Self Control (song)

For Dukes song, see Self Control (Dukes song).

"Self Control"
Single by Laura Branigan
from the album Self Control
B-side	"Silent Partners"
Released	1984 1992 Germany remix 1999 South Africa remixes
Format	7", 12" (1984) 12", CD maxi single (1992) CD maxi single (1999)
Recorded	1983
Genre	New Wave, Synthpop, Pop/Rock, Italo-Disco, Hi-NRG, Electronic
Length	4:06 (Album Version) 5:00 (Original Extended Version) 3:59 (Classic Summer Mix 1992)
Label	Atlantic
Writer(s)	Giancarlo Bigazzi, Steve Piccolo, Raffaele Riefoli
Producer	Jack White, Robbie Buchanan
Certification	Gold (Germany, Finland) Silver (UK)
Laura Branigan singles chronology
"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (1983) "Self Control" (1984) "The Lucky One" (1984)
Alternative cover 12" maxi single cover

"Self Control" is the name of an international hit song recorded in 1984 by Laura Branigan, as well as the album on which it appears. The song was recorded that same year with the same English lyrics by Italian singer Raf, who co-wrote the song with Giancarlo Bigazzi and Steve Piccolo. Branigan's version first hit #1 in Germany on June 15, 1984. Raf's version first hit #1 in Italy on June 23, 1984. Branigan's version was the most popular song across Europe during much of the summer of 1984 and was the song of the year in Switzerland. Branigan's version peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and also went to number two on the dance chart.

The song has become one of the defining pop songs of the 1980s, with a number of remakes recorded each year. Notable covers include Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin in 1993, a hit dance remake by Branigan in 2004 and two 2006 versions that hit the Top 5 in various European enclaves, by Danish dance group Infernal and Spanish singer Soraya Arnelas.

History

Branigan's first major hit had also been co-written by Bigazzi. "Gloria" (1982) was an English-language song written over a 1979 Italian song recorded by Umberto Tozzi. The following year Branigan recorded another new English song written over a Tozzi and Bigazzi song, "Mama", which was an album track on 1983's Branigan 2. Branigan chose two more Italian songs for her third album: one, "Ti Amo", featured new lyrics by Diane Warren over a song originally written by Tozzi and Bigazzi that had been a 1977 single for Tozzi. The other would become the title track to the album and her biggest international hit. "Self Control" was the only one of the four Italian songs recorded by Branigan which had been written with English lyrics, and Branigan chose to record the song as written. Also unlike the other songs, Branigan's version was contemporaneous with that of its co-writer.

The Branigan recording was arranged by Giorgio Moroder protégé Harold Faltermeyer with Robbie Buchanan and produced by Buchanan with Jack White in Germany and Los Angeles. A keyboard hook in the Raf version was changed to a guitar riff for Branigan's version and a vocal break from the Raf version was repeated and paired with a sharper and repeated percussive element.

Music video and television performances

Branigan was one of the first artists of the video era to work with an Academy Award-winning film director on a music video when William Friedkin (The French Connection) directed the clip. Filmed in New Jersey and New York City, the video was produced by Fred Caruso and first aired in April 1984. The video ultimately drew controversy, as it was considered so shockingly steamy that MTV required some edits before it could air. Entertainment Tonight aired a segment on the network's reaction to the clip, which was being played in late-night slots on other networks. Though Branigan resisted at first, her record company convinced her to allow a minor alteration and the video was aired on MTV, though by this time the single had peaked on the charts. Branigan would go on to be nominated for a 1985 American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist. Branigan's fellow nominees were Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper, who won the award.

Branigan performed the song live in her debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on April 27. She also promoted the song during appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, Solid Gold (May 12), Dick Clark's American Bandstand (June 9) and the syndicated Dick Clark television special Rock Rolls On, which she also co-hosted.

Worldwide chart success

Branigan's recording was a worldwide multi-format hit. In the U.S. the song became Branigan's fourth consecutive top ten hit on a Billboard chart in a year and a half, following "Gloria", "Solitaire" and "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". "Self Control" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart, #4 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart. In Canada, the track hit #1 on both the pop and AC charts. Both the Raf original and the Branigan version of "Self Control" entered the German Top 20 in May 1984: on 15 June the Branigan single assumed the #1 position where it remained for six weeks while the Raf version was relegated to a #2 peak. Branigan's "Self Control" also entered the Italian charts although the dominance of the Raf version in his native Italy predicated a comparatively low peak Italian chart peak of #29 for Branigan's version.

