On this day May 22 1981 Toni Basil released her debut album Word of Mouth which introduced the world to one of the most unforgettable pop singles of the 1980s Mickey. The album blends new wave and dance pop with a visual flair that matched Toni Basil's background as a choreographer and performance artist. Word of Mouth reached number 22 on the Billboard 200 and helped solidify her place in early MTV culture.
The lead single Mickey became a cultural phenomenon with its cheerleader chant style and catchy beat climbing to number 1 in several countries and becoming one of the most iconic one hit wonders of the decade.
Fun fact: Toni Basil directed and choreographed the music video for Mickey herself making it one of the earliest examples of an artist creatively controlling both their music and visuals in the MTV era.
The lead single Mickey became a cultural phenomenon with its cheerleader chant style and catchy beat climbing to number 1 in several countries and becoming one of the most iconic one hit wonders of the decade.
Fun fact: Toni Basil directed and choreographed the music video for Mickey herself making it one of the earliest examples of an artist creatively controlling both their music and visuals in the MTV era.
