Han’s Worst Hits of the 80’s- today–Mickey- Toni Basil. Some of the songs I’ve mentioned were just bad, forgettable- some though are the kind that you hate but when you hear them they stick in your head for hours. “Mickey” by Toni Basil is one that falls into the later category. A #1 hit in late 1982 it was a song you only had to hear once and it stuck with you-but it was one of those songs you couldn’t hear just once if you listened to the radio or watched MTV back then- it was in heavy rotation. The song of course was a cheerleader favorite-with the cheerleader jumping through the center of the human pyramid at the start of the video.
Mickey was written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn- and first was recorded by the group Racey as Kitty in 1979. When Basil got a hold of the song she changed the subject of the song to a guy- named Mickey. The original song also didn’t include the chant “Oh Mickey you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind.” Basil also added that in. The song also has obscene content that somehow escaped a lot of folks at the time- as pointed out by The Dean Of Rock Journalism- Robert Christgau.
Basil was a one -hit wonder- and was approaching 40 at the time of Mickey . She was a veteran at the time- breaking into the music business with a single way back in 1966. She was also an actress appearing briefly in Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces among other films.
Yes, I watched the video and the song will probably be stuck in my head the rest of the day.
slicethelife 
Yeah, I watched the video. I’ll never get that 3:34 back.
and hours later the song is still with me…blah ..
😂
I loved the song. It was catchy and fun. But then I saw the video, which totally ruined it. Even seeing the thumbnail of the video ruins it now.
Interesting- that was a terrible video but she was the person behind Talking Heads Once In A Lifetime video.
Wow, I had to go look up the Talking Heads video. It’s another song that didn’t need a video at all, imo. But that is my 2019 hindsight talking. In the 1980s it was probably crucial to have something to play on MTV. Cringe.
If you were a band then who didn’t do videos it was very rare. I am thinking in the 90’s Pearl Jam didn’t do many or any videos..
LOL– yea, your right, when you heard this song it stuck in your head, — and while technically, probably not a music masterpiece, — I get it, — it still brings me back to a great time, — first time hearing this song was paying “quarters” in my friends basement, w/ a bunch of us and some girls from school — good times, which basically makes this a good song by proxy for us! lol– thank for your posts — they almost always bring up a good memory
Glad the song leaves a good memory for someone!
I like this song but the video sux. That said, any nearly-40 person who can do the splits like her has my vote 😉
At the time I didn’t realize she was that old.. I bet she can’t do that now!
Fun fact: For a brief time, I lived in a duplex in L.A. and my next-door neighbor was the ex-wife of one of the guys who wrote the song (though I don’t know which guy). She was a terrible neighbor with very unruly kids.
At least it was for only a brief time! Imagine being known for being the ex-wife of the author of Mickey- her claim to fame!
To make matters worse, she said both she and her ex had once been drug addicts! Guess one would have to have been strung out to write such an awful song.
With both like that at one time- probably a big reason for the unruly children. .