06-04-2016, 07:45 AM
Going for another one hit wonder with a neat background.
Most people remember Flashdance for one song: Maniac by Michael Sembello.
But, who was Micheal Sembello? He was a talented professional musician/guitarist who worked as a studio musician for many different artists, even appearing writing for and appearing on several Stevie Wonder albums (the first of which when he was only 17). He also recorded for Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, The Temptations and many more. He never actually took the spotlight though, maybe because he didn't exactly look very friendly. But any famous 70's funk/soul that you can think of, and there is a very high chance he was playing on it.
(Yes, that is him singing with Stevie Wonder).
Anyways, after doing studio work for so many different artists, he wound up also writing movie themes. For a lot of movies. Funny fact: Maniac was not meant for Flashdance. When the producers for Flashdance asked him for their song for the film, he accidently gave them a tape of a song meant for an upcoming horror film with the the chorus "He's a Maniac, Maniac that's for sure. He'll kill your cat and nail it to your door". But, they loved the song so much they asked him to just change the lyrics to fit the movie, (most notably, kill your cat became "and she's dancing like she's never danced before). After this success, he continued the exact same course: writing for movies and being a studio musician.
Also, enjoy this footage of him actually performing the song instead of the official music video.
Most people remember Flashdance for one song: Maniac by Michael Sembello.
But, who was Micheal Sembello? He was a talented professional musician/guitarist who worked as a studio musician for many different artists, even appearing writing for and appearing on several Stevie Wonder albums (the first of which when he was only 17). He also recorded for Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, The Temptations and many more. He never actually took the spotlight though, maybe because he didn't exactly look very friendly. But any famous 70's funk/soul that you can think of, and there is a very high chance he was playing on it.
(Yes, that is him singing with Stevie Wonder).
Anyways, after doing studio work for so many different artists, he wound up also writing movie themes. For a lot of movies. Funny fact: Maniac was not meant for Flashdance. When the producers for Flashdance asked him for their song for the film, he accidently gave them a tape of a song meant for an upcoming horror film with the the chorus "He's a Maniac, Maniac that's for sure. He'll kill your cat and nail it to your door". But, they loved the song so much they asked him to just change the lyrics to fit the movie, (most notably, kill your cat became "and she's dancing like she's never danced before). After this success, he continued the exact same course: writing for movies and being a studio musician.
Also, enjoy this footage of him actually performing the song instead of the official music video.