Mickey (song)

"Kitty"
Song by Racey from the album Smash and Grab
Released	1979
Genre	Bubblegum pop
Writer	Mike Chapman Nicky Chinn
Producer	Mike Chapman

"Mickey"
Single by Toni Basil
from the album Word of Mouth
Released	5 February 1982
Genre	New wave[1][2] bubblegum[2]
Length	4:12 (Album version) 3:36 (Single version)
Label	Chrysalis (US) Radial Choice (UK) Virgin (Canada)
Writer(s)	Mike Chapman Nicky Chinn
Producer(s)	Greg Mathieson[3] Trevor Veitch[3]
Toni Basil singles chronology
"Breakaway" (1966) "Mickey" (1982) "Nobody" (1982)

"Mickey" is a 1982 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. For years, it had been rumored that the name was changed to Mickey because Basil was fond of 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 has been disputed by Basil, who said she didn't know Dolenz that well.^[4] Rumors also circulated that the lines "any way you want to do it / I'll take it like a man", in the gender-swapped lyrics, referred to anal sex; Basil strenuously denies this interpretation, calling it "ridiculous".^[4]

A music video for the song, featuring costuming and choreography inspired by cheerleader dance routines, was played heavily on MTV. Filmed in 1981, the video is considered the very first choreographed dance video, and the opening stunt, where a cheerleader jumps through the center of a human pyramid, is now illegal in competition.^[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] making her a "one-hit wonder".^[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

