This article contains descriptions of sex which may offend. Reader discretion is advised.
The compilation album Raiders of the Pop Charts (left) was where I first heard, as an eight-year-old, the infamous one-hit wonder Hey Mickey by Toni Basil. Man, did I get a kick out of it as a youngster – and I still enjoy hearing it on the odd occasion. We had one of those old built-in wooden turntables that looked more like a dresser, sitting near the fireplace. I don’t know how many times I dropped the needle on that record as a kid, but it was a lot.
Hey Mickey has this retro, glam-rock-inspired sound that I’ve always loved for its lucidity, craziness, and sheer escapist energy. It’s new wave – brash and a little obnoxious – which I always saw as part of its charm. Toni performs it like a firecracker too, with a self-styled cheerleader chant that’s sexy, flirtatious, rebellious, and just the right amount of obscene. Check out these risqué lyrics – which, thankfully, I didn’t quite ‘pick-up on’ as an eight-year-old:
“So come on and give it to me / Any way you can / Any way you want to do it / I’ll take it like a man.”
Rock critic Robert Christgau once wrote that Basil “was the only woman ever to offer to take it up the ass on Top 40 radio.” Basil, however, has vehemently denied that the song refers to anal sex, responding bluntly: “No! That’s ridiculous.”
Hey Mickey was originally titled as “Kitty” and was released on American singer’s debut studio album, Word of Mouth. The song Kitty was originally performed by British pop group Racey in 1979 which did not include the “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine” chant, which Basil added.
The music video was directed, produced and choreographed by Basil herself. The cheerleaders featured in the video were members of a championship squad from Carson High School in Carson, California. The cheerleading uniform Basil wore in the music video was the one she actually wore in high school. According to Basil, “They didn’t put anything in the budget, I did everything myself. And this is the actual cheer sweater from Las Vegas High.”
The single reached number one on the US Billboard for one week and number two on the UK Singles Chart. It is Basil’s only top 40 success.
[Refrain]
Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine
You’re so fine, you blow my mind
Hey, Mickey, hey, Mickey
Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine
You’re so fine, you blow my mind
Hey, Mickey, hey, Mickey
Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine
You’re so fine, you blow my mind
Hey, Mickey, hey, Mickey
Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine
You’re so fine, you blow my mind
Hey, Mickey
[Verse 1]
Hey, Mickey
You’ve been around all night and that’s a little long
You think you’ve got the right, but I think you’ve got it wrong
Why can’t you say goodnight? So you can take me home, Mickey
‘Cause when you say you will, it always means you won’t
You’re giving me the chills, baby, please, baby, don’t
Every night, you still leave me all alone, Mickey
[Chorus]
Oh, Mickey, what a pity, you don’t understand
You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand
Oh, Mickey, you’re so pretty, can’t you understand?
It’s guys like you, Mickey
Oh, what you do, Mickey, do Mickey
Don’t break my heart, Mickey
[Verse 2]
Hey, Mickey
Now, when you take me by the, who’s ever gonna know
Every time you move, I let a little more show
There’s something you can use, so don’t say no, Mickey
So come on and give it to me anyway you can
Anyway you wanna do it, I’ll take it like a man
Oh, please, baby, please don’t leave me in this jam, Mickey
References:
1. Mickey (Toni Basil song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Absolutely hated this song. Of course, in high school, I was in band/orchestra/jazz ensemble/etc clique & not in the cheerleader/jock clique, so that might be a part of it. But I really hated this song.
Do you still hate it? I can see how you might’ve been turned off it, hanging with a different crowd back then.
I always liked it, though.
This song brings back so many memories! Lol yeah if my parents paid attention to the lyrics, we would definitely not have been allowed to listen to that.
I suddenly remember my mother kicking up a big fuss about this song when we played it — and now I know why. Gee whiz.
My mom only knew the chorus, so she never noticed the more explicit imagery lol Anytime we are listening to music around my niece, I make it a point to double check lyrics because you never know.
Did you tell your Mum what lyrics she had overlooked back then? lol
Psh no! She is gonna have to figure it out herself. Just like I did lol
Still hate it & I don’t care about the lyrics. Lots of erotic lyrics out there.
I still remember how much in disbelief my wife was when I told her in the late ’90s after we had bought some ’80s music CD boxed set I had never heard to Mickey. While I wouldn’t call it a great song, it’s bouncy and I like the retro keyboard sound.
Interesting backstory — how late you came to know this song!
I like it as much for its playfulness and originality as for any other aspect.
It certainly attracted its fair share of comments here — unlike most of my posts. Hehe.
LOL…I never paid attention to the lyrics! NOW I will. It would stick in your head forever. The thing I noticed about the video is the other cheerleaders…they don’t look like cheerleaders to me for some reason.
Anyway…she is talented…she was also in Easy Rider as well.
I didn’t pay much attention to them as well, until I read the controversy about it.
Re. the cheerleaders (to quote from the article): The cheerleaders featured in the video were members of a championship squad from Carson High School in Carson, California.
I saw Easy Rider many years ago and I can hardly remember anything from it. It’s worth a revisit. Have a good week Max.
Wow about the cheerleaders! My mistake… You as well Matt.