"Self Control" afforded Laura Branigan a #1 hit in Austria, Sweden and South Africa and was also a smash hit for Branigan in Norway (#3), Ireland (#3), Australia (#3) and the UK (#5). Branigan's album Self Control went Silver, Gold or Platinum in several countries and yielded subsequent charting singles, though not of the title track's magnitude, in "The Lucky One", "Ti Amo" and "Satisfaction".

Branigan's version of "Self Control" was featured on a November 1984 episode of the hit NBC series Miami Vice and was featured in the fact-based 1989 TV movie The Preppie Murder and a 2007 episode of the series Cold Case. In 2002 the Branigan recording was used as a track from fictional radio station Flash FM on video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and it appears on the CD collection Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set as well as numerous other hits collections. It was often used as bumper music by late night radio talk show host Art Bell when he hosted Coast to Coast AM in the 1990s.

Swiss hit

Raf's version exceeded the success of Branigan's only in his native Italy. The only other territory where Raf topped the charts was in Switzerland. His single debuted in the Swiss Top 30 at number seven on June 17, the same week Branigan's version debuted at number 24. The following week, Raf's single had climbed to number two. Branigan's single, however, had leapt to number one. In their third week, Raf's version supplanted Branigan's at number one, but she regained the top spot in the fourth week and the two versions would remain there, Branigan at number one and Raf at number two, for three more weeks. In their seventh week on the charts, Raf fell to number three, below "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!, while Branigan held at number one. Their eighth week on the charts saw Raf regain the number two spot behind Branigan. The following week the Wham! single moved back to number two and Raf fell three spaces, but Branigan held firm. In their tenth week on the charts, Wham! fell to number five, Raf fell two more spots, and Branigan maintained pole position. Finally on the week of August 26, "Such a Shame" by Talk Talk moved Branigan out of the number one spot, though she would remain in the top five for another three weeks. In all Branigan's record was in the Swiss top 30 for 16 weeks, including 12 weeks in the top five and eight weeks at number one. It was joined by her follow-up single, "The Lucky One (Like a Wild Bird of Pray)", as it was erroneously subtitled in Europe, which charted in the top 30 for seven weeks. Raf's version spent 14 weeks in the top 30, including eight in the top five and one at number one.

Branigan's version was most successful single of 1984 in Switzerland, earning Branigan the number one spot on the year-end charts.

Theme

The song narrates the singer's slip into the world of nightlife, the allure of which has her "livin' only for the night" and deeming herself to "live among the creatures of the night". Rather than actually invoking control over herself, the singer repeatedly declares to a phantom protagonist that "you take my self, you take my self-control".

Track listings

7" single

1. "Self Control" — 4:08
2. "Silent Partners" — 3:58

12" maxi

1. "Self Control" (extended version) — 5:00
2. "Silent Partners" (extended version) — 4:10

Charts and sales

Peak positions

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	3
Austrian Singles Chart	1
Canadian Singles Chart	1
Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart	1
Dutch Top 40	7
Eurochart Hot 100	1
French SNEP Singles Chart	13
German Singles Chart	1
Irish Singles Chart	2
Italian Singles Chart	15
New Zealand Singles Chart	26
Norwegian Singles Chart	2
South African Singles Chart	1
Spanish Singles Chart	24
Swedish Singles Chart	1
Swiss Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	5
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Disco	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	4
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	5
U.S. Cash Box	5

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Position
Austrian Singles Chart	5
Canadian Singles Chart	15
Eurochart Hot 100	3
German Singles Chart	2
South African Singles Chart	5
Swiss Singles Chart	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	20

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Germany	Gold	1984	250,000
UK	Silver	September 1, 1984	250,000

