert Christgau commented on the perceived 'obscene' content of the lyric "So come on and give it to me / Any way you can / Any way you want to do it / I'll take it like a man". Christgau wrote in a review at the time that Basil "was the only woman ever to offer to take it up the ass on Top 40 radio." However, Basil adamantly denies this: "NO! That's ridiculous. People read shit into everything. It's not about anything dirty. You change the name from boy to girl" — i.e., from "Mickey" to "Kitty" — "and they read anything they want into it! When it's a guy singing about a girl, it's a sweet line. But when a girl sings it, it must mean butt-fucking! This is how the wrong foot gets cut off when the doc wheels you into the E.R. Then it's Micky Dolenz and butt-fucking."[5]

The single scored number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week and number two in the UK Singles Chart. The song was Basil's only Top 40 success.[6][7] It was named #5 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time, #16 on 20 to 1's Top 20 One Hit Wonders Countdown and #57 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s. It has also appeared on multiple greatest or best lists and countdowns.

Charts and certifications

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] Platinum 50,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[27] 2× Platinum 200,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Track listings

US 7" single

  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Thief on the Loose" – 3:50

International 7" single

  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Hanging Around" – 4:06

US 12" single

  1. "Mickey" (Special Club mix) (Short) – 4:32
  2. "Mickey" (Special Club mix) (Long) – 5:58

Alternate US 12" single

  1. "Mickey" (Special Club mix) – 5:58
  2. "Mickey" (Spanish version) – 5:12

Lolly version
"Mickey"
Single by Lolly
from the album My First Album
Released1999
Length3:36 (album version)
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dufflebag Boys
Lolly singles chronology
"Viva La Radio"
(1999)		 "Mickey"
(1999)		 "Big Boys Don't Cry"
(1999)

The UK singer Lolly scored a top five hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1999. There is also a karaoke version of the cover on the album.

Track listings

UK CD single 1[30]

  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Sweetheart" – 2:54
  3. "Mickey" (Karaoke version) – 3:36

UK CD single 2[31]

  1. "Mickey" - 3:36
  2. "Mickey" (Creator remix) – 5:58
  3. "Mickey" (D-Bop remix edit) – 4:22
  4. "Mickey" (The Bold & The Beautiful remix) – 5:50

UK Cassette single[32]

  1. "Mickey" – 3:36
  2. "Mickey" (Karaoke version) – 3:36

Charts
Chart (1999–2000) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[33] 66
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[34] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[11] 14
Scotland (OCC)[35] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[36] 4

Other versions and adaptations

Cover versions

Adaptations and parodies

Language versions

Samplings
  • The entire structure of the Run–D.M.C. song "It's Tricky" was consciously lifted from "Mickey". According to DMC: "I just changed the chorus around and we just talked about how this rap business can be tricky to a brother."[38]

See also

References
  1. Cateforis, Theo (2011). Are We Not New Wave? : Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-03470-7.
  2. Robbins, Ira. "Toni Basil". Trouser Press. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  3. "Mickey / Thief On The Loose". 45cat.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  4. Day, Adrienne (17 August 2012). "Vulture Investigates: Is Toni Basil's 'Mickey' Really About...Well, You Know?". Vulture. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  5. Day, Adrienne (17 August 2012). "Vulture Investigates: Is Toni Basil's 'Mickey' Really About...Well, You Know?". Vulture.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  6. "Toni Basil Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  7. Huey, Steve. "Toni Basil – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  8. "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1980's". World Charts. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Toni Basil – Mickey" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6192." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mickey". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Toni Basil – Mickey" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  13. "Charts.nz – Toni Basil – Mickey". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  14. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  16. "Toni Basil Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 18, 1982". Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Toni Basil – Mickey". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  19. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  20. "Top 100 Singles of 82". RPM. Vol. 37 no. 19. Library and Archives Canada. 25 December 1982.
  21. "End of Year Charts 1982". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  22. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1982". Archived from the original on 21 September 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  23. "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. Vol. 39 no. 19. Library and Archives Canada. 24 December 1983.
  24. "Top 100 Hits for 1983". The Longbored Surfer. Archived from the original on 29 November 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  25. "Hot 100 Turns 60". Billboard. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  26. "Kent Music Report No. 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum and Gold Singles 1982". Imgur (original document published by Kent Music Report). Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  27. "Canadian single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". Music Canada.
  28. "British single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Mickey in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  29. "American single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  30. "Lolly (2) – Mickey". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  31. "Lolly (2) – Mickey – The Mixes". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  32. "Lolly (2) – Mickey". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  33. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  34. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16 no. 39. 25 September 1999. p. 16. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  35. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  37. "Främling" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  38. McLeod, Kembrew; DiCola, Peter (2011). Creative License: The Law and Culture of Digital Sampling. Duke University Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-8223-4875-7.
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