Overkill (Men at Work song)


"Overkill" is a song by Australian pop rock band Men at Work. It was released in 1983 as the second single from their second studio album, Cargo. It was written by lead singer Colin Hay. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100; No. 5 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart; and top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and Norway. The song was a departure from the group's style of reggae-influenced pop rock, featuring a melancholic feel musically and lyrically.

Background

Men at Work's second studio album, Cargo, was released in Australia in April 1983, reaching No. 1 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. The album's lead single, "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive", was issued in Australia ahead of the album in October 1982 and reached No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. Despite recording having been completed in mid-1982, Cargos release was held back due to the international commercial success of the band's 1981 debut album, Business as Usual.
"Overkill" was released in April 1983 and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 28 on 9 April. It peaked at No. 3 in early June. The album's third single, "High Wire", followed in late 1983, peaking at only No. 89 in Australia, and No. 23 on Billboards Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. The band toured the world extensively in 1983 to promote the album and related singles. The song was #55 in the year-end Top 100 chart in Canada.

Music video

The video was mostly shot in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda.

Track listing

7" Australian and 7"/12" International Versions 1983

  1. "Overkill" – 3:44
  2. "Till the Money Runs Out" – 3:05

    Personnel

Chart Position
Australia 5
Canada 6
Germany 30
Ireland 9
Italy 10
Netherlands 15
New Zealand 24
Norway 5
United Kingdom 21
United States Billboard Hot 1003
US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks6
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks3

Lazlo Bane version

American alternative rock band Lazlo Bane covered the song and originally released it as a b-side of their debut single "Buttercup" on Fish of Death Records.
After signing with Almo Sounds the song was released as promo single and included on the EP Short Style, and it was later released on the band's debut album 11 Transistor, which came out in January 1997.
As a commercial single "Overkill" was released in some territories in 1997 and 1998.
The song was recorded with participation of Colin Hay, who plays guitar on the track and sings the last verse solely and last chorus together with Chad Fischer.

Lazlo Bane's music video

Lazlo Bane's music video, directed by Mark Miremont and also featuring Hay, was released 28 May 1997 and eventually entered MTV2's Top 10 of the 1997.
The video shows Lazlo Bane playing the song in a large hall of the hotel during the night while disturbing other residents, who were played by the members of the band with Colin Hay playing the front desk clerk. During the first half of the song Hay receives several angry calls about the noise but does nothing about it. During the guitar solo the hotel starts to shake, finally forcing Hay to enter the hall where the band is playing, but only to sing the rest of the song together with the band.

Track listing

;1996 Promo CD
  1. "Overkill" – 4:14
;1997 CD
  1. "Overkill" – 4:14
  2. "Flea Market Girl" – 3:56
  3. "Buttercup" – 3:44
  4. "Mean Mr. Mustard" – 2:24
;1998 CD
  1. "Overkill" – 4:14
  2. "Novakane" – 2:37
  3. "Prada Wallet" – 1:11

    Other cover versions