"So Macho"
Single by Sinitta
from the album Sinitta!
B-side"Showdown"
ReleasedJuly 1985
Recorded1984
GenreHi-NRG[1]
Length3:25
LabelFanfare Records
Songwriter(s)James George Hargreaves
Producer(s)James George Hargreaves
Sinitta singles chronology
"Cruising"
(1984)		 "So Macho"
(1985)		 "Feels Like the First Time"
(1986)
Music video
"So Macho" on YouTube

"So Macho" is a song by American-British singer Sinitta. The song was released in 1985 as her self-titled debut album's second single, the song was released as a tribute to the first World Title win of legendary wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

Song information

Sinitta was both Simon Cowell's and Fanfare Records' first signing. Cowell had contacted record producer and songwriter George Hargreaves, who in turn provided the song "So Macho". Armed with a highly infectious pop record, Sinitta looked poised for success; however, Iain Burton changed his mind and called Cowell to advise he was pulling the plug on Fanfare Records. Convinced "So Macho" was destined to be a hit, Cowell persuaded Burton to give him £5,000 to release the record.

The single was first released in late July 1985 and, like Sinitta's debut single "Cruising", it quickly gained popularity in the gay clubs and on the Hi-NRG dance scene. Although the single failed to chart, it continued to sell throughout the summer, including 15,000 copies on import. The song's popularity led Cowell to make the decision to delete the single at the end of October 1985 to let demand build up again. As Christmas approached, the song found renewed popularity in straight clubs and discos. The single was re-released as a double A-side with "Cruising" on 17 February 1986.[2]

The record's sleeve was changed from an image of Sinitta to a cartoon macho man, in an effort to make clear to radio programmers that it was a pop record, and not R&B or soul.[3] The re-release was not an immediate success as it remained in the lower reaches of the charts. It was not until four months later that the single started gaining airplay and entered the top 40, upon which it quickly rose to number two in the UK Singles Chart.

The song's belated video was recorded for £500 in a London flat belonging to one of Cowell's friends, in the hope of gaining TV exposure.[3] Sinitta supplied her own wardrobe, and there was no budget for hair or makeup.[3]

It was certified gold by the BPI,[4] and has sold 585,000 copies.[5] Iain Burton's initial £5,000 investment became a profit of £1,000,000 and paved the way for Fanfare's future.

Critical reception

Max Bell from Number One complimented the song's "mind-bending philosophical intrigue".[6]

Formats and track listings

  1. "So Macho" – 3:25
  2. "Showdown" – 3:33
  1. "So Macho" (Extended Club Mix) – 6:34
  2. "Showdown" (Special Dance Mix) – 5:22
  • 12" single – 1986 release[9]
  1. "So Macho" (Extended Club Mix) – 6:34
  2. "Cruising" (Remix) – 7:29

Charts

References

  1. ↑ "Let he who is without Sinitta!". Western Mail. 29 October 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Fanfare for the Macho man". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 18. 15 February 1986.
  3. 1 2 3 "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 25: Toy Boy on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "Simon Cowell: The Official Top 50". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Bell, Max (30 January 1988). "Albums". Number One. p. 33. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sinitta - So Macho". Discogs.
  8. ↑ "Sinitta - So Macho". Discogs.
  9. ↑ "Sinitta - So Macho". Discogs.
  10. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 276. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 12 June 1988.
  11. ↑ "Sinitta – So Macho!" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Sinitta – So Macho!" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Sinitta – So Macho!" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "Sinitta – So Macho!". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "Sinitta – So Macho!". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "Top 100 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". www.uk-charts.co.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  19. ↑ "Top Dance Singles – Year-end 1986" (PDF). Music Week. 10 January 1987. p. 19. Retrieved 8 September 2023 – via World Radio History.
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