Talking in Your Sleep (The Romantics song)

"Talking in Your Sleep" is a chart-topping hit song by Detroit rock band The Romantics. It was a number three U.S. hit in early 1984 and became a UK hit in August that year for British band Bucks Fizz. It ultimately became a hit throughout the world, and was the group's most successful song.

"Talking in Your Sleep"
Single by The Romantics
from the album In Heat
B-side	"I'm Hip"
Released	September 1983
Recorded	1983
Genre	Pop rock new wave
Length	3:54
Label	Nemperor
Songwriter(s)	Coz Canler Jimmy Marinos Wally Palmar Mike Skill Peter Solley
Producer(s)	Peter Solley
The Romantics singles chronology
"No One Like You" (1981) "Talking in Your Sleep" (1983) "Rock You Up" (1983)
Audio sample
The Romantics – "Talking in Your Sleep" file help

The song is in natural minor.[1]

Song history

The song appeared on the Romantics' 1983 album In Heat and was the Romantics' biggest chart hit, garnering substantial radio airplay and a million in US 45 RPM single sales.

The song reached number three – where it held for three weeks – on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984.[2] It also went to number one on the Dance/Disco Top 80 chart,[3] as well as hitting the top of Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart.[4]

In Australia, "Talking in Your Sleep" climbed to number 14 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report)[5]

It was featured in the first episode of the second season of the Netflix series Stranger Things, playing on a car radio.

Music video

The song's music video, widely aired at the time on MTV and elsewhere, featured the band performing while surrounded by standing, but seemingly sleeping, women who were dressed in lingerie, pajamas, and other sleepwear.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1983–84) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 14 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 19 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[7] 17 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 1 Canada (CHUM)[9] 1 France (IFOP)[10] 30 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 24 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] 20 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 20 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[15] 15 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 20 US Billboard Hot 100[2] 3 US Cash Box Top 100[18] 4 US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)[3] 1 US Top Rock Tracks (Billboard)[4] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1984) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 19 US Billboard Hot 100[20] 19 US Cash Box Top 100[21] 34 US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)[20] 16

Bucks Fizz version

"Talking in Your Sleep"
Single by Bucks Fizz
from the album I Hear Talk
B-side	"Don't Think You're Fooling Me"
Released	17 August 1984
Genre	Pop
Length	4.18
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Canler Skill Palmar Solley Marinos
Producer(s)	Andy Hill
Bucks Fizz singles chronology
"Rules of the Game" (1983) "Talking in Your Sleep" (1984) "Golden Days" (1984)

The Romantics' single was unsuccessful in the United Kingdom, but in August 1984, the song became well-known when pop group Bucks Fizz covered it. This version reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.[22] It was produced by Andy Hill and featured on their fourth album, I Hear Talk.[23][24] The single was the group's first for nine months and became their biggest hit since "When We Were Young", a year previously. It was also released as a limited-edition EP, which included the live tracks "Twentieth Century Hero" and a cover of Chris de Burgh's "Don't Pay the Ferryman". The B-side, "Don't Think You're Fooling Me" was written and produced by band member Bobby G.

Track listing

7" vinyl

1. "Talking in Your Sleep" (Canler / Skill / Palmar / Solley / Marinos) – (4.18)
2. "Don't Think You're Fooling Me" (Bobby G) – (3.50)

12" vinyl

1. "Talking in Your Sleep" (Extended Mix) – (8.39)
2. "Don't Think You're Fooling Me" – (3.50)

Limited edition EP

1. "Talking in Your Sleep – (4.18)
2. "Don't Think You're Fooling Me" – (3.50)
3. "Twentieth Century Hero" (Live) (Andy Hill / Pete Sinfield) – (3.20)
4. "Don't Pay the Ferryman" (Live) (Chris de Burgh) – (3.56)

Weekly charts

Chart (1984)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[25]	14
Poland (LP3)[26]	22
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[22]	15

Cui Jian version

Chinese singer and songwriter Cui Jian covered the song on his 1985 album "'85回顧" ("'85 Review"/huígù).

Other covers

Canadian singer The Weeknd interpolates the chorus of "Talking in Your Sleep" in his song "Secrets" from his 2016 album, Starboy.[27]

Swedish music act Radio Ballet did a modern cover version on ”Talking in your sleep” in 2020. The song was released world wide on streaming platforms in June 2020.

References

1. Stephenson, Ken (2002). What to Listen for in Rock: A Stylistic Analysis, p.89. ISBN 978-0-300-09239-4.
2. "The Romantics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
3. "Billboard Dec 10, 1983" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. December 10, 1983. p. 34. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
4. "Billboard Dec 24, 1983" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. December 24, 1983. p. 28. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
5. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
6. "Ultratop.be – The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
7. "Radio 2 Top 30" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4457." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
9. "CHART NUMBER 1413 – Sunday, February 05, 1984". CHUM. Archived from the original on November 7, 2006. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
10. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "ROMANTICS" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
13. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 7, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 15, 2016.
14. "Charts.nz – The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
15. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts R". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
16. "Swedishcharts.com – The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
17. "Swisscharts.com – The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
18. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 21, 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9638." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
20. "Volume 96 No. 51, DECEMBER 22. 1984" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19,TA-25. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
21. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
23. Rafaels and Stefans pictures
24. bucksfizzearlyyears.co.uk - video shots
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Talking in Your Sleep". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
26. "Lista Przebojów Programu 3". LP3. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
27. Angermiller, Michele (December 1, 2016). "The Romantics' Mike Skill on The Weeknd Reviving 'Talking in Your Sleep' on 'Starboy': 'There's a Thirst for the '80s'". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2017.