Chart successions

Preceded by "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life	German Singles Chart number-one single June 15, 1984 - July 20, 1984	Succeeded by "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Preceded by "Hello" by Lionel Richie "Self Control" by Raf	Swiss number-one single June 24, 1984 July 8, 1984 - August 18, 1984	Succeeded by "Self Control" by Raf "Such a Shame" by Talk Talk
Preceded by "I Want to Break Free" by Queen	Ö3 Austria Top 40 number-one single July 1, 1984 - August 1, 1984	Succeeded by "Fürstenfeld" by S.T.S.
Preceded by "Oh Sherrie" by Steve Perry	Canadian Singles Chart number-one single July 21, 1984	Succeeded by "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger
Preceded by "Just Another Woman in Love" by Anne Murray	Canadian Adult Contemporary number one single July 21, 1984 – July 28, 1984	Succeeded by "If Ever You're in My Arms Again" by Peabo Bryson
Preceded by "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham! "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood	Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single July 21, 1984 August 18 - September 8, 1984	Succeeded by "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood "High Energy" by Evelyn Thomas
Preceded by "Big in Japan" by Alphaville	Swedish number-one single August 3, 1984	Succeeded by "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!
Preceded by "I Want To Break Free" by Queen	South African number-one single September 14, 1984 - October 5, 1984	Succeeded by "Manuel Goodbye" by Audrey Landers
Preceded by "Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara	Switzerland number-one Single of the Year 1984	Succeeded by "Live Is Life" by Opus

Re-releases

"Self Control 2004"
Single by Laura Branigan
Released	January 19, 2004
Format	CD, 12"
Recorded	2003
Genre	Dance, Hi-NRG
Length	3:21
Label	Dance Street
Writer(s)	Giancarlo Bigazzi, Steve Piccolo, Raffaele Riefoli
Laura Branigan singles chronology
"Dim All the Lights" (1995) "Self Control 2004" (2004) "Gloria 2004" (2004)

Branigan's "Self Control" was paired with follow-up single "The Lucky One" for an "oldies series" release in the U.S. In the UK a similar release paired the song with her earlier hit, "Gloria". In 1992, the original single mix of "Self Control" was re-released on CD single and 12" vinyl by Atlantic/WEA in Germany featuring two new remixes. One of those, the 'Classic Summer Mix', appeared on the European greatest hits album The Very Best of Laura Branigan. In 1999, four new remixes of "Self Control" were commissioned for a South African collection called Back in Control, on Atlantic/Gallo. "Self Control '99" was released as a CD single there. In the mid 2000s, several trance music remixes featuring samples of various length from the 1984 Branigan original surfaced from various entities including Crooklyn Clan, Imperial Machine, and SK featuring Laura Branigan. None of these mixes were done with Branigan's participation.

As of 2010, the Self Control album remains in print and the original version can also be heard on The Best of Branigan (1993), and in remastered versions on The Essentials: Laura Branigan (2002) and The Platinum Collection (2006).

2004 version

Branigan sought to reclaim her career after years away from the music industry first to take care of her ailing husband and then to mourn his loss. She re-recorded her two biggest club hits for the 20th anniversary of "Self Control" and they were released in a slew of remixes as "Gloria 2004" and "Self Control 2004". The latter track hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales chart following Branigan's sudden death from an aneurysm in August of that year.

Track listings

CD maxi single

1. "Self Control 2004" [Mindworkers Radio Mix] 3:21
2. "Self Control 2004" [Flip & Fill Remix] 6:45
3. "Self Control 2004" [Mindworkers Remix] 7:07
4. "Self Control 2004" [Force Four Remix] 7:45
5. "Self Control 2004" [Kenny Hayes Club Mix] 6:07
6. "Self Control 2004" [Mindworkers Instrumental] 7:05

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart	10

Raf's original version

"Self Control"
Single by Raf
from the album Raf
B-side	"Self Control" (Part Two) (7") "Running Away" (12")
Released	1984
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1984
Genre	Pop, New Wave, Italodisco
Length	4:21 (7") 6:08 (12")
Label	Carrere Records
Producer	Giancarlo Bigazzi
Raf singles chronology
"Self Control" (1984) "Change Your Mind" (1984)

Born as Raffaele Riefoli and later known as Raf, he co-wrote the song "Self Control" with Giancarlo Bigazzi and Steve Piccolo. Raf's version of "Self Control" which peaked at No.1 in Italy, was more popular at his home country of Italy than the version released later by Laura Branigan. Raf's version also notably edged into No.1 in Switzerland between runs at the top spot by Branigan, and Raf peaked at No.2 in Germany, No.7 in Austria and at No.40 in France. Like Branigan, Raf released an extended dance mix of the song, but Raf's version featured a rap (performed by two other rap-vocalists), relatively rare for a white artist at the time.

