She Blinded Me with Science

"She Blinded Me with Science" is a song by the English 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.

"She Blinded Me with Science"
UK cover art
Single by Thomas Dolby
from the album Blinded by Science & The Golden Age of Wireless
B-side	"One of Our Submarines" (UK, 1982) "The Jungle Line" (UK, 1983) "Flying North" (US)
Released	1982
Genre	Synth-pop[1] new wave[2]
Length	3:42 5:09 (extended version)
Label	Venice in Peril (UK) Capitol Records (US)
Songwriter(s)	Thomas Dolby Jo Kerr
Producer(s)	Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby singles chronology
"Windpower" (1982) "She Blinded Me with Science" (1982) "One of Our Submarines" (1982)

Although viewed as a success in the United States, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 2 weeks at No. 1 in Canada's RPM Magazine, the song barely managed to score among the Top 50 in Dolby's native United Kingdom, peaking at No. 56 in the UK Singles Chart in 1983.

Dolby is often considered a one-hit wonder in the United States on the basis of the song's chart success there. In 2002, US cable television network VH1 named "She Blinded Me with Science" No. 20 on its list of the "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders".[3] While the song is Dolby's only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, he has had other songs that scored on the music charts. In 2006, VH1 placed it at No. 76 on their list of "Greatest Songs of the '80s".[4] Then, in 2009, it ranked No. 13 on VH1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.[5]

Song structure

The song features interjections from the British scientist and TV presenter Magnus Pyke,[3] who repeatedly interjects "Science!" and delivers other lines in a deliberately over-the-top mad scientist voice, such as, "Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto, you're beautiful!"

Music video

In the music video, directed and shot entirely by Dolby, Dolby commits himself to the "Home for Deranged Scientists". Various mad scientist types operate fanciful inventions on the grounds of the home and act insane with normal scientific items. Throughout the course of the video, Magnus Pyke tries to diagnose his ailment, all the while being seduced by Miss Sakamoto, a secretary in the home.

Dolby saw music videos with story lines as "short silent films with a soundtrack". The video for "She Blinded Me with Science" was conceived and storyboarded before the song was written.[6] Dolby added the song title, wrote the song to fit the planned video, and then directed the music video.[7]

Chart positions

Weekly charts Chart (1982) Peak position UK Singles (OCC)[8] 49 Chart (1983) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 19 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[11] 52 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 7 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[13] 26 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 56 US Billboard Hot 100[15] 5 US Billboard Hot Black Singles[15] 49 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[15] 3 US Billboard Top Tracks[15] 6 US Cash Box[16] 4

Year-end charts Chart (1983) Rank Canada Top Singles (RPM)[17] 11 US Billboard Hot 100[18] 23 US Cash Box[19] 21

See also

• List of number-one singles of 1983 (Canada)

References

1. "Discover the 10 Albums that changed Thomas Dolby's life". Goldmine. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
2. Lanham, Tom (16 September 2011). "Thomas Dolby in town to lecture you on science". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
3. "Greatest One Hit Wonders List > Hour 5: #20 – 1". VH1. Archived from the original on 31 August 2004.
4. "VH1'S "100 Greatest Songs of the '80s" preaches to the choir with Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" taking the top spot". VH1. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010.
5. Ali, Rahsheeda. "100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the '80s". VH1. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
6. MacIntosh, Dan (16 March 2011). "Thomas Dolby : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
7. Dolby, Thomas (11 October 2016). The Speed of Sound: Breaking the Barriers Between Music and Technology: A Memoir. Flatiron Books. ISBN 1250071844.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
9. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
10. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6239." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me with Science". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
12. "Charts.nz – Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me with Science". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
13. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (D)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
14. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
15. "Thomas Dolby – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
16. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MAY 28, 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.
17. "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. Vol. 39 no. 17. 24 December 1983. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
18. "Top 100 Hits for 1983". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
19. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1983". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012.

External links

• Thomas Dolby – The Making of "She Blinded Me with Science" on YouTube
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics