He's a maniac, maniac that's for sure,
He will kill your cat and nail him to the door.
At the suggestion of the record's producer Phil Ramone, the lyrics were rewritten to describe a girl with a passion for dancing. The lyrics became:
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before.
"Maniac" appears during an early scene in Flashdance and is used as the backing track of a montage sequence showing Alex (Jennifer Beals) training strenuously in her converted warehouse.
The song was included in Flashdance after Sembello's wife sent a tape to executives at Paramount Pictures who were looking for music to use in the film.
[edit] Charts and awards
"Maniac" reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in September 1983, and is one of the highest grossing songs ever written for a film. In addition to producing "Maniac", Phil Ramone produced the song that would dethrone it from the top spot, Billy Joel's "Tell Her About It". The Original Soundtrack of Flashdance won the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Album of Original Score Written for A Motion Picture or a Television Special.
The song was nominated for an Academy Award, but it was disqualified since the original version had not been written for the film[citation needed]. Michael Sembello states on the website Songfacts that the decision "pisses me off to this day." Another song from the film, "Flashdance... What a Feeling" performed by Irene Cara, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984.
[edit] Cover versions
In 1999. French experimental metal band Carnival in Coal covered the song on their album French Cancan.
In 2000, Italian power metal band Sigma covered the song in their eponymous album.
In 2004, American metalcore band Evergreen Terrace covered the song for their album Writer's Block.
Norwegian heavy metal band Street Legal covered the song.[1]
In 2007, Måns Zelmerlöw recorded a cover for his album Standing By For...
In 2008, Italian nu metal band Biosystem55 covered the song.[2]
In 2008, Belgian dance group Milk Inc. covered this song.
In 2008, German hi-NRG dance group Topmodelz covered the song.[3]
In 2008, Greek power metal band Firewind covered the song on their album The Premonition.[4]
Sampling/Dubs
Italian electro duo The Bloody Beetroots remixed the song in 2008. [5]
References
^ Street Legal - "Maniac"
^ Biosystem55 - "Maniac"
^ Topmodelz - "Maniac"
^ Firewind - Releases
^ http://redthreat.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/be-like-water-my-friend/
External links
Maniac Songfacts
She's A Maniac
Michael Sembello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lookin' for the fight of her life
In the real time world no one sees her at all
They all say she's crazy
Locking rhythms to the beat of her heart
Changing movement into light
She has danced into the danger zone
It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes the fire
On a wire between will and what will be
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
On the ice-blue line of insanity
Is a place most never see
It's a hard-won place of mystery
Touch it, but can't hold it
You work all your life for that moment in time
It could come or pass you by
It's a push-shove world, but there's always a chance
If the hunger stays the night
There's a cold kinetic heat
Struggling, stretching for the beat
Never stopping with her hair against the wind
She's a maniac, maniac, at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac, at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
Ooh, oh
Oh
It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes the fire
On a wire between will and what will be
She's a maniac, maniac, at your door (at your door)
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac, at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
Maniac, maniac, at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
The lyrics of Michael Sembello's song She's a Maniac tell the story of a woman who is determined and passionate about dancing. The song starts with the image of a steel town girl on a Saturday night, looking for the fight of her life. The lyricist emphasizes the idea that she is seeking something other than the mundane and ordinary. In the real-time world, she is invisible to those around her as they all say she's crazy.
The chorus, "She's a maniac on the floor and she's dancing like she's never danced before," repeats throughout the song, encapsulating the woman's ambition and determination. The woman dances with a rhythm that is synchronized with the beat of her heart and the result is an explosive presence out on the dance floor. By dancing with such intensity, she is, in a sense, entering the "danger zone," which can "cut you like a knife" if she loses herself in the thrill of dancing.
The song is about chasing your dreams with a passion that overtakes your life. It is about the struggle that one undergoes when they dedicate themselves to something they love. The song's message is that life can be challenging, but with grit, hard work, and determination, one can achieve their goals. The woman in the song personifies these values, as she works tirelessly towards her passion, the dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night
This girl is from an industrial town and is looking to have a good time on a weekend night
Lookin' for the fight of her life
She's not afraid of a challenge and is seeking a thrilling experience
In the real time world no one sees her at all
No one is paying attention to her, even though she's taking risks and doing something bold
They all say she's crazy
People dismiss her behavior as irrational or unstable
Locking rhythms to the beat of her heart
Her movement is in sync with what she's feeling internally
Changing movement into light
Her dancing is almost transcendent and creates a feeling of brightness or illumination
She has danced into the danger zone
By dancing the way she is, she has put herself in a risky or unsafe position
When the dancer becomes the dance
She has completely lost herself in the moment and is fully embodying the music and the movement
It can cut you like a knife
Getting too caught up in the moment can be dangerous and damaging
If the gift becomes the fire
If a talent or skill is taken to an obsessive level, it can be overwhelming
On a wire between will and what will be
There's a fine line between determination and recklessness when pursuing something
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
The way she is dancing is intense and wild, almost like she's lost control
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
This is a new level of intensity or passion for her
On the ice-blue line of insanity
She's dancing at a level where most would consider it risky or crazy behavior
Is a place most never see
The level of intensity she's reached in her dancing is something that is rare and not often witnessed
It's a hard-won place of mystery
Reaching this level in any activity requires a lot of effort and sacrifice, and is difficult to understand for those who haven't experienced it
Touch it, but can't hold it
This experience is fleeting and can't be captured or replicated
You work all your life for that moment in time
This type of experience is what people dedicate their entire lives to pursuing
It could come or pass you by
Even with dedication and hard work, there's still no guarantee that this type of moment will be experienced
It's a push-shove world, but there's always a chance
The world can be competitive and difficult, but there's still a possibility of success
If the hunger stays the night
If the desire to succeed persists, then success is possible
There's a cold kinetic heat
Despite the chilly environment, there's still an energy emanating from her dance
Struggling, stretching for the beat
She's putting in effort and exerting herself to keep up with the music
Never stopping with her hair against the wind
She's pushing forward despite any obstacles or resistance she may be facing
She's a maniac, maniac, at your door (at your door)
She's so passionate and intense that it's almost overwhelming
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
This is a new level of passion for her and it's clear from her dance that she's completely lost herself in the moment
Maniac, maniac, at your door
This intensity can be almost intimidating or overwhelming for those witnessing it
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
The intensity and passion she's putting into her dance is unlike anything previously witnessed by those around her
Contributed by Jordyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@OlegKyiashko
Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night
Lookin' for the fight of her life
In the real-time world no one sees her at all
They all say she's crazy
Locking rhythms to the beat of her heart
Changing movement into light
She has danced into the danger zone
When the dancer becomes the dance
It can cut you like a knife, if the gift becomes the fire
On a wire between will and what will be
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
On the ice-blue line of insanity is a place most never see
It's a hard-won place of mystery touch it, but can't hold it
You work all your life for that
Moment in time, it could come or pass you by
It's a push-shove world, but there's always a chance
If the hunger stays the night
There's a cold kinetic heat, struggling, stretching for the beat
Never stopping with her head against the wind
She's a maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
It can cut you like a knife, if the gift becomes the fire
On a wire between will and what will be
She's a maniac, maniac, I sure know (I sure know)
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
Maniac, maniac, I sure know
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac, I sure know (I sure know)
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
@10hetitor
Michael Sembello - Maniac (1983) (Official Video) [Lyrics:] June 29, 2023*
[Verse 1]
Just a steel town girl on a Saturday night
Lookin' for the fight of her life
In the real-time world, no one sees her at all
They all say she's crazy
Locking rhythms to the beat of her heart
Changing movement into light
She has danced into the danger zone
When the dancer becomes the dance
[Pre-Chorus 1]
It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes the fire
On the wire between will and what will be
[Chorus 1]
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac on the floor
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
[Verse 2]
On the ice-blue line of insanity
Is a place most never see
It's a hard-won place of mystery
Touch it, but can't hold it
You work all your life for that moment in time
It could come or pass you by
It's a push-shove world, but there's always a chance
If the hunger stays the night*
[Pre-Chorus 2]
There's a cold kinetic heat
Struggling, stretching for the peak
Never stopping with her head against the wind
[Chorus 2]
She's a maniac, maniac at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
[Bridge]
Ooh, oh
Oh
[Guitar Solo]
[Pre-Chorus 1]
It can cut you like a knife
If the gift becomes the fire
On the wire between will and what will be
[Chorus 2]
She's a maniac, maniac at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
She's a maniac, maniac at your door
And she's dancing like she's never danced before
Maniac, maniac at your door....
Author(s): Dennis Joseph Matkosky, Michael Sembello
@awsomegamer8277
This song is so good that at 0:56 my brother fell on the floor and couldn’t stop uncontrollably dancing
@ClassicVideos80s
I hope he's ok
@awsomegamer8277
@@ClassicVideos80s oh don’t worry he’s sleeping now I think all the dancing wore him out 🤣
@damianwojcikiewicz3951
I have epilepsy and don't joke from that.
@awsomegamer8277
@@damianwojcikiewicz3951 cry about it
@jakub4852
@@damianwojcikiewicz3951na następny raz: polskie „z czegoś” nie przekłada się na „from” tylko na „about”
@premiumGenX
The dancer, the directing, the visual impact, the song; what an artistic masterpiece. Is it just me or are the arts dead in 2024? When's the last time you have seen something so beautiful and inspirational?
@EricThe82
They are dead. Post Modernism has destroyed art and especially what is defined as an artist.
@premiumGenX
@@EricThe82 I totally agree. I hate it. But, at least we can still appreciate the golden age of entertainment. My son is 19 and he agrees that the best music was before his time lol.
@viswarishi2866
im jealous of people who lived in the 80s