Maniac
Michael Sembello, 1983. Solo by Michael Sembello.
The Flashdance hit hides a fast, jazz-inflected solo from a former Stevie Wonder sideman.
Maniac is remembered as a high-energy dance hit from Flashdance, but Michael Sembello's guitar solo reveals a player with serious chops. The break is fast and jazz-inflected, with quick runs, sharp articulation and clever note choices that go beyond typical pop rock. Sembello, who had worked as a guitarist for Stevie Wonder before his solo career, brings a musician's sophistication to a relentless, synth-driven track. It is a reminder that many 1980s pop hits hid serious instrumental skill. Listen for the rapid, flowing lines that move through the chords with precision, and for how the guitar cuts through the busy arrangement, giving the track a burst of musical virtuosity right in its centre.
Maniac by Michael Sembello is featured in our Pop (#20) list. The solo is played by Michael Sembello and the song was released in 1983.
In our lists
Sources
- MusicRadar / Total Guitar: 30 killer pop guitar solos (2011)
- Far Out Magazine: 10 pop songs with outrageously good guitar solos
Who played the guitar solo on Maniac?
Michael Sembello played the solo on Michael Sembello's Maniac (1983).