Paranoimia
| "Paranoimia" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Art of Noise featuring Max Headroom | ||||
| from the album In Visible Silence (original version) and Re-Works of Art of Noise (single version)' | ||||
| Released | April 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 | |||
| Genre | Synth-pop | |||
| Length | 4:46 (album version) 3:18 (single version) 6:42 (extended version) | |||
| Label | China Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Anne Dudley Gary Langan J. J. Jeczalik | |||
| Producer(s) | Anne Dudley Gary Langan J. J. Jeczalik | |||
| Art of Noise singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Paranoimia" is a song by English synth-pop group Art of Noise released in 1986, from their album In Visible Silence.
The song's better-known version was a version released as a single, featuring television character Max Headroom on vocals. This version was first featured on the 1986 album Re-Works of Art of Noise. The 7" single features a monologue about Max Headroom being scared and unable to sleep (hence "Paranoimia", a portmanteau of "paranoia" and "insomnia"). The 12" has a completely different vocal with Headroom as a master of ceremonies, talking about the music and making a pun-laden introduction of the alleged band members: Peter O'Toole on trumpet (the absence of a trumpet in the song explained by O'Toole, notorious at one time for his drinking, "just having a rest between bars"), tennis player Martina Navratilova on bassline (baseline), Cher on mic ("Are you OK, Mike?"), and the Pope on drums.
The 12" single was also available on a one-sided cassette tape with the following track listing:
- Paranoimia – 6:40
- Paranoimia – 3:18
- Why Me? – 2:56
- A Nation Rejects – 2:57
Some later issues of the CD In Visible Silence, most notably the US version, include the single version in place of the original version, which did not include the Max Headroom vocals.
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] | 52 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[2] | 17 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] | 31 |
| Invalid chart entered Germany2 | 33 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[4] | 18 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5] | 11 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] | 7 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] | 6 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[8] | 10 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[9] | 12 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 34 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[11] | 14 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1986) | Position |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] | 60 |
References
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "The Art Of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0751." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Paranoimia". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "The Art Of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "The Art Of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs P-R". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "The Art Of Noise Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "The Art Of Noise Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
External links
- Paranoimia at Zang Tuum Tumb Discography
- Music video on YouTube