He would release several more tracks in English and re-release his debut 1984 album Raf in 1987 under the title Self Control featuring two of these tracks. Although, his English-language album and especially the singles proved to be quite successful in Italy and outside, he began releasing his later albums in his native-language with almost all of which having been received better in Italy than the former, lot of them entered Italy's Top-10 album-chart.

Charts

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	7
French SNEP Singles Chart	40
German Singles Chart	2
Italian Singles Chart	1
Swiss Singles Chart	1

Preceded by "I treni di Tozeur" by Alic & Franco Battiato	Italian Singles Chart number-one single (Raf version) 23 June 1984 - 18 August 1984	Succeeded by "Fotoromanza" by Gianna Nannini
Preceded by "Self Control" by Laura Branigan	Swiss number-one single July 1, 1984	Succeeded by "Self Control" by Laura Branigan

Ricky Martin version

"Que Dia Es Hoy"
Single by Ricky Martin
from the album Me Amarás
B-side	Que Dia Es Hoy (Remix)
Released	1993
Format	CD single
Recorded	September 28, 1993 (1993-09-28)
Genre	Dance-pop, pop, Latin pop
Length	4:52
Label	Sony Discos
Writer(s)	Giancarlo Bigazzi, Steve Piccolo, Raffaele Riefoli, Juan Carlos Calderón, Mikel Herzog
Producer	Juan Carlos Calderón
Ricky Martin singles chronology
"Me Amarás" (1993) "Que Dia Es Hoy" (1993) "Entre el Amor y los Halagos" (1994)

In 1993, Ricky Martin recorded a Spanish-language cover of "Self Control", titled "Que Dia Es Hoy" (English: "What Day Is Today"). With lyrics by producer Juan Carlos Calderón and Mikel Herzog, the song was released as single off Martin's second solo album, Me Amarás, on September 28, 1993. The single featured a remixed version of the track.

A music video was also released.

In 2008, the remixed version was included on CD and DVD, called 17.

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot Latin Songs	26

Royal Gigolos version

"Self Control" / "Somebody's Watching Me"
Single by Royal Gigolos
from the album Musique Deluxe
Released	8 August 2005
Recorded	2005
Genre	Dance
Royal Gigolos singles chronology
"No Milk Today" (2004) "Self Control/Somebody's Watching Me" (2005) "Tell It to My Heart" (2006)

In 2005, the German dance band the Royal Gigolos recorded a cover of the song. It appeared on a maxi CD along with their cover of the 1984 Rockwell hit "Somebody's Watching Me". The song's most notable success were Top 20 chartings in Denmark and Finland.

Track listings

CD maxi

1. "Self Control" (D.O.N.S. single mix) — 3:42
2. "Self Control" (single version) — 3:46
3. "Self Control" (extended version) — 5:05
4. "Self Control" (D.O.N.S. remix) — 6:18
5. "Self Control" (Swen G° remix) — 6:32
6. "Somebody's Watching Me" (single version) — 3:17
7. "Somebody's Watching Me" (extended version) — 4:27
8. "Somebody's Watching Me" (DJ Tyson club mix) — 6:36
9. "Self Control" (video)

Charts

Chart (2005–2006)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart	42
Danish Singles Chart	17
Dutch Mega Top 100	49
Finnish Singles Chart	14
German Singles Chart	67
Swiss Singles Chart	90

Infernal version

"Self Control"
Single by Infernal
from the album From Paris to Berlin (UK)
Released	24 October 2006
Recorded	2006
Genre	Dance
Length	3:16 (UK Radio Edit) 3:40 (Radio Edit)
Label	Universal, Central Station and MRA
Infernal singles chronology
"Ten Miles" (2006) "Self Control" (2006) "I Won't Be Crying" (2007)

In 2006, the Danish dance band Infernal, best known for the club hit "From Paris to Berlin", released a cover of the song on November 6 in the UK. The song debuted in the chart at #61 based on downloads only. The track was also released in Australia, as a Double A-side with "I Won't Be Crying", though it did not chart there. Their recording was notably Top 10 in Finland and their native Denmark.

