She Blinded Me with Science - Thomas Dolby (1983) 9/5/23

When the people who put together lists of "One Hit Wonders" of the 1980s, they usually include 1982/83's "She Blinded Me with Science" by Thomas Dolby.

They're not wrong, exactly, but they're not entirely correct, either.

"She Blinded Me with Science" was his only American hit (and a "Great Song), but he also had a handful of other hits in his home country of England.

But enough about that...

According to Thomas, he was more into writing songs that were deep and/or experimental...and having mainstream success with a song like "Science," was an extra bonus.

"Science" was rather simple and frivolous on the surface: a mad scientist falls in love with his lab assistant.

That was on purpose. He actually wrote the song to accompany an idea he had for a music video.

Videos were still new in '82, and Thomas wanted to see what he could do as a video director. So he convinced his record company to let him have free reign.

His vision was a throwback to the silent comedy films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, that would use his song as a soundtrack -- instead of an old fashioned ticky-tack piano.

Somehow it all worked! As 1982 turned to 1983, the song climbed to #3 on Billboard's Dance Club Chart, #5 on the Hot 100, and #6 on the Mainstream Rock Chart. It was also played heavily on MTV. (In Canada, it topped the Top 40!)

Trivia: The mad doctor, who kept yelling "Science" during the song, was played by Magnus Pyke, an English nutritional scientist who worked for the UK Ministry of Food, and was also a writer and presenter of note.

"She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby: experimental, ridiculous, a lot of fun, and a Great Song of 1982/83! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V83JR2IoI8k

Tomorrow: Elton's Blues