Manic Monday

"Manic Monday" is a song recorded by the American pop rock band the Bangles, which was the first single released from their second studio album, Different Light (1986). The song was written by American musician Prince, under the pseudonym "Christopher". Originally it was intended for the group Apollonia 6 in 1984. Lyrically, it describes a woman who is waking up to go to work on Monday, wishing it was still Sunday so that she could continue relaxing.

The single, released by Columbia Records in late December 1985, received generally positive reviews from music critics, with comparisons being made to the Mamas & the Papas' "Monday, Monday". It became the Bangles' first hit, reaching No. 2 in the United States (coincidentally, the song was kept from the top spot by Prince's "Kiss"), the United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Germany, and Ireland, and peaked within the Top 5 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. It was later certified silver in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Background and composition

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Prince wrote "Manic Monday" in 1984, and recorded it as a duet for the band Apollonia 6's self-titled album, but he eventually pulled the song.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Two years later, he offered the single to the Bangles under the pseudonym "Christopher",<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a character he played in the 1986 film Under the Cherry Moon.<ref name="Slooten">Template:Cite book</ref> It was rumored by various writers that after Prince listened to the band's 1984 debut album All Over the Place, he gave the song to Bangles rhythm guitarist Susanna Hoffs, in hopes of winning her affection.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> An original demo with Apollonia and Prince appeared in the 2001 bootleg, The Work - Volume 1. It was another 18 years before an official version was posthumously released with Prince as the primary vocalist. That recording appears on the 2019 demo compilation, Originals.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Susanna Hoffs on "Manic Monday"

"When I first heard that 'oh whoa' melody I thought of the Velvet Underground. Then when I heard the title I thought of Jimi Hendrix [who sang 'Manic Depression']. But then with the Monday part & the harmonies I thought of the Mamas & the Papas. It has a lot of the elements of emotion & style that [the Bangles] connect to. And [young people] really pick-up on the nursery rhyme appeal[:] like 'Sally Go 'Round the Roses', [there's] a nice simplicity to it."<ref>Escondido Times-Advocate 6 March 1986 "Bangles Have Arrived - Via Bus: now pit stops are high on the charts" by Jonathan Taylor p.15 (North County Magazine)</ref>

In an interview with MTV UK in 1989 Debbi Peterson explained why Prince gave them the song: "[Prince] really liked our first album. He liked the song 'Hero Takes a Fall', which is a great compliment, because we liked his music. He contacted us, and said, 'I've got a couple of songs for you. I'd like to know if you're interested,' and of course we were. One of the songs Prince brought to the group was 'Manic Monday', written under the pseudonym of Christopher." Peterson talked about the evolution of what Prince brought them: "It was a Banglefication of a Prince arrangement. He had a demo, that was very specifically him. It was a good song, but we didn't record it like 'This is our first hit single! Oh my God! I can feel it in my veins!' We just did the song, and the album, and then sat back and thought about it."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

A pop song written in D major,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Manic Monday" moves at a tempo of 116 beats per minute and is set in common time.<ref name=sheet>Template:Cite news</ref> The song has a sequence of D–A₇–G–D–A₇–G as its chord progression.<ref name=sheet/> Lyrically, the song is about someone waking up from a romantic dream at six o'clock on Monday morning, and facing a hectic journey to work when she would prefer to still be enjoying relaxing on Sunday—her "I-don't-have-to-run day".<ref name="liner"/> Actor Rudolph Valentino is referred to in the first verse.<ref name="liner">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Reception

Critical response

Some critics compared the song with the single "Monday, Monday" by the band the Mamas & the Papas.<ref name="allm"/><ref name="la2"/><ref name=lat1/> In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Mark Deming said that the single "was a far cry from anything the Bangles had recorded before";<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while Matthew Greenwald, also from the website, said

It's a clever and deceptively simple pop narrative, an infectious pop confection ... There is also an excellently written bridge that shows Prince/Christopher to be an excellent craftsman, and, to their credit, the Bangles carry it off with style and wit.<ref name="allm">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times called the song "a candidate for best single of the year".<ref name="la2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Guardian music critic Dorian Lynskey commented about the painful rhyming of "Sunday" with "I-don't-have-to-run day."<ref name="guard"/>

