You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

Infobox Single
Name = You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)


Artist = Dead or Alive
from Album = Youthquake
Released = November 1984 (U.K.)
Format = Vinyl record (7")
Recorded = 1984
Genre = New Wave
Length = 3:19
Label = Epic
Writer = Pete Burns
Wayne Hussey
Mike Percy
Tim Lever
Steve Coy
Producer = Stock Aitken Waterman
Certification = Gold (500,000 copies sold)
Reviews =
Last single = "In Too Deep"
(1985)
This single = "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
(1985)
Next single = "Hooked On Love"
(1986)

"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" is a song by Dead or Alive on their 1985 album "Youthquake". The original cut was over four minutes long and was edited for the album. The unedited version was released on an '80s CD called "Monster '80s Volume Two".

This song was the first UK number-one hit for the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Released in November 1984, the record reached number one in March 1985, taking seventeen weeks to get there. In the US, it peaked at #11 in September of that year.

2003 re-release

"You Spin Me Round" was re-released in 2003 at the same time as the Dead or Alive greatest hits album "Evolution" was released. The song reached only #23 in the UK singles chart, but it was re-released again on January 30 2006 because of lead singer Pete Burns' controversial time as a contestant on television series "Celebrity Big Brother", and reached #5. Earlier remixes were in 1996 and 1997 (both included on the U.S. release of "Nukleopatra"), and on "Fragile" and "". No videos were made for these. It is also interesting to note that the 1996 remix bears a few similarities to Haddaway's "What Is Love?", while the 2003 Metro remix is obviously based on Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You out of My Head" (several interviews with Burns have him stating he was jealous of her for that song and he wished he had done it). The latter also contains a small (uncredited) sample from Madonna's "Die Another Day" (the "uuh" vocal, right before the second verse kicks in).

Music video

The music video for the song is cheaply made, very surreal and tells no story, but the visuals are nevertheless fascinatingly strange (such as Pete Burns in a purple kimono, seemingly growing extra arms, or him with the infamous eyepatch; the other three band members tied up in some ribbons; close-ups of a disco ball, etc.). At the end the other three band members wave flags around in circles, and Burns is tied up in a gold ribbon. The 1996 remix video involves Burns posing and lip-synching in various locations and outfits. The 2003 video has only Burns, drummer Steve Coy, and keyboardist Jason Alburey, spinning in gold CGI swirls. Burns once again constantly changes outfits, and is also pictured on a spinning bed.

The 1984 Video Directors were Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton.

Cover versions

* The song was covered by the rock band Dope. This version can be found on "" and "Felons & Revolutionaries" . This version is often mislabeled on P2P networks as being by Marilyn Manson, Orgy, Billy Idol or Powerman 5000.
* In 1999, Blind Passengers covered the song "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" for the album "Bastard".
* This song was also covered by Uranium 235 as part of a medley with the song "Tainted Love".
* British death metal cover band Ten Masked Men recorded a version of the song for their 2000 album, "Return of the Ten Masked Men".
* Also in 2000 a trance cover version appeared on Gigi D'Agostino's album Tecno Fes Vol. 2.
* A hi-NRG version was recorded by the Kinky Boyz and released through Almighty Records.
* Thalía covered the song in her 2002 album, "Thalía".
* A cover of the song was recorded by Swedish rock band Gemini Five for their 2003 album "Babylon Rockets".
* Jessica Simpson covered the song for her fourth studio album, "A Public Affair" (2006). Her version, produced by Cory Rooney, reached number twenty on the U.S. "Billboard" Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and number ninety-five on the "Billboard" Pop 100, although its single release was cancelled. Simpson's version differs from the original in that it has new lyrics and only preserves the chorus of the song.
* Belgian dance artist Danzel released his cover of the song in 2007.
* In 1999 the song was covered by Les Nerds off a radio single CD.
* After covering the song live (see below), the French band Indochine finally released a studio version (legal download only) in May 2008 in collaboration with the non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders for their Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony boycott campaign.
* In 2004 covered Eiffel 65 the song.
* The song was translated into Latin in 2008 as "Versas Me Recte (Similem Disco)". [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeQs-TCjVtc]

Live cover performances, sampling, etc.

* The French band Indochine covered "You Spin Me Round" live on several gigs during their 2006-2007 tour, including the last concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on May 19 2007.
* The song was covered in concert by Chemical Road (later to become The Nodd), but their rendition was heckled by fans and they switched back to their original songs.
* A cover of the song is also part of the song list for ""
* The 2006 edition of "Best of Bootie" contains a mashup of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" with Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man", by [http://voicedude.multiply.com/ Voicedude] . [ [http://www.bootieusa.com/bestofbootie2006/ Best of Bootie 2006] ]
* In 2003, the music of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" was combined with the vocals of "I Begin To Wonder" by Dannii Minogue (from her album "Neon Nights"); the mix is called "Begin To Spin Me Round".

Appearances in other media, etc.

* Adam Sandler sung the song in the film, "The Wedding Singer".
* The song appeared in 2003's "Party Monster" (although not on the soundtrack), and the British TV Series, "Phoenix Nights".
* VH1's "I Love the 80s Strikes Back" did a bit on the song/video (with both positive and sarcastic commentary). It came in at number ninety-one on VH1's "100 Greatest Dance Songs".
* Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas danced their Paso Doble to a live performance of the song on season five, week four of Dancing with the Stars.
* Comedian George Lopez mentions the song in his comedy HBO special "America's Mexican"

References