Formats and track listings

2-track CD single

1. "Self Control" [Radio Edit] - 3:40
2. "From Paris to Berlin" [DJ Aligator Remix] - 6:37

7-track enhanced promo single

1. "Self Control" [Radio Edit] - 3:40
2. "Self Control" [Extended Version] - 6:00
3. "Self Control" [Soul Seekerz Remix] - 7:40
4. "Self Control" [Robbie Rivera Juicy Mix] - 6:14
5. "Self Control" [Europeanz Remix] - 7:09
6. "Self Control" [Weekend Wonderz Club Mix] - 6:13
7. "Self Control" [Video] - 3:48

12" single

1. "Self Control" [Soul Seekerz Remix] - 7:41
2. "Self Control" [Extended Version] - 6:00
3. "Self Control" [Robbie Rivera Juicy Mix] - 6:14

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak
Danish Singles Chart	3
Finnish Singles Chart	6
Irish Singles Chart	14
UK Singles Chart	18

Other versions

Other recordings of "Self Control" include:

1984 as "Viet Itsekontrollin" (Finnish): versions by Merja Lehtinen; Meiju Suvas; Leena Vanamo
1985 Helena Vondráčková on her album I'm Your Song

• as "Ty máš tu moc fajn moc" (Czech) by Helena Vondráčková on her album Sprint

1987 Dr. Felix & M.M. Band: rap version
1988 as "Come" (Turkish) by Gökben for Forbidden Love soundtrack (Yasak Aşk Film Müziği)
1994 Carol Bailey: "Feel It" samples Branigan's version

• Cardenia: Eurodance version on album Memory

1995 Carmen Grace: version released in Germany
1996 Umberto Tozzi: on concert album Royal Albert Hall

• The Hoodys on album D-Day; an EP was released with several rap mixes and a video was shot
• Foolish Mind featuring Ellice (12" single),

1999 Sheila on album Dense (French and English versions)
2001 covered by Uruguayan band Loop Lascano
2002 Paralysed Age: gothic cover on album Into the Ice

• Fun Factory: rap version on album ABC of Music
• Vengeance featuring E-La (remixes)

2003 Amber White (2 Step version)
2004 Crooklyn Clan featuring Laura Branigan: rap version samples Branigan's vocals in chorus

• SK presents Laura Branigan (Vincent Thomas: samples Branigan's vocals
• Imperial Machine: trance remix with samples of the Branigan version
• Replicant featuring Marc Almond: EP titled Face Control

2005 DJK: male vocal version

2005 (cont.) Digimind: three trance mixes on an EP released

• Syn-Tonic: techno-dance version released with female vocals

2006 Soraya Arnelas: first single from the album Ochenta's, #2 in Spain, Gold disc

• Marian Dacal: acoustic guitar version, album Art Ensemble of the World Presents

2007 Caramelle featuring Nitro: R&B/hip Hop remixes with female vocals, released in Germany

• Rageneo: rap version, album Palm Beach Syndicate Enterprise
• Shizuko Overdrive: (goth rock version, album Shizuko
• Tommy Gold on album Sunny Guitar Dreams
• German duo 2Shine on album Twins
• Jamx & deleon: entitled "Can U Dig It (Self Control)"
• Brothers Incognito featuring Eve Justine (released 09/07)
• The Garland Cult: electro cover with male vocals, album Protect Yourself from Hollywood

2008 Dave Sinclair subtitled "The Annual Remake 2008", on album 80s Club Hits Reloaded, Vol. 2

• Thomas Gold & Dim Chris (cover of Raf's version)
• Slot Machine (cover of Raf's version),
• Hi-NRG on album Best of Italo Dance
• The Magic Time Travelers on album 1984 Greatest Hits
• The Garland Cult: new mix on album Glitterazzi
• Graham BLVD on album Divas of the 80s Vol. 2
• The Bloodsugars: (indie rock version, compilation Guilt by Association Vol. 2

2009 Paffendorf (five hard trance mixes on an EP)
2010 Sunday Girl (dreamy synthpop version)