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Overkill (Men at Work song)

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"Overkill"
Single by Men at Work
from the album Cargo
B-side"Till the Money Runs Out"
ReleasedMarch 1983
Recorded1982
Studio
Length3:44
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Colin Hay
Producer(s)Peter McIan
Men at Work singles chronology
"Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive"
(1982) 		"Overkill"
(1983) 		"It's a Mistake"
(1983)
Music video
"Overkill" on YouTube

"Overkill" is a song by the Australian new wave band Men at Work. It was released in March 1983 as the second single from their second album Cargo. Written by lead singer Colin Hay, the song reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, No. 5 on the Australian Kent Music Report singles chart, and the top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and Norway.

Background

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"Overkill" was written by Men at Work frontman Colin Hay, who described the song as being about "stepping into the unknown." He elaborated:

"I was in St. Kilda and I felt that my time there was coming to a close and that I was going to probably leave there quite soon. Just about to leave somewhere, knowing that you're about to step into something that's like leaving your comfort zone, you know? Because you spend a lot of years trying to get something – for example, fame or recognition – or getting to a certain point, and then when you actually achieve it, there's always a certain amount of fear that comes with that. Not necessarily fear, but a sense of loss of control. Because all of a sudden, you're not in control of a situation anymore. There are other people involved so it's much, much less controllable."[1]

Hay said that the song reflected his fear that he might be consumed by success, especially with regard to his tendency toward addiction and how he must avoid the pitfalls of fame.[2] Hay was proud of the song after composing it; he recalled, "That was the first song that I wrote where I thought that maybe I could actually make a living as a songwriter, perhaps. I thought that was a good song that I'd written, one that will stand the test of time. I felt at the time it had something to it. I was very happy with that song."[1]

Men at Work's second studio album, Cargo, was released in Australia in April 1983, reaching No. 1 on the Kent Music Report albums chart.[3] The album's lead single, "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive", was issued in Australia ahead of the album in October 1982 and reached No. 6 on the Kent Music Report singles chart.[3] Despite recording having been completed in mid-1982, Cargo's release was held back due to the international commercial success of the band's 1981 debut album, Business as Usual.[4][5][6]

Release and reception

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Preceding the album, "Overkill" was released in March 1983 and debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 28 on 9 April.[7] It peaked at No. 3 in early June.[8] In Canada, the song was ranked No. 55 on the 1983 year-end chart and was certified gold by Music Canada.[9][10] The band toured the world extensively in 1983 to promote the album and related singles.[4] Critically, Cash Box praised the "supple sax line."[11]

Music video

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The video was mostly shot in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda and featured landmarks such as the Esplanade Hotel and the St Kilda Pier.

Track listing

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  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 3:44
  2. "Till the Money Runs Out" (Colin Hay, Ron Strykert, Greg Ham, John Rees, Jerry Speiser) – 3:05

Personnel

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  • Colin Hay – lead vocals, guitar
  • Greg Ham – saxophone, synthesizers, background vocals
  • Ron Strykert – guitar, background vocals
  • John Rees – bass, background vocals
  • Jerry Speiser – drums, background vocals

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Lazlo Bane version

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"Overkill"
cover art
Australian and New Zealand single
This file has been proposed for deletion and may be deleted after Sunday, 23 March 2025. Click on file page link to object.
Single by Lazlo Bane
from the album 11 Transistor
Released1997
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:13
LabelAlmo Sounds, BANG!
Songwriter(s)Colin Hay
Producer(s)Chad Fischer
Lazlo Bane singles chronology
"Buttercup"
(1996) 		"Overkill"
(1997)
Alternate cover
Belgian single
This file has been proposed for deletion and may be deleted after Sunday, 23 March 2025. Click on file page link to object.
Music video
"Overkill" on YouTube

American alternative rock band Lazlo Bane covered the song and released it in 1996 as a B-side of their debut single "Buttercup", through Fish of Death Records.

After the group signed with Almo Sounds, the song was re-released as promo single and included on the EP Short Style,[28] and it was later released on the band's debut album 11 Transistor, which came out in January 1997. [29] As a commercial single "Overkill" was released in some territories in 1997 and 1998.

The song was recorded with participation of Colin Hay, who plays guitar on the track and sings the last verse alone, and the last chorus with Chad Fischer.

