“Mickey” was Toni Basil’s creation entirely, from video conception to direction and choreography. The seasoned choreographer exploded onto the music scene with the ever-catchy 1981 hit.
Toni Basil proved her place in pop with the unmistakable song and one-hit-wonder “Mickey” from 1981. Her cheerleader dance routine music video was one of the first choreographed dances ever seen on TV.
The hit that the world knows was originally called “Kitty” and was written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn who also composed songs for artists such as Heuy Lewis and the News, Tina Turner, Smokie, Racey, and Suzi Quatro.
The UK pop group Racey was the first to perform “Kitty” in 1979 before it was recreated into “Mickey” by Toni Basil. She added, “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind” to the original turning it into a global bubblegum sensation.
