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)
B-side"Why Me?"
ReleasedApril 1986
Length
  • 4:46 (album version)
  • 3:18 (single version)
  • 6:42 (extended version)
LabelChina
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Anne Dudley
  • Gary Langan
  • J. J. Jeczalik
Art of Noise singles chronology
"Peter Gunn"
(1986) 		"Paranoimia"
(1986) 		"Legacy"
(1986)
Music video
"Paranoimia" on YouTube

"Paranoimia" is a song by the English synth-pop group Art of Noise, released in April 1986 from their second studio album, In Visible Silence (1986). A better-known version was released as a single, featuring television character Max Headroom on vocals. This version was first included on the 1986 album Re-Works of Art of Noise.

The 7-inch single features a monologue about Max Headroom being scared and unable to sleep (hence "Paranoimia", a portmanteau of "paranoia" and "insomnia"). The 12-inch 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.

Track listing

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The 12-inch single was also available on a one-sided cassette tape with the following track listing:

  1. "Paranoimia" (extended version) – 6:40
  2. "Paranoimia" (7-inch version) – 3:18
  3. "Why Me?" – 2:56
  4. "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

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"Paranoimia '89"

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In 1989, a remix by Ben Liebrand was released with a new video to promote The Best of The Art of Noise.

References

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  1. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  2. ^ "The Art of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0751." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  4. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 30/31. 2 August 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Paranoimia". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  7. ^ "The Art of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  8. ^ "The Art of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  9. ^ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs P-R". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 4 October 1986. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 30 August 1986. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 27 September 1986. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Art of Noise with Max Headroom – Paranoimia" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
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