Music video

[edit]

Lazlo Bane's music video, directed by Mark Miremont[30] and also featuring Hay, was released 28 May 1997 and eventually entered MTV2's Top 10 of the 1997.[31][32]

The video shows Lazlo Bane playing the song in a large hall of a hotel during the night which disturbs other residents who are portrayed by the members of the band. Colin Hay acts as the front desk clerk. During the first half of the song Hay receives several angry calls about the noise but does nothing about it. During the guitar solo the hotel starts to shake, finally forcing Hay to enter the hall where the band is playing, but only to sing the rest of the song together with the band.

Track listings

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1997 CD (Festival Records D1648)

  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 4:14
  2. "Flea Market Girl" (Chad Fischer, Kevin Hunter) – 3:56
  3. "Buttercup" (Fischer, Lyle Workman) – 3:44
  4. "Mean Mr. Mustard" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:24

1998 CD (BANG! 20545)

  1. "Overkill" (Colin Hay) – 4:14
  2. "Novakane" (Chad Fischer) – 2:37
  3. "Prada Wallet" (Fischer / Josh Clayton-Felt / Kevin Hunter) – 1:11

Other versions

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  • In 2003, Colin Hay's Man @ Work album consisted of re-recordings of songs from the Men at Work catalog as well as his solo career. The album featured an acoustic version of "Overkill". An edited version of that track was previously released in September 2002 on Music from Scrubs, the first NBC series Scrubs soundtrack album. Hay also appeared in the series itself, performing an acoustic version of the song in the first episode of season 2, "My Overkill".[33][34]
  • The American rock band Dashboard Confessional covered the tune in 2007 for a compilation album titled The Wire Tapes, Vol. 1.[33]
  • In January 2016, Hay performed "Overkill" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, backed by Fallon's house band the Roots.[35]
  • In late 2016, the Canadian choir directors Choir! Choir! Choir! arranged the song for impromptu choir, performing it with Hay on guitar and lead vocals in Brooklyn, joined by hundreds of singing fans. The video amassed more than three million views.[36]
  • Hay has recorded many acoustic versions of the song with guitar accompaniment, for instance in June 2019 for Telefunken's Live from the Lab series,[37] in January 2020 for The A.V. Club's "Undercover" series,[38] and in July 2022 for SiriusXM.[39]

References

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  1. ^ a b Wiser, Carl. "Colin Hay of Men at Work". Songfacts. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ Beviglia, Jim (22 February 2024). "The Meaning Behind "Overkill" by Men at Work and How Worries About the Band's Success Inspired It". American Songwriter. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ a b McFarlane, 'Men at Work' entry. Archived from the original on 13 May 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Men at Work". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music (Ed Nimmervoll). White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  6. ^ Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Men at Work". Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 9 April 1983. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Men at Work Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  9. ^ a b "The Top 100 Singles of 1983". RPM. 24 December 1983. Retrieved 3 March 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  10. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Men at Work – Overkill". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 2 April 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Men at Work – Overkill" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6269." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Overkill". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Men At Work".
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Men at Work – Overkill" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Men at Work – Overkill". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Men at Work – Overkill". VG-lista. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  21. ^ "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs M–O". rock.co.za. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  22. ^ "Men at Work: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Men at Work Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Men at Work Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  25. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Men at Work – Overkill" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  26. ^ "Kent Music Report – National Top 100 Singles for 1983". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via Imgur.
  27. ^ "Talent Almanac 1984: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 52. 24 December 1983. p. TA-18.
  28. ^ "Man (Back) At Work". mtv.com. 22 September 1996. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  29. ^ "Debut album due soon". mtv.com. 20 January 1997. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  30. ^ Mark Miremont Archived 30 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine official site
  31. ^ The History of Lazlo Bane on Myspace
  32. ^ "Colin Hay Biography". colinhay.com. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  33. ^ a b Breen, Mike (17 May 2012). "A Tribute to Colin Hay and 'Overkill'". CityBeat. Cincinnati. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  34. ^ "Overkill" - Scrubs
  35. ^ Hay, Colin (14 January 2016). "Watch Colin's performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon". Colin Hay. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  36. ^ "Overkill"
  37. ^ "Men At Work's Colin Hay is 'Live From the Lab' at TELEFUNKEN". Telefunken Electroacoustik. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  38. ^ "Colin Hay revisits Men At Work's 'Overkill'". The A.V. Club. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  39. ^ "Overkill" by Colin Hay at SiriusXM
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