New Sensation
Encyclopedia
"New Sensation" is a song by the Australian rock
group INXS
. It was the third single from their 1987 album Kick. The music was written by Andrew Farriss
and the lyrics by Michael Hutchence
. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100
in the United States
, #9 in Australia
, #25 in the UK, and #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
in the US.
The song features a signature Kirk Pengilly
sax solo and lyrics about a partying lifestyle. The first line "Live, baby, live", was later referenced in the title of the bands' 1991 release Live Baby Live
. The track is notable as being the first track to be performed at the London Astoria, and it was later covered by Welsh band The Automatic
at the final performance at the venue in 2009.
The song was used in a commercial for SeaWorld
in 1996-1997, shortly before Michael Hutchence's death.
At the 2010 AFL Grand Final
, J.D. Fortune
with INXS performed the song, along with Suicide Blonde
.
band Snow Patrol
covered the song for their Late Night Tales
compilation. Their rendition was received positively by Hot Press
magazine, which wrote that the song had been "well and truly patroled".
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
. It was the third single from their 1987 album Kick. The music was written by Andrew Farriss
Andrew Farriss
Andrew Charles Farriss is a rock musician , best known as the keyboardist and main composer for the Australian band INXS.-Career:...
and the lyrics by Michael Hutchence
Michael Hutchence
Michael Kelland John Hutchence was an Australian musician and actor. He was the founding lead singer-songwriter of rock band :INXS from 1977 to his death in 1997, a period of twenty years. Hutchence was a member of short-lived pop rock group Max Q and recorded solo material which was released...
. The song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, #9 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, #25 in the UK, and #8 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
in the US.
The song features a signature Kirk Pengilly
Kirk Pengilly
Kirk Pengilly is an Australian musician, best known as a member of the rock group :INXS.-Early career:...
sax solo and lyrics about a partying lifestyle. The first line "Live, baby, live", was later referenced in the title of the bands' 1991 release Live Baby Live
Live Baby Live
Live Baby Live is Australian rock band INXS's first live album. It was released in 1991 and features tracks recorded in Paris, New York, Chicago, London, Dublin, Glasgow, Rio de Janeiro, Montreal, Spain, Switzerland, Melbourne, Sydney, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas. The album has sold over one...
. The track is notable as being the first track to be performed at the London Astoria, and it was later covered by Welsh band The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
at the final performance at the venue in 2009.
The song was used in a commercial for SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
in 1996-1997, shortly before Michael Hutchence's death.
At the 2010 AFL Grand Final
2010 AFL Grand Final
The 2010 AFL Grand Final is either of two Australian rules football contests between the Collingwood Football Club and the St Kilda Football Club. Together they are considered the 114th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League, and were staged to determine the...
, J.D. Fortune
J.D. Fortune
J.D. Fortune , is a Canadian rock singer and songwriter. He was the winner of the 2005 CBS reality television series Rock Star: INXS, and fronted INXS until August 2011. - Early life :...
with INXS performed the song, along with Suicide Blonde
Suicide Blonde
"Suicide Blonde" is the title of the first single from the INXS album X. It reached the top 10 on the US Hot 100 and Australia in 1990 and reached a peak of #11 in the UK.-Writing and recording:...
.
7": Atlantic / 7-89080 (US)
- "New Sensation" - 3:38
- "Guns in the Sky" (Kookaburra Mix) - 2:20
- also available on MC (7 89080-4)
12": Atlantic / 0-86572 (U.S.)
- "New Sensation" (NickNick LaunayNick Launay is an English record producer and recording engineer. He is currently one of the most sought after producers in the world due to his current success with recent albums by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
's Twelve Inch Mix) - 6:28 - "Guns in the Sky" (Kick Ass Mix) - 6:00
12": Mercury / INXS 912 (UK)
- "New Sensation" (Remix) - 3:40
- "Do Wot You Do" - 3:16
- "Love Is (What I Say)"
- "Same Direction"
12": WEA Records / 0-258016 (Australia)
- "New Sensation" (NickNick LaunayNick Launay is an English record producer and recording engineer. He is currently one of the most sought after producers in the world due to his current success with recent albums by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds...
's 12" Mix) - 6:28 - "Guns in the Sky" (Kick Ass Mix) - 6:00
- "New Sensation" (Nick's 7" Mix) - 3:40
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
9 |
| Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
15 |
| German Singles Chart | 35 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
25 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks | 8 |
Covers
Alternative rockAlternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
covered the song for their Late Night Tales
Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol
-Release and reception:The album was released on 28 September 2009 in the UK and 3 November 2009 in the US. in two formats, CD and Digital download. The download was available in MP3 and WAV formats, each set priced at £7.99...
compilation. Their rendition was received positively by Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
magazine, which wrote that the song had been "well and truly patroled".