DJ Mark McCabe is flabbergasted by the chart topping success of his dance track 'Maniac 2000'.
With the backing of Abbey Discs, RTÉ 2FM DJ Mark McCabe released the single 'Maniac 2000' in February 2000. The DJ is flabbergasted the song has beaten All Saints, Madonna, Gabrielle and Backstreet Boys to reach the number one position in the Irish charts.
Mark McCabe devised ‘Maniac 2000’ while working with the Dublin pirate dance station Pulse FM in the mid-1990s. He jumped at the chance to press the single but is genuinely surprised by the momentum behind ‘Maniac 2000’,
I didn't think it would work half as well as it has done.
On ‘Maniac 2000’ Mark McCabe raps over the 1995 track ‘Maniac (Sound Crowd Remix)’ by Irish act 4 Rhythm. The track borrows heavily from the song ‘Maniac’ featured in the 1983 film ‘Flashdance’, performed and co-written by Michael Sembello.
Young people would not necessarily know ‘Flashdance’ or its soundtrack, but by remixing ‘Maniac’ Mark McCabe is bringing it to a whole new audience.
It's recycling music but that's the way it goes.
For anyone wishing to follow a similar route to success, he suggests,
Find a good tune from 20 years ago and freshen it up.
Mark McCabe did not think beyond the initial pirate radio exposure for ‘Manaic 2000’. Once the track started getting wider airplay, a royalties arrangement was agreed with Michael Sembello. The dance DJ's sights are now on the UK market and a follow-up single.
This episode of '2TV' was broadcast on 5 March 2000. The presenter is Dave Fanning.
'2TV' was presented by Dave Fanning and Bianca Luykx, and broadcast on Sunday mornings simultaneously on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ 2FM from 1995 to 2001.
