She Blinded Me with Science
Encyclopedia
"She Blinded Me With Science" is a New Wave
song by British musician Thomas Dolby
, released in 1982. It was first released as a single in the UK in October 1982 and was subsequently included on the EP Blinded by Science
and the second edition of Dolby's debut album The Golden Age of Wireless
. It is a quirky, playful synthpop
song featuring synthesizer sounds. The song was also sampled for "Got It Twisted" by Mobb Deep.
Although a success in the United States
, peaking at #5 in the Billboard Hot 100
and 2 weeks at #1 in Canada's RPM Magazine
, the song barely managed to score among the Top 50 in Dolby's native United Kingdom
, peaking at #49 in the UK Singles Chart
.
Dolby is often mistakenly considered a one-hit wonder
in the United States on the basis of the song's chart success there. In 2002, U.S. cable television network VH1
named "She Blinded Me with Science" #20 on its list of the "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders." While the song is Dolby's only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, he has had other songs which scored on the music charts. Thus, the label "one-hit wonder" might be considered a misnomer for Dolby.
In 2006, VH1 placed it at #76 on their list of "Greatest Songs of the '80s." Then, in 2009, it ranked #13 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.
s.
The song features interjections from the British scientist and TV presenter Magnus Pyke
, who repeatedly shouts "Science!" and delivers other lines in a deliberately over-the-top "mad scientist
" voice, the most famous line of which was, "Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!" Producer "Mutt" Lange
sings the high octave doubling Dolby's chorus vocals.
The song was showcased as part of Dolby's appearance at the South by Southwest
2007 music festival.
(as the Home Doctor) tries to diagnose what he is suffering from, all the while being seduced by Miss Sakamoto, a secretary in the home. Interspersed into the video, various "deranged scientists" operate fanciful inventions on the grounds of the Home and act deranged with normal scientific items. Dolby directed this video himself.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
song by British musician Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit "She Blinded Me with Science", and 1984 single "Hyperactive!", he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.-Early life:Dolby was born in London, England, contrary to information in early 1980s...
, released in 1982. It was first released as a single in the UK in October 1982 and was subsequently included on the EP Blinded by Science
Blinded by Science
Blinded By Science was a successful 1982 EP by new wave/synth pop artist Thomas Dolby, made up of extended 12" single versions of songs from the 1982 album The Golden Age of Wireless. Four of the recordings had previously been released as two separate 12" remix discs in the UK -- "She Blinded Me...
and the second edition of Dolby's debut album The Golden Age of Wireless
The Golden Age of Wireless
The Golden Age of Wireless is a 1982 album by Synthpop pioneer Thomas Dolby. The album is notable for containing the pop hit "She Blinded Me with Science" in its later resequencings...
. It is a quirky, playful synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
song featuring synthesizer sounds. The song was also sampled for "Got It Twisted" by Mobb Deep.
Although a success in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, peaking at #5 in 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...
and 2 weeks at #1 in Canada's RPM Magazine
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
, the song barely managed to score among the Top 50 in Dolby's native United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, peaking at #49 in the 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 ...
.
Dolby is often mistakenly considered a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
in the United States on the basis of the song's chart success there. In 2002, U.S. cable television network VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
named "She Blinded Me with Science" #20 on its list of the "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders." While the song is Dolby's only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, he has had other songs which scored on the music charts. Thus, the label "one-hit wonder" might be considered a misnomer for Dolby.
In 2006, VH1 placed it at #76 on their list of "Greatest Songs of the '80s." Then, in 2009, it ranked #13 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.
Song structure
The song's chorus, "She blinded me with science", plays upon the colloquial British expression "to blind [someone] with science", meaning to deliberately confuse someone by giving the impression of highly complex knowledge. In the song, however, the phrase is interpreted as a straightforward reference to the natural scienceNatural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
s.
The song features interjections from the British scientist and TV presenter Magnus Pyke
Magnus Pyke
Dr. Magnus Alfred Pyke was a British scientist and media figure, who, although apparently quite eccentric and playing up to the mad scientist stereotype, succeeded in explaining science to a lay audience...
, who repeatedly shouts "Science!" and delivers other lines in a deliberately over-the-top "mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
" voice, the most famous line of which was, "Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!" Producer "Mutt" Lange
Robert Lange
Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a Zambian-born British record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt". Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock history. He has produced albums for artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Outlaws, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan...
sings the high octave doubling Dolby's chorus vocals.
The song was showcased as part of Dolby's appearance at the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
2007 music festival.
Music video
In the music video, Dolby commits himself to a Home for Deranged Scientists. Throughout the course of the video, Magnus PykeMagnus Pyke
Dr. Magnus Alfred Pyke was a British scientist and media figure, who, although apparently quite eccentric and playing up to the mad scientist stereotype, succeeded in explaining science to a lay audience...
(as the Home Doctor) tries to diagnose what he is suffering from, all the while being seduced by Miss Sakamoto, a secretary in the home. Interspersed into the video, various "deranged scientists" operate fanciful inventions on the grounds of the Home and act deranged with normal scientific items. Dolby directed this video himself.
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom 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 ... |
49 |
| United States 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... |
5 |
| Canada | 1 |
External links
- She Blinded Me with Science music video from YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....