OBSESSION
Writers: Holly Knight/ Michael Des Barres
You are an obsession I cannot sleep
I am a possession unopened at your feet
There is no balance,no equality
Be still I will not accept defeat
I will have you yes I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly a wild butterfly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession, you’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me
You are an obsession, you’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me
I feed you, and drink you by day and by night
I need you I need you by sun and candlelight
You protest,you want to leave
You say there’s no alternative
Your face appears again I see the beauty there
But I see danger stranger beware
A circumstance in your naked dreams
Your affection is not what it seems
You are an obsession, you’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me
You are an obsession, you’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me
My fantasy has turned to madness
And all my goodness has turned to badness
My need to possess you has consumed my soul
My life is trembling I have no control
I will have you yes I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly a wild butterfly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession you’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me
You are an obsession you’re my obsession
Who do you want me to be to make you sleep with me
1. OBSESSION
‘I met Michael Des Barres through Mike Chapman. Michael was a charismatic British solo recording artist signed to the same label (Dreamland) as my band Spider. (Des Barres has also enjoyed a successful career as an actor for film and TV). After I moved out to California to pursue my writing career, Mike suggested that Des Barres and I try writing together, and out of this came a few gems. A tune named Looking Daggers , written by myself, Des Barres, and Chapman, which was recorded by the English band Smokie, and Obsession, a tune Michael and I originally wrote and recorded for ourselves as Knight and Des Barres. Our version, which Chapman produced was prominently featured in the film,’ A Night in Heaven’, most notably in a scene in which Christopher Atkins bumps and grinds in Lesley Anne Warren’s face in sync with the rhythm of the song. Our version was also featured in the theatrical trailer to the 1986 film 91/2 weeks starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger. I could never figure out why they didn’t license it for the actual movie, it was played so much with the trailer that people started associating the movie with the song .
After our version came out, our publishers pitched it to a new band Animotion, and it became a huge hit worldwide. I thought their video was a cheesy bit of fluff, but in hindsight (like Love Is A Battlefield) it hit the nerve of the eighties music fan and still remains one of the classics of that musical era, appearing on many 80’s compilations. The song was strong enough that it grabbed the hearts of people all over the world. And I have learned to live with the production, especially when my royalty checks come in.
This would definitely have to go in my top ten list of favorite tunes I wrote’. – HK
- Licensed for VH-1’s House Of Style
- Featured in the movie and soundtrack A Night In Heaven
- Featured in the show Nip Tuck
- Featured in the movie What The Bleep
- Featured in the movie Hot Tub Time Machine.
