: The initial chorus reportedly included the gruesome line: "He's a maniac, maniac, that's for sure / He will kill your cat and nail him to the door".
Michael Sembello's is widely recognized as one of the definitive high-energy anthems of the 1980s. Released in May 1983 as the lead single from Sembello's debut album, Bossa Nova Hotel , it gained global fame through its inclusion on the soundtrack for the film Flashdance . Production and "Maniac" Origin Michael Sembello - Maniac (1983) (Official Video)
: A demo tape containing the song was accidentally sent to Flashdance music supervisor Phil Ramone . Recognizing its potential, Ramone and director Adrian Lyne requested a rewrite to align with the film's narrative of a young woman's intense dedication to dance. The Official Music Video : The initial chorus reportedly included the gruesome
