What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)
| "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" | ||||||||
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| Single by Information Society | ||||||||
| from the album Information Society | ||||||||
| Released |
April 26, 1988 (US) June 21, 1988 (UK) |
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| Format | CD | |||||||
| Genre | Synthpop, freestyle, new wave | |||||||
| Length | 4:36 | |||||||
| Label | Tommy Boy - TB 911 | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Paul Robb, Kurt Harland | |||||||
| Producer(s) | Fred Maher | |||||||
| Information Society singles chronology | ||||||||
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April 26, 1988 (US)
"What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" is a song by American synthpop band Information Society that was released as a single in 1988. The "Pure Energy" subtitle derives from a sample of Leonard Nimoy's voice from the Star Trek episode "Errand of Mercy". There is also a sample of DeForest Kelley's voice from the episode "I, Mudd". John Leland of Spin magazine called it a "pretty potent dance record".
In 2009, VH1 ran a countdown of the 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders Of The '80s. Information Society's "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" placed at #74 on the countdown despite the fact that the group had two other Top 40 hits: "Walking Away" (#9) and "Think" (#28).
The song was a big hit in the US, spending 25 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #3 in October 1988.
The song was featured in Loverboy and American Psycho. A remixed version was included in American Psycho's soundtrack.
In 1989, Pittsburgh radio station WYDD-FM executed an early viral marketing plan by playing this song non-stop in a loop for 25.5 hours — focusing on a repeat of the "Pure Energy" sample from Leonard Nimoy as Star Trek's Mr. Spock. The marketing stunt caused listeners to call emergency services concerned that some calamity befell the DJs and other station employees. Bob Hank, general manager at the time, told reporters he was only trying to draw attention to the station's switch in format and new call letters WNRJ (W-N-R-J = "energy"). "We were just trying to draw a little bit of attention," Hank said. "We never dreamed it would go this far". The song also samples Star Trek in the intro, with the character Dr. McCoy saying "it's worked so far, but we're not out yet."
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Wikipedia