Maneater (Hall & Oates song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Maneater

| cover = Hall & Oates Maneater.jpeg

| type = single

| artist = Hall & Oates

| album = H₂O

| B-side = Delayed Reaction

| released = September 28, 1982 (Charted October 16)

| recorded = December 1981

| studio = Electric Lady, New York City

| genre = {{flatlist|

Synth-pop{{cite web |last=Fenton |first=Will |title=15 Best Hall & Oates Songs of All Time (Greatest Hits)|url=https://middermusic.com/hall-oates-songs/|website=middermusic|date=19 May 2023 |quote=The song features a memorable saxophone solo by Charles DeChant and a catchy synth-pop melody, backed by a funk-influenced rhythm section.}}{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|title= The 101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time|magazine= Rolling Stone|date= September 24, 2024|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-movie-soundtracks-1235083518/|accessdate= October 4, 2024|quote=...some of the biggest synth-pop hits of the day...Hall and Oates' "Maneater"...}}
new wave{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2020/07/yacht-rock-was-smooth-music-played-by-70s-80s-studio-pros|title= What a Fool Believes Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date= July 31, 2021|access-date= February 23, 2024}}
R&B
blue-eyed soul
soft rock{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/style/soft-rock-ma0000011841/songs|title=Soft Rock Music Songs|website=AllMusic}}

}}

| length = 4:31
3:28 (DJ 7")
6:00 (extended club mix)

| label = RCA

| writer = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = {{flatlist|

Daryl Hall
John Oates

}}

| prev_title = Your Imagination

| prev_year = 1982

| next_title = One on One

| next_year = 1983

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|yRYFKcMa_Ek|"Maneater"}}}}

}}

"Maneater" is a song by American duo Hall & Oates, featured on their eleventh studio album, H₂O (1982). It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 18, 1982.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications) It remained in the top spot for four weeks, longer than any of the duo's five other number-one hits, including "Kiss on My List", which remained in the top spot for three weeks.

Background and writing

In an interview with American Songwriter in 2009, Daryl Hall recalled:{{cite web|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2009/01/hall-and-oates-soul-survivors/|title=HALL AND OATES: Soul Survivors|publisher=American Songwriter|date=January 23, 2009|first=Ken|last=Sharp|access-date=April 22, 2012}}

John had written a prototype of "Maneater"; he was banging it around with Edgar Winter. It was like a reggae song. I said, "Well, the chords are interesting, but I think we should change the groove." I changed it to that Motown kind of groove. So we did that, and I played it for Sara Allen and sang it for her…[Sings] "Oh here she comes / Watch out boy she'll chew you up / Oh here she comes / She's a maneater… and a…" I forget what the last line was. She said, "drop that shit at the end and go, 'She's a maneater,' and stop! And I said, 'No, you're crazy, that's messed up.'" Then I thought about it, and I realized she was right. And it made all the difference in the song.

Hall also opined,

"We try and take chances. Our new single 'Maneater' isn't something that sounds like anything else on the radio. The idea is to make things better."{{cite book|first=John|last=Tobler|year=1992|title=NME Rock 'N' Roll Years|edition=1st|publisher=Reed International Books Ltd|location=London|page=372|id=CN 5585}}

John Oates has explained that while it is natural to assume the lyrics are about a woman, the song actually was originally written "about NYC in the '80s. It's about greed, avarice, and spoiled riches. But we have it in the setting of a girl because it's more relatable. It's something that people can understand. That's what we do all of the time", after describing how they took a similar approach with the earlier song "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)".{{cite web|title=Hall and Oates' 'I Can't Go For That' isn't about what you think it's about; neither is 'Maneater'|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/03/25/hall-and-oates-i-cant-go-for-that-isnt-about-what-you-think-its-about-neither-is-maneater/|website=Something Else!|access-date=27 November 2014|date=24 March 2014}}{{cite web|last=Kauffman|first=Leah|title=John Oates on his new album, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and what 'I Can't Go For That' is really about|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/music/John_Oates_on_his_new_album_Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame_induction_and_what_I_Cant_Go_For_That_is_really_about_.html|website=Philly.com|access-date=27 November 2014|date=18 March 2014}}

Billboard called it a "moody midtempo piece which has the percolating bass line of a mid-60's Supremes record and the atmospheric sweep of a Giorgio Moroder film score."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=2023-02-07|title=Top Single Picks|date=October 16, 1982|page=85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=miQEAAAAMBAJ}} Cash Box said that the opening bassline resembles that of the Supremes' song "You Can't Hurry Love."{{cite magazine|title=Reviews|magazine=Cash Box|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1982/CB-1982-10-16.pdf|date=October 16, 1982|accessdate=2022-07-07|page=10}}

The song is performed in a ballad version by actor Andrew Barth Feldman in the 2023 film No Hard Feelings, and appears on its soundtrack.{{Cite AV media|title=Maneater (Live)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elWaoJxHjaY|accessdate=2023-10-07}} It was also used in the trailer for the 2024 film Despicable Me 4.

Music video

The Hall & Oates music video opens with a woman (Aleksandra Duncan) walking down a red staircase, and the band playing in a dimly lit studio with shafts of light projecting down on them. The band members step in and out of the light for their lip sync. A young woman in a short party dress is shown in fade-in and fade-out shots, along with a black jaguar, hence the song line "The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar." (In the lyrics' context, the Jaguar in question is the car manufacturer.){{Citation|last=hallandoatesVEVO|title=Daryl Hall & John Oates - Maneater|date=2009-10-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYFKcMa_Ek|access-date=2017-06-07}}

Personnel

Daryl Hall – lead vocals and backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers
John Oates – lead guitar, backing vocals, Linn LM-1 programming
G. E. Smith – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Tom Wolk – bass
Mickey Curry – drums
Charles DeChant – saxophone

Legal action

In November 2008, Hall & Oates initiated legal action against their music publisher Warner/Chappell Music. An unidentified singer-songwriter was alleged to have used "Maneater" in a 2006 recording, infringing copyright, and by failing to sue for copyright infringement, Warner Chappell Music was alleged to have breached their contract with Hall and Oates.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7714909.stm | work=BBC News | title=Hall and Oates take legal action | date=November 7, 2008}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite magazine \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT138\|title=Hits of the World\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=94\|issue=51\|page=79\|date=December 25, 1982\|issn=0006-2510\|via=Google Books}} \| 4
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Maneater" ! scope="col"\| Chart (1982–1983) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Flanders\|8\|artist=Daryl Hall %2B John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|4\|chartid=6182\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 16, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Canadaadultcontemporary\|1\|chartid=6219\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 16, 2017}}
scope="row"\| Denmark (IFPI){{cite magazine \|title=Hits of the World \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=95 \|issue=21 \|date=May 21, 1983 \|page=50 \|issn=0006-2510}} \| 7
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|8\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|17\|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|18\|artist=Daryl Hall %2B John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|4\|artist=Daryl Hall %2B John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true\|access-date= 4 June 2020}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|6\|artist=Daryl Hall %2B John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\| South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web \|url= http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(H).html \|title= SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts H \|website= The South African Rock Encyclopedia \|access-date= June 20, 2013}} \| 2
scope="row"\| Spain (AFYVE){{cite book\|first= Fernando \|last= Salaverri \|title= Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 \|edition= 1st \|date= September 2005 \|publisher= Fundación Autor/SGAE \|location= Madrid \|isbn= 84-8048-639-2 \|language= es}} \| 1
{{single chart\|Sweden\|5\|artist=Daryl Hall %2B John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|2\|artist=Daryl Hall %2B John Oates\|song=Maneater\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UKsinglesbyname\|6\|artist=Daryl Hall and John Oates\|artistid=15916\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|1\|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardadultcontemporary\|14\|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddanceclubplay\|18\|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|78\|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2017}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|18\|artist=Daryl Hall John Oates\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2017}}
scope="row"\| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite magazine \|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19821218.html \|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 18, 1982 \|magazine=Cash Box \|access-date=January 25, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001173257/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19821218.html \|archive-date=October 1, 2019}} \| 1
scope="row"\| US Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles (Cash Box){{cite magazine \|title=Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles \|magazine=Cash Box \|volume=XLIV \|issue=34 \|date=January 22, 1983 \|page=21 \|issn=0008-7289}} \| 68
{{single chart\|West Germany\|15\|artist=Daryl Hall + John Oates\|song=Maneater\|songid=912\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 15, 2019}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 1982 year-end chart performance for "Maneater" ! scope="col"\| Chart (1982) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6167&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6167.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6167\|title=Top 100 Singles of 82\|magazine=RPM\|volume=37\|issue=19\|date=December 25, 1982\|page=17\|issn=0033-7064\|via=Library and Archives Canada}} \| 35
scope="row"\| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web \|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1982YESP.html \|title=The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1982 – Top 100 Pop Singles \|work=Cash Box \|date=December 25, 1982 \|access-date=January 25, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123005158/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1982YESP.html \|archive-date=November 23, 2019}} \| 22

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1982 year-end chart performance for "Maneater"

! scope="col"| Chart (1982)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6167&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6167.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6167|title=Top 100 Singles of 82|magazine=RPM|volume=37|issue=19|date=December 25, 1982|page=17|issn=0033-7064|via=Library and Archives Canada}}

| 35

scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1982YESP.html |title=The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1982 – Top 100 Pop Singles |work=Cash Box |date=December 25, 1982 |access-date=January 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123005158/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1982YESP.html |archive-date=November 23, 2019}}

| 22

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 1983 year-end chart performance for "Maneater" ! scope="col"\| Chart (1983) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine \|title=Talent Almanac 1984 – Top Pop Singles \|magazine=Billboard \|volume=95 \|issue=52 \|date=December 24, 1983 \|page=TA-18 \|issn=0006-2510}} \| 7
scope="row"\| West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web \|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1983 \|title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1983 \|language=de \|publisher=GfK Entertainment \|access-date=January 25, 2024}} \| 57

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1983 year-end chart performance for "Maneater"

! scope="col"| Chart (1983)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |title=Talent Almanac 1984 – Top Pop Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=95 |issue=52 |date=December 24, 1983 |page=TA-18 |issn=0006-2510}}

| 7

scope="row"| West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1983 |title=Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1983 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=January 25, 2024}}

| 57

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Maneater"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Hall & Oates|title=Maneater|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1982|certyear=1983|access-date=September 26, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|title=Maneater|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2025|id=14906|access-date=January 18, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Hall and Oates|title=Maneater|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=January 18, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Daryl Hall / John Oates|title=Maneater|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1982|certyear=2024|access-date=April 19, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Daryl Hall & John Oates|title=Maneater|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=10320-1755-1|access-date=February 9, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Hall & Oates|title=Maneater|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1982|certyear=1983|access-date=June 23, 2018}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230104/http://www.vh1.com/vspot/player.jhtml?vid=54933&launchedFrom=/artists/az/hall_and_oates/videos.jhtml= VH1 VSPOT "Maneater"]

Category:1981 songs

Category:1982 singles

Category:American synth-pop songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Hall & Oates songs

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Songs written by Daryl Hall

Category:Songs written by John Oates

Category:Songs written by Sara Allen

Category:Songs about New York City