Paranoimia Explained

"Paranoimia" is a song by the English synth-pop group Art of Noise, released in April 1986 from their second studio album, In Visible Silence (1986). A better-known version was released as a single, featuring television character Max Headroom on vocals. This version was first included on the 1986 album Re-Works of Art of Noise.

The 7-inch single features a monologue about Max Headroom being scared and unable to sleep (hence "Paranoimia", a portmanteau of "paranoia" and "insomnia"). The 12-inch 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.

Track listing

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

1. "Paranoimia" (extended version) – 6:40
2. "Paranoimia" (7-inch version) – 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
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[2]	19
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[3]	10
US Billboard Hot 100[4]	34
US 12-inch Singles Sales (Billboard)[5]	21
US Dance/Disco Club Play (Billboard)[6]	14

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)	Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7]	92
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8]	60

"Paranoimia '89"

In 1989, a remix by Ben Liebrand was released with a new video to promote The Best of The Art of Noise.

External links

• Paranoimia at Zang Tuum Tumb Discography

Notes and References

1. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
2. European Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 3. 30/31. 13. 2 August 1986. 4 October 2020.
3. Web site: SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs P-R. 28 March 2018.
4. Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. 4 October 1986. 22 July 2023.
5. Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. 30 August 1986. subscription. 22 July 2023.
6. Dance Club Songs. Billboard. 27 September 1986. subscription. 22 July 2023.
7. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1986. Dutch Top 40. 11 November 2020.
8. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986. MegaCharts. nl. 24 October 2019.