Weekly charts Chart (1982–83) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 39 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 69 Ireland (IRMA)[12] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 39 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[15] 3 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 1 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[6] 3 US Cash Box[17] 2 Year-end charts Chart (1982) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] 6 Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[19] 63 US Cash Box[20] 36 Chart (1983) Position Canada (RPM Top Singles)[21] 35 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 36 Sales and certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Canada (Music Canada)[23] 2× Platinum 200,000 United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Gold 500,000 United States (RIAA)[25] Platinum 2,000,000 ^^shipments figures based on certification alone Track listings US 7" single "Mickey" – 3:36 "Thief on the Loose" – 3:50 International 7" single "Mickey" – 3:36 "Hanging Around" – 4:06 US 12" single "Mickey" (Special Club mix) (Short) – 4:32 "Mickey" (Special Club mix) (Long) – 5:58 Alternate US 12" single "Mickey" (Special Club mix) – 5:58 "Mickey" (Spanish version) – 5:12 Lolly version "Mickey" Single by Lolly from the album My First Album Released 1999 Genre Dance-pop Length 3:36 (album version) Label Polydor Writer(s) Mike Chapman Nicky Chinn 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 ten hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1999. In addition, there is also a karaoke version of the cover in the album. Track listings UK CD Single #1[26] "Mickey" – 3:36 "Sweetheart" – 2:54 "Mickey" (Karaoke version) - 3:36 UK CD Single #2[27] "Mickey" - 3:36 "Mickey" (Creator remix) - 5:58 "Mickey" (D-Bop remix edit) - 4:22 "Mickey" (The Bold & The Beautiful remix) - 5:50 UK Cassette Single[28] "Mickey" - 3:36 "Mickey" (Karaoke version) - 3:36 Charts Chart (1999) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[12] 14 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29] 4 Other notable versions "Weird Al" Yankovic parodied this song for his 1983 self titled debut album as "Ricky", a parody of and tribute to I Love Lucy. Walt Disney Productions released a cover version titled "Hey Mickey" in 1986 on the album Totally Minnie. This version is sung by Desirée Goyette. The lyrics were altered significantly to reflect Minnie Mouse singing to and about Mickey Mouse. In 1987, the Brazilian entertainer Xuxa covered the song on her album Xegundo Xou da Xuxa. Irish girl group B*Witched covered the song for their American EP Across America 2000. It was released as a promotional single outside of the UK and was used for the film Bring It On. Swedish singer Carola Häggkvist scored a 1983 success in Scandinavia with a Swedish language-version of "Mickey" with lyrics written by Ingela "Pling" Forsman for the 1983 album Främling.[30] Japanese comedian-musician Gorie scored no. 1 on the Japanese singles chart for two weeks with a version featuring vocals by American-born Jasmine Ann Allen. 2002 saw the release of New Zealand band Elemeno P version on B-side of single Fast Times In Tahoe. In 2009, the American punk rock band Zebrahead covered it on their album Panty Raid. In 2010, the South Korean girl group Girls' Generation released a reworked version "Cooky" to promote the LG Cyon Cooky mobile phone. In 2011, the song was parodied as "Moshi" for commercials advertising the website Moshi Monsters. In 2012, Olivia Newton-John recorded the song for the soundtrack to her motion picture A Few Best Men. The song was the first single released from the album on 9 January 2012. In 2015 The Time Lord rock band Leg Nose Robinson made a parody version of this song as "Hey Missy," referencing the line from the Doctor Who episode "Death in Heaven". Songs which sample the Toni Basil recording 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."[31] Heidi Montag recorded a song titled "Bad Boy", which starts off sampling the song with "Bad boy you so fine, you so fine, you blow my mind." The song was sampled by Nitty in the song, "Hey Bitty", which can be found on his album Player's Paradise.[32] Limp Bizkit sampled the chorus in "Nookie" [Androids Vs. Las Putas Remix] on their New Old Songs album.[33] The starting chorus of the original song was sampled by electronic duo Boards of Canada in the track "Nine-Rubber Wisdom" on Old Tunes Vol. 2.[34] Madonna sampled part of the chorus for "Dress You Up" for her 2009 Sticky & Sweet Tour. Kylie Minogue blended "Mickey" with her own song "Heart Beat Rock" on her KylieX2008 tour. The word "Mickey" was replaced with "Minnie". Travis Scott blended "Mickey" with his song "Antidote" which can be found on his album Rodeo. See also List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982 References 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. Robbins, Ira. "Toni Basil". Trouser Press. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Mickey / Thief On The Loose". 45cat.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013. Day, Adrienne (17 August 2012). "Vulture Investigates: Is Toni Basil's 'Mickey' Really About...Well, You Know?". Vulture. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Toni Basil – Biography". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 12 June 2014. "Toni Basil – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 13 June 2014. Huey, Steve. "Toni Basil – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1980's". World Charts. Retrieved 9 June 2013. "Ultratop.be – Toni Basil – Mickey" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6192." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "Musicline.de – Toni Basil Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mickey". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "Dutchcharts.nl – Toni Basil – Mickey" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "Charts.org.nz – Toni Basil – Mickey". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 June 2013. "Archive Chart: 1982-03-06" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2013. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 18, 1982 at the Wayback Machine (archived 21 September 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Top Singles – Volume 37, No. 19, December 25, 1982". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 June 2014. The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1982 at the Wayback Machine (archived 21 September 2012). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Top Singles – Volume 39, No. 17, December 24, 1983". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Top 100 Hits for 1983". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Canadian single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". Music Canada. "British single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Mickey in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search "American single certifications – Toni Basil – Mickey". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH "Lolly (2) – Mickey". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Lolly (2) – Mickey – The Mixes". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Lolly (2) – Mickey". Discogs. Retrieved 13 June 2014. "Archive Chart: 1999-09-18" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 June 2013. "Främling" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. Retrieved 3 October 2015. 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. "Nitty's Hey Bitty samples Toni Basil's Mickey". WhoSampled. Retrieved 11 July 2013. "Limp Bizkit's Nookie [Androids vs. Las Putas Remix] samples Toni Basil's Mickey". WhoSampled. Retrieved 11 July 2013. "Boards of Canada's Nine-Rubber Wisdom samples Toni Basil's Mickey". WhoSampled. Retrieved 11 July 2013.