"Who Can It Be Now" by Men at Work

#1 Alert!
Grammy Alert!

Song#:  1096
Date:  07/10/1982
Debut:  83
Peak:  1 (1 week)
Weeks:  27
Genre:  New Wave



Pop Bits:  This Australian group formed in 1978 and soon became one of the country's most popular unsigned artists. They secured a contract with Columbia Records in Australia and issued this single in June of 1981. The song reached #2 and they were off and running. But not yet on a worldwide scale. Columbia's North American arm twice rejected the group before finally succumbing. This single got traction in Canada first, but then the US caught on. Over a year since it was released in Australia, the single found its way onto the US chart where it would steadily climb to the top spot.

ReduxReview:  At the time, I think most folks, including myself, really liked this song but totally fell for their second single "Down Under." Looking back now, I think this is the superior song. The paranoid lyrics, sax licks/solo, and delivery were all spot-on. It's a more mature effort where "Down Under" was comedic and bordered on novelty. For me, this is their best moment.

ReduxRating:  9/10

Trivia:  The success of this single and their #1 album "Business As Usual" helped them to secure a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, beating out Asia, Jennifer Holliday, Human League, and Stray Cats.

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