The Honeythief
"The Honeythief" is a 1986 song performed by the Scottish band Hipsway.[2]
| "The Honeythief" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Hipsway | ||||
| from the album Hipsway | ||||
| B-side | "Wild Sorrow" | |||
| Released | 1986 | |||
| Genre | New wave[1] | |||
| Length | 3:10 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Gary Langan | |||
| Hipsway singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
The song's title was inspired by a 16th-century painting, "Venus and Cupid, the Honey Thief", found in the Burrell Collection art museum in Glasgow.[3]
The lyrics are based on Vladimir Nabokov's book Lolita.[4] In 1987, singer Grahame Skinner said, "It's just written from the point of view of a lecherous man who has an attraction for an innocent young girl — 'She's the honey and I'm the thief'."[4]
Chart performance edit
It was included on their 1986 self-titled debut album and released as a single, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] and number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] Its remix reached number 9 on the US Dance Club Play Singles chart.[6]
"The Honeythief" was the band's only top 40 hit in the US.[7] It has since appeared on over a dozen '80s music compilations.[8]
| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian (Kent Music Report)[9] | 91 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] | 49 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[11] | 20 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] | 33 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] | 26 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 19 |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[6] | 9 |
| US Cash Box[14] | 28 |
References edit
- ^ Kellman, Andy. "A Kick Up the Eighties, Vol. 9: Steppin' Out – Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ Cooper, William. "Hipsway – Hipsway". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Ross, Peter (11 November 2016). "Time to hop back on board Hipsway's Candybar Express?". The Herald. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b Heath, Chris (May 1987). "Gimme Some Skin". Star Hits. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Hipsway – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 287. ISBN 0-8230-7499-4.
- ^ "The Honeythief – Appearances". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 139. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7822." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Honeythief". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Hipsway" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ "Hipsway – The Honeythief". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ . Cash Box. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.