Mark Moses from The Phoenix said "the lack of lyrical substance is so glaring that Prince's lame 'Manic Monday' seems like a thematic highlight".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Greg Baker of The Miami News wrote in the album's review that "the song should put the Bangles on the 'pop 'n' roll' map".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A writer in Toledo Blade noted that "Manic Monday" was "infectious" and, along with "If She Knew What She Wants", both were "refreshingly melodic".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chris Willman from the Los Angeles Times commented: "The first single 'Manic Monday' represents slumming songwriter Prince's attempt mostly successful save for the inevitable getting down interlude to concoct a modern day Mamas and the Papas hit."<ref name=lat1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Chart performance

"Manic Monday" debuted at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100, on the week ending January 25, 1986,<ref name="billjan">Template:Cite journal</ref> and reached a peak of number two, on the issue dated April 19, 1986,<ref name=bbtop>Template:Cite magazine</ref> behind Prince and the Revolution's single "Kiss".<ref name=bbtop/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the United Kingdom, "Manic Monday" debuted at number 85 on February 8, 1986, and entered the top 40, at number 24, on February 22, 1986.<ref name="chst"/> The song eventually reached its peak position, at number two, the next month.<ref name="chst"/> In Germany, the single debuted at number 29 on March 17, 1986, reaching the top 10 in the next three weeks, and its peak, also at number two, on April 14, 1986, where it stayed two weeks.<ref name="german">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It remained in the top 10 for four more weeks, leaving the charts on July 20, 1986.<ref name="german"/>

In Switzerland, "Manic Monday" debuted at number 12 on March 30, 1986, becoming the highest debut of the week.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It reached its peak two weeks later at number four, where it remained another week.<ref name="swiss">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the Netherlands, the single debuted at number 43 on February 22, 1986; and managed to reach number 24.<ref name="nether">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It stayed on the chart for seven weeks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In Norway, "Manic Monday" debuted at number nine in the 10th week of 1986, becoming the second-highest debut of the week.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It also reached the number four two weeks later, where it stayed another two.<ref name="norway">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song also peaked within the top five in the Austrian,<ref name="ult"/> the Irish,<ref name="irl"/> and the New Zealand charts.<ref name="ult"/>

Track listing and formats

7" single<ref name="ult"/>

1. A. "Manic Monday" – 3:03
2. B. "In a Different Light" – 2:50

12" maxi (1985)<ref name="ult"/>

1. A. "Manic Monday" – 3:03
2. A. "In a Different Light" – 2:50
3. B. "Going Down to Liverpool" – 3:19
4. B. "Dover Beach" – 3:42

12" maxi (1986)<ref name="ult">{{#invoke

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1. A. "Manic Monday" – 3:03
2. B. "Manic Monday" (Extended version)  – 4:38
3. B. "In a Different Light" – 2:50

Digital single<ref name="am">{{#invoke

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1. "Manic Monday" – 3:06

Starbox<ref>{{#invoke

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1. "Manic Monday" (Extended "California" Version) – 4:59

Credits and personnel

The Bangles version<ref name="liner"/>

• Susanna Hoffs – guitar, lead vocals
• Vicki Peterson – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Michael Steele – bass, backing vocals
• Debbi Peterson – drums, backing vocals
• David Kahne – keyboards, producer
• Prince as "Christopher" – writer, composer

Prince version

Credits sourced from Duane Tudahl, Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Prince – lead and backing vocals, piano, Yamaha DX7, Oberheim OB-X, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums
• Brenda Bennett – backing vocals
• Jill Jones – backing vocals

Cover versions

In 2020, Billie Joe Armstrong, vocalist of Green Day, covered the song for his No Fun Mondays series. Susanna Hoffs plays the guitar and provides backing vocals that, according to Andrew Trendell of NME, "match Armstrong's silky sentimental side".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ryan Reed wrote for Rolling Stone that the version replaces the "twinkling synths and clean strums with palm-muted crunch".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Relient K also covered the song on their 2004 album, Mmhmm.

Charts

Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Manic Monday"

Chart (1986–1987)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=kent>Template:Cite book N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and June 19, 1988.</ref>	3
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	6
Japan (Oricon)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	56
South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
US Cash Box Top 100<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	3

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Manic Monday"

Chart (1986)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name=kent2>Template:Cite book N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between 1983 and June 19, 1988.</ref><ref name="aus86">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	38
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	53
New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	46
South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	24
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	37
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	48
US Cash Box Top 100 <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	37
West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	22