You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
Single by Dead or Alive
from the album Youthquake
B-side	"Misty Circles" (7") Remixes (12")
Released	5 November 1984
Format	7" 12"
Recorded	1984
Genre	Hi-NRG[1][2] synthpop[3][4] new wave[4]
Length	3:19 (original) 8:00 (Murder mix)
Label	Epic
Writer(s)	Pete Burns Steve Coy Wayne Hussey Tim Lever Mike Percy
Producer(s)	Stock Aitken Waterman
Dead or Alive singles chronology
"That's the Way (I Like It)" (1984) "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (1984) "Lover Come Back to Me" (1985) Audio sample file info · help

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is a song by British band Dead or Alive on their 1985 album Youthquake. The song was the first UK number-one hit by the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Released in November 1984, the record reached number one in March 1985, taking 17 weeks to get there. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at no. 11 on 17 August of that year.^[5] In 2015 the song was voted by the British public as the nation's 17th favourite 1980s number one in a poll for ITV.^[6] Musician and actor Gary Kemp described the song as "one of the best white dance records of all time."^[7]

The video, which features a disco ball, waving gold flags and an evocation of the six-armed Vishnu, was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.

Background and composition

Dead or Alive's vocalist Pete Burns states in his autobiography that he composed "You Spin Me Round" by using two existing songs as inspiration for creating something new:

How did I write "Spin Me"? I listened to Luther Vandross's 'I Wanted Your Love'. It's not the same chord structure, but then that's the way I make music – I hear something and I sing another tune over it. I didn't sit and study the Luther Vandross album – I heard the song and it locked. [...] I'm trying to structure the music and I know what I want. [...] It's like do this, do this, do this - and suddenly it hits. I don't want to do Luther Vandross's song, but I can still sing the same pattern over it. And there was another record, by Little Nell, called "See You 'Round Like A Record". [...] So I had those two, Van Dross [sic] and Little Nell and – bingo! – done deal.

— Pete Burns, Freak Unique (2007)

According to Burns, the record company was unenthusiastic about "You Spin Me Round", to such an extent that Burns had to take out a £2,500 loan to record it, then once it had been recorded "the record company said it was awful. It was unanimous – it was awful, it was rubbish." Burns states that the band had to fund production of the song's video themselves.^[8]

The strings were based on Richard Wagner's classical piece "Ride of the Valkyries".^[9]

Interviewed for BBC Radio 4's The Reunion: The Hit Factory, in April 2015, Burns said that the confrontational attitude of the producers was met with an equally confrontational attitude from the band and that this led to "quite a bad vibe" for the entirety of the studio time, describing the experience as "a time of intense friction".^[10]

Re-releases

A remix version of "You Spin Me Round" was released in 2003 at the same time Dead or Alive's greatest hits album Evolution was released. The song reached no. 23 in the UK Singles Chart. The original 1984 recording was re-released on 30 January 2006 because of lead singer Pete Burns's controversial time as a contestant on television series Celebrity Big Brother and reached no. 5.

Earlier remixes were in 1996 and 1997 (some are included on the US, European and Australian releases of Nukleopatra). In 1999 these mixes were issued in the US as a 2-CD set. The first disc held seven mixes of "You Spin Me Round" while disc two has five mixes of "Sex Drive". In 2000, new mixes appeared on Fragile and in 2001, on Unbreakable: The Fragile Remixes. No videos were made for these.

Chart performance

The song has been re-released three times since its original release in 1984. Each time of its release, it achieved success, but failed to match the success of the original. However, after lead-singer Pete Burns's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, the single was re-released and managed a Top 5 peak on the UK Singles Chart in 2006.

Weekly charts Chart (1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[11] 3 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 3 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[14] 3 Canada (CHUM)[15] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 1 France (SNEP)[17] 29 Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 1 Italy (FIMI)[20] 3 Japan (Oricon)[21] 54 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 6 Norway (VG-lista)[25] 6 Poland (LP3)[26] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 11 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[29] 4 US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales[29] 4 US Cash Box[30] 13 Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[31] 28 Chart (2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[32] 62 Germany (Media Control Charts)[33] 96 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34] 23 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[29] 21 Chart (2006) Peak position Ireland (IRMA)[19] 26 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[35] 5

Year-end charts Chart (1985) Rank Australia (Kent Music Report)[36] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[37] 43 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[38] 16 Germany (Official German Charts)[39] 15 Italy (FIMI)[20] 14 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[40] 57 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41] 46 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[42] 36 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 14 Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Canada (Music Canada)[44] Gold 50,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Gold 500,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Dope version

Nu metal band Dope covered the song on their 2005 album American Apathy. The band's version became their first chart entry on any Billboard chart, reaching no. 37 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Chart (2000)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[46]	37

Jessica Simpson version

Jessica Simpson's version of the song was released as a promo single from her fifth studio album A Public Affair in 2006. Her version of the song failed to break into the Billboard Hot 100 (though it did reach number 20 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles). Simpson's version has new lyrics and only preserves the chorus of the song.

Chart (2007)	Peak position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100[47]	20
US Billboard Pop 100[48]	95

Other cover versions

Danzel and Gigi D'Agostino^[49] have also done remixes. Danzel's version peaked at no. 32 in Belgium.^[50]

Flo Rida featuring Kesha's 2009 single "Right Round" interpolates elements of the song.^[51][52][53]

Track listing

1985, Epic – 49-05208; 1989, Epic – 49H69181^[54]

1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Murder Mix) – 8:00
2. "Misty Circles" (Extended Version) – 9:10

1997, Epic – 49-78588^[54]

1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Murder Mix) – 8:00
2. "Brand New Lover" – 9:10

1999, Cleopatra – CLP 0533-2^[55]

• CD1

1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Sugar Pumpers Radio Edit) – 3:38
2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Cleopatra Radio Edit) – 4:13
3. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Marc Antonine Radio Edit) – 3:21
4. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Sugar Pumpers Extended Mix) – 5:11
5. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Sugar Pumpers Pumpin Mix) – 7:05
6. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Vicious Mix) – 8:10
7. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Marc Antonine Club Mix) – 7:00

• CD2

1. "Sex Drive" (Radio Edit) – 2:52
2. "Sex Drive" (Scream Driven Edit) – 3:54
3. "Sex Drive" (Dead or Alive Original Mix) – 6:39
4. "Sex Drive" (Scream Driven Mix) – 6:59
5. "Sex Drive" (Pee Wee Remix) – 5:56

2003, Epic 673578 2^[33]

1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Metro 7" Edit) – 3:46
2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Metro 12" Extended Mix) – 6:55
3. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Punx Soundcheck Vs Princess Julia) – 5:47
4. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Original 7" Mix) – 3:16

2006, Epic 82876 806212^[56]

1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Original 7" Mix) – 3:16
2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Performance Mix) – 7:27
3. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (Metro 7" Edit) – 3:46
4. Video: "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" – 3:44

References

1. Barron, Lee (2010). "Camp Transitions: Genre Adaptation and the Hi-NRG/Dance Cover Version". In Plasketes, George. Play it Again: Cover Songs in Popular Music. Ashgate Publishing. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-7546-6809-1.
2. Ankeny, Jason. "Dead or Alive – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
3. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (1996). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-6797-5574-6. Stock-Aitken-Waterman, the British schlock-disco maestros who took the trance-like beats of '80s synth-pop to their dancefloor extreme, most famously on Dead or Alive's drag opus "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)."
4. Pini, Gary (11 November 2011). "Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Is Our Music Video of the Day". Paper. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
5. "The Hot 100". Billboard. 17 August 1985. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
6. Westbrook, Caroline (25 July 2015). "The Nation's Favourite 80s Number One: 12 more classic 80s chart-toppers which didn't make the cut". Metro. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
7. Stanley, Bob (25 October 2016). "Pete Burns: too abrasive to be a national treasure, his talent made him immortal". New Statesman. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
8. Burns, Pete (2007). Freak Unique: My Autobiography. John Blake Publishing. pp. 95–97. ISBN 978-1-8445-4438-7.
9. Dimery, Robert (2011). 1001 Songs: You Must Hear Before You Die. Cassell Illustrated. ISBN 978-1-8440-3684-4. You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"—with its whirlwind groove, new wave vocals, and string arrangements modeled on Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"—was a slam-dunk choice for the first single.
10. "The Reunion: The Hit Factory". BBC Online. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
11. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 85. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
13. "Ultratop.be – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
14. "Radio 2 Top 30 : 13 april 1985" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
15. CHART NUMBER 1493 – Saturday, August 03, 1985 at the Wayback Machine (archived 7 November 2006). CHUM.
16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0560." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
17. "Lescharts.com – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
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21. "Discography – Singles". Mikestockmusic.com. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
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24. "Charts.org.nz – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
26. "YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) – Dead Or Alive" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
27. "Swisscharts.com – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
28. "Archive Chart: 1985-03-09" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
29. "Dead or Alive – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
30. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending AUGUST 24, 1985 at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 October 2012). Cash Box magazine.
31. "Australian-charts.com – Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) ('96 Remix)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
32. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
33. "Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round 2003". Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
34. "Archive Chart: 2003-05-17" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
35. "Archive Chart: 2006-02-11" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
36. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
37. "Jaaroverzichten 1985" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
38. "RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985". RPM. Vol. 43 no. 16. 28 December 1985. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
39. "Jahrescharts – 1985". Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
40. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
41. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1985" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
42. "End of Year Charts 1985". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
43. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1985" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
44. "Canadian single certifications – Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". Music Canada.
45. "British single certifications – Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". British Phonographic Industry. Enter You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) 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
46. "Dope – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
47. ""Right Round" No.1 on Hot 100". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
48. "A Public Affair – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
49. Birchmeier, Jason. "Gigi D'Agostino – Tecno Fes, Vol. 2". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
50. "Ultratop.be – Danzel – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
51. "Album Review: Flo Rida". MTV. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
52. Weiss, Jeff (30 March 2009). "Album review: Flo Rida's 'R.O.O.T.S.'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
53. Fennessey, Sean (18 May 2010). "Surveying the Dr. Luke Moment: A Critical Look At Lazers, Glitter, and the Un-Sexing of America's Pop Stars". The Village Voice. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
54. Popoff, Martin (2010). Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948–1991 (7th ed.). Krause. p. 327. ISBN 978-1-4402-1131-7.
55. You Spin Me Round / Sex Drive (liner notes). Dead or Alive. Cleopatra. 1999. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
56. "Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round 2006". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 October 2016.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics