Community Corner

Europeans Crazy About Main Line's 'Maniac'

A Dutch TV crew was in Wayne last week to film the story behind the song used in the 1983 film Flashdance.

You may be familiar with the 1980's pop hit song, Maniac, brought to the big screen in the film Flashdance. But did you know that the song's writer and performer is a Main Line native?

Last week a Dutch television crew visited the area to film the story behind the song with award-winning musician and songwriter Michael Sembello, of Bryn Mawr.

After hours of interviewing Sembello, the crew filmed dancers at Contempra Dance Center in Wayne dancing to the song for Top 2000 A Go Go, a TV program that will air in the Benelux countries in the week between Christmas and New Year's.

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Television producer Arjan Vlakveld and his team traveled around the country to interview the Doobie Brothers and K.C. and the Sunshine Band. He told Radnor Patch that Maniac is "an iconic song from the '80s."

The film crew shot numerous versions of the dancers, with some moves made famous by Flashdance (no, not the bucket of water trick). "We can't get tired of this song, Michael," Vlakveld said, himself bopping to the beat.

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And apparently a lot of people can't get tired of the hit. Sembello's wife Lisa Paolino said that Europeans are "crazy" for the song right now. They just returned from Greece where Sembello worked on a remix; and Flashdance: The Musical will open on Broadway next year.


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