Musical Monday - Maneater by Hall and Oates

#1 on the Billboard Hot 100: December 18, 1982 through January 8, 1983.

#1 on the Cash Box Top 100: December 18, 1982 through January 15, 1983.

#1 on the U.K. Chart: Never.

Following on the heels of Mickey's run at the to spot on the charts, Hall and Oates deliver another one of the signature songs of the 1980s with Maneater. This is also probably Hall and Oates most recognizable song, their most successful song in terms of chart performance, and possibly their best song. The odd thing is that it does not really sound all that much like the rest of Hall and Oates' oeuvre, though I suppose that might be why it did better than the rest of their musical output.

In any event, this song is pretty much the apotheosis of the early 1980s smooth jazzy-influenced soft rock sound. The music has no hard edges, with a silky bass line and a sultry saxophone riff, but all of this is set off with some pretty dark and moody lyrics - which are supposedly about New York City, but everyone (including the music video) interprets as being about a woman. Hall and Oates have several songs with some biting lyrics, but none that are quite as dark and moody as the lyrics to this song. It is that combination - a smooth and almost seductive tune accompanied by biting and almost harsh lyrics - that goes a long way towards making this such an iconic song.

Hall and Oates would have other hits after this one, and even reach the number one spot on the charts again, but the would never be able to match this song in the future. This was the high point of their career, and it was a long downhill slide from here.

Previous Musical Monday: Save Your Love by Renée and Renato

Subsequent Musical Monday: You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins

Previous #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Mickey by Toni Basil

Subsequent #1 on the Billboard Hot 100: Down Under by Men at Work

Previous #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Truly by Lionel Richie

Subsequent #1 on the Cash Box Top 100: Down Under by Men at Work

List of #1 Singles from the Billboard Hot 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles from the Cash Box Top 100 for 1980-1989
List of #1 Singles on the U.K. Chart for 1980-1989

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