Paranoimia

"Paranoimia" is a song by English synth-pop group Art of Noise released in 1986, from their album In Visible Silence.

"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)
ReleasedApril 1986
Recorded1986
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:46 (album version)
3:18 (single version)
6:42 (extended version)
LabelChina Records
Songwriter(s)Anne Dudley
Gary Langan
J. J. Jeczalik
Producer(s)Anne Dudley
Gary Langan
J. J. Jeczalik
Art of Noise singles chronology
"Peter Gunn"
(1986)
"Paranoimia"
(1986)
"Legacy"
(1986)

The song's better-known version was a version released as a single, featuring television character Max Headroom on vocals. This version was first featured on the 1986 album Re-Works of Art of Noise. The 7" single features a monologue about Max Headroom being scared and unable to sleep (hence "Paranoimia", a portmanteau of "paranoia" and "insomnia"). The 12" 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.

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

  1. Paranoimia – 6:40
  2. Paranoimia – 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

Weekly charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[1] 52
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[2] 17
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] 31
Germany (Official German Charts)[4] 33
Ireland (IRMA)[5] 18
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 6
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[9] 10
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 34
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 14

Year-end charts

Chart (1986) Position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